INVINCIBLE

[Moviefan02000]

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/walt_disney/invincible/mark_wahlberg/invincible_poster.jpg

Synopsis: "When the coach of Vince Papale's beloved hometown football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, hosted an unprecedented open tryout, the public consensus was it was a waste of time -- no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way. Certainly not Papale -- a 30-year-old substitute teacher and part-time bartender who never even played college football. But against these odds, Papale made the team and soon found himself living every fan's fantasy -- moving from the cheap seats to standing on the field as a professional football player."

Directed by: Ericson Core (Directorial Debut)

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rispoli, and Franklin Ojeda Smith.

Screenplay by: Brad Gann (Screenwriting Debut).

MPAA Rating: "PG," for sports action and some mild language.

Feature Running Time: 104 minutes.

Release Date: August 25th, 2006.

Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/walt_disney/invincible/greg_kinnear/invincible1.jpg

[Moviefan1234]

I think this looks excellent. I think Mark Wahlberg is a very underrated actor who has a lot better chops than many people give him credit for. It sounds like a very inspirational film, and I love them when they are done right. The only thing that concerns me is that the Disney sports flicks have been very hit and miss with me. I loved MIRACLE with all of my heart, and I liked REMEMBER THE TITANS to an extent. But I wasn't very fond of either THE ROOKIE or GLORY ROAD. Here's hoping I adore INVINCIBLE!

[MadsenOMC]

I started a thread on this last week, but I will post my review again here.

SPOILERS!!!!

When Disney makes a movie like Invincible, you know from the start what you are going to get. A computer could easily write something like this. It doesn’t do anything unexpected and leaves no cliché untouched. That being said, it’s not a total waste of time. The right buttons are pushed and the manipulation at hand is moderately successful.

Based on a true story, we begin with the last game of a dismal season for the 1975 Philadelphia Eagles. The infamous hostile fans are going crazy as the final seconds tick off during a 31-0 defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals.

In an attempt to turn the franchise around, college coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) is hired to coach. He is riding high off a Rose Bowl victory over Ohio St.

To stir things up and get people in the city excited about football again, Vermeil decides to hold one day of open tryouts.

This gets the attention of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a 30 year-old bartender from South Philly. A speedster with no college experience, Papale is a star when playing pick up games with his friends. They think he actually has a shot to make the team.

Highly skeptical, Vince gives in to temptation and attends the tryout. He is easily the standout, catching anything thrown his way while demonstrating his blazing speed. He also gives 110% at all times. It gets Vermeil’s attention.

Against the advice of his staff and the team’s owner, Vermeil decides to invite Papale to training camp. He is the only person from the tryouts asked to do so. He makes a lot of enemies on the team and doesn’t get his hopes up, but against all odds he makes the final team (the real Papale played with the Eagles for three seasons).

There isn’t much more to it, other than an obligatory love story, this time with the cousin of Vince’s boss at the bar. It’s as routine as everything else in the movie.

Invincible covers extremely familiar territory, but Vince is a guy who is easy to root for. Wahlberg gives an appealing if not exactly extraordinary performance, and you can’t help but smile as Papale makes it through each round of cuts before making the team. It’s even more gratifying to see him in a real game. If you’re at all a sucker for an underdog story, it will suffice.

Though it is exciting to see Vince get to play in a regular season game, the plight of the formerly hapless Eagles isn’t nearly as interesting as Papale’s story. It’s given perfunctory treatment and Vermeil is clearly a secondary character, so it’s hard to care much about how the team performs. Vince is the story here.

Ultimately, Invincible is as predictable as movies get. When it tries to pull at your heartstrings, it gets incredibly hokey (never more so than a pick up game with friends played in the rain after Vince makes the final roster), and the heartfelt talks between Vince and his father or Vince and his friends are often cringe-inducing.

At the same time, it doesn’t overstay its welcome and accomplishes exactly what it sets out to accomplish. When footage of the real Papale is played at the conclusion, you can’t help but smile. What he did was really something special.

(It's amazing that not one curse word is used in a movie that primarily takes place in a bar and a football field. Leave it to Disney.)

6/10

[Moviefan02000]

Whoops, I missed it somehow. I even looked to see if there was one :p.

[biglaughs]

The Wahlberg is back in action - YES!

[ilovemovies]

This is set in Philly and was filmed in Philly. That alone makes this a thumbs up from me. :)

Oh, and it does look actually look pretty good. I love me the these sports movies. Remember the Titans and The Rookie were particularly good. I'm sure this will be another fine addition to this genre.

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
This is set in Philly and was filmed in Philly.

