Walking into the theater to watch Gridiron Gang, I didn't really expect much. To be fully truthful, I was bracing myself for The Longest Yard Jr., and was prepared for a movie based solely upon the game of football. However, the movie was centered more on the individual lives of the team members. Each major player faced truly difficult situations, and by taking the challenge of being on a team, they were given more then just football jerseys. Each player was given a chance to fix his problems and change his life.
Gridiron Gang follows the real account of Sean Porter (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson), a probation officer of a juvenile detention center known as Camp Kilpatrick. After another released juvenile is killed on the streets, Porter and Malcolm Moore (Xzibit) desperately look for a solution to help the troubled youths when they are released from the camp where 75% of them go back into the world with their same habits and lifestyles, usually pertaining to life on the streets, and serving their hood's gang. By leading this life, they usually either end up in prison (again), or worse ... dead. Dedicated, Porter decides to take on the task of finding an way to motivate the juveniles to stay out of trouble.
While watching a high school football game, a wild idea comes to Porter. Porter (who just happened to be a college football star) decides to challenge the camp by creating a football team, hoping to shape the teens from being "losers" into becoming "winners". He wonders if football could change their mindset on life by providing the hope that each of them need. Some of the teens are eager to play, while others have trouble working with a team. Porter and Murphy work together to turn a bunch of delinquent boys into a well-oiled football team.
In order to turn the individuals into a team, Porter and Moore strive first to gain the trust of the so-called players. As the movie progresses, Porter and Moore's constant determination help shape the young men to start coming together. Slowly, they put aside their differences and commit their time to football practice. Meanwhile, Porter and Moore visit neighboring high schools to search for a competitive league who will host their team. Of course, no one will want to host convicted juveniles on their fields. But, after visiting many schools, they are finally able to convince a Christian football league.
After a few weeks of training, the team thinks they are physically tough enough to play and win against any team, and are set up to play against in their first game. Arriving at the stadium, they are ready for war, but instead are doomed to failure. This is a major setback for the team. Even though the team worked so hard to be winners, they still turned out to be on the losing side.
The team made many mistakes their first game. For one thing, the players weren't experienced. But, most importantly, the coach wasn't all that experienced either. Porter had to lighten up, or face losing his team. To the rescue came 17 year old Junior Palaita (Setu Taase), the former problem child (and to be the problem child amongst a bunch of juvenile delinquents, you have to be really bad). He actually becomes the mental backbone of the team, and the juveniles are able to rebuild their self-esteem through vigorous training, counseling, and meditation. They strive to win because they are tired of being called "losers". Team members (even ones from rival gangs) gain respect for one another, as well as self-respect. Motivated by their coaches and themselves, the team is finally able to proudly call themselves "winners".
Again, this movie was well above my expectations. Although the storyline was quite predictable, it was presented well, and the audience was really into it. The makers also added something special to the closing credits of the movie: Real documentary footage of Sean Porter and his real-life "Gridiron Gang". This was a great touch, for the footage provided the viewers with the chance to see just how the movie corresponded with the real-life story.
The real letdown (for me anyway) is the fact that The Rock stars in this movie, but he doesn't even really hit anyone! I so wanted to see The Rock laying the smackdown. Sure, I can see that he is probably trying to be seen as a more serious actor, but a movie where The Rock doesn't really kick any ass is, to me, like a James Bond movie without any sweet rides and gorgeous women. Then again, this shows what I expected of the movie. I was ready to watch an action film, full of smackdowns and packed with football. Instead, I was treated with a movie that was so much more than that. This is the perfect movie to go to on that Friday or Saturday night when you're with a bunch of friends, and don't really have anything to do. The movie has just enough action to keep your adrenaline going and just enough story to keep you following along.
"Gridiron Gang" opens September 15, 2006 and is rated PG13. Drama, Sports. Directed by Phil Joanou. Written by Jeff Maguire. Starring Dwayne Johnson, L Scott Caldwell, Xzibit.
