Truly inspirational! A winner!

Rating: 9/10 (12 May 2003)

*SPOILERS*
Sean Astin stars as Rudy. A real-life individual who battled unspeakable odds to make the Notre Dame football team in the 1970s.

Rudy is an under-sized, but ferocious football player at Joliet Catholic High School. Too small to play college football, and without good grades, it seems he is destined to work at a local factory with the rest of the guys in his family. Rudy has a dream, though. He has always dreamed of playing football at nearby Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana where so many of his heroes have played or coached. Despite people he loves and trusts (especially his father) telling him to forget it, he leaves Joliet behind to pursue his dream after his best friend is killed in an accident at the factory. By leaving, he alienates almost everyone, including his long-time sweetheart who ends up with one of his brothers.
Rudy has to toil in a junior college for a couple of years while building up the grades he'll need for Notre Dame. During this period, he catches on as an assistant grounds keeper at Notre Dame Stadium. The head grounds keeper (superbly portrayed by Charles Dutton) sort of feels sorry for him and lets him on to the crew for minimum wage. Being around the stadium and the campus only adds fuel to Rudy's dream and his grades and work ethic get stronger.

At last, Rudy is accepted to Notre Dame in a touching scene where he breaks down and thanks God. Rudy then walks on to the practice squad and takes routine beatings from the bigger, stronger scholarship players on the football team. His willingness to take these beatings, and his incredible enthusiasm rub off on the coaches and anger some of the players. Eventually, he wins everyone's respect and the players lobby coach Dan Devine to let him suit up for the last game of his senior season. Rudy is allowed to suit up, and he even makes a couple of tackles in the game against Georgia Tech! His dream is realized.
This is truly an inspirational film. You don't have to be a Notre Dame fan to cheer for Rudy. This is a wonderful true-life example of a person stopping at nothing to achieve their dream. It is highly emotional and marvelously acted by all. I'm not sure how many of the details of this film really happened, but Rudy was a real person. He did overcome great odds. He should be motivation for us all.
5 of 5 stars
So sayeth the Hound.