Oh, and it does look actually look pretty good. I love me the these sports movies. Remember the Titans and The Rookie were particularly good. I'm sure this will be another fine addition to this genre.


Well, Philly and Dallas. All of the stadium scenes were shot in Dallas. And it's hard to tell that it's Philly. I think for budgetary reasons they shot almost all of the Philly scenes on the same block, which looks like it could be anywhere.

If you like Remember the Titans and The Rookie, I would be extremely surprised if you didn't like this movie.

[Joshmo]

I'm looking forward to this depsite not being a fan of sports in particular - and I pretty much despise anyone who uses sports - namely football as a metaphor for lfe - *ugh...

But the no swear words part is so hypocritcal of Disney - lets put out a movie about a sport that can kill and cripple you in an instant with its brutality, but no swear words! :rolleyes:

[TheGodSon]

I absolutely love football movies! Friday night lights is one of my favorite movies but I know this one will be pale in comparison.

Still looks good enough. I might see it.

[Badbird]

I think the only reason I'll see this is to see how Greg Kinnear is as Dick Vermeil who coached in KC for five years. I think the movie looks good - and it's a great story, but these types of movies don't normally appeal to me.

I am currious at how movies about specific teams perform in the cities where that team is a big rival. Like how did Fever Pitch perfom in New York? And how will Invincible perform in New York (Giants), Dallas (Cowboys), and Pittsburg (Steelers, though not a division rival, apparently everyone in Pittsburg hates Philly, and vice verse)?

[Edie0027]

Really looking forward to this film -- my friend got to see a sneak peek and said that Walhberg and Kinnear did spectatular jobs and were great casting decisions. Nothing better than true story that leaves you inspired at the end -- can't wait to see it.

[thedudeman69]

I thought Disney filled their requirement of "encourging, true story" sports movie with Glory Road?

[Edie0027]

Well they might both be "encourging, true story" sports movie but they are two completey different stories. One is about team and the other is about one person's fight...personally, I love stories like this.

[SinisterMinistr]

Philly Represent

[RandalGraves]

Seeing it today!

[echo_bravo]

I too wanna see this. I just cant buy Greg Kinnear as Dick Vermeil.

[tlc3377]

I liked this film.
I think Wahlberg is very underrated and often overlooked.
Greg Kinnear is also very strong as coach Vermeil.
They played with some of the facts is the only thing about this film that i didn't care for.
A side note on this movie: when Papale is driving and has to stop to let a kid get a ball out of the street, the kid is Papale's actual son. Nice touch I thought!
If you like sports movies, or just like Walhberg or Kinnear, go see this 1!

[SinisterMinistr]

can anyone get for me a screenshot of the NY giants coach in this movie. Caus I swear I went to school with this guy and it's driving me nuts caus I only caught a glimpse.

[Edie0027]

Wow, #1 in the box office this weekend, bringing in 17 million is great. Going to see it tomorrow with dad -- he is in town visiting.

tlc3377, I am glad that you liked it. My friends were also telling me that both Walhberg and Kinnear did great jobs playing their parts. Can't wait to see myself.

[Browntown]

Invincible

http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php


Disney has the formula down for true life sports tales..."The Rookie" (baseball) and "Miracle" (hockey). "Invincible" is the new football movie starring Mark Wahlberg (Dirk Diggler Rules!) as Philadelphia sports legend Vince Papale, walk-on Eagle tryout who made the squad in 1975. It's all been done before ("Rudy" is the model for this one) but this movie is terrific for so many reasons, not the script or the direction (by cameraman Ericson Core of "Fast and the Furious") but for it's characters and location. Filmed in Philly last year, the producers made the right choice to use this city wisely, and it is one of the finest 'Philly' movies of all time (Rocky Rules!).

In 75, Papale is a 30 yr old street guy from South Philly who has been dumped by his wife, and has no future as a bartender. His buddies are all out of work (strikes and layoffs) and they spend their time playing parking lot football and drink beer till the bar closes. The soundtrack is all 70's rock tunes (overdone and annoying), and The Fucking Eagles are on the path to ruin! Enter new head coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear is perfectly cast) who is young and fearfull about being in the town where "they threw snowballs at Santa". A daring PR move to hold tryouts for local talent bring in Vince and every goofball to give it a try. Of course we know where it goes from here.

Wahlberg is very good here (like in most of his 'not too bright' everyman preformances) as well as character actors Mike Rispoli (love this guy!) and Philly actor Mike Kelly. Brilliant role for vet stage and screen villian Kevin Conway as Vince's working stiff father (here is a nice role for Conway as a good ole dad). Director Core is a little over the top with the camera work but knows how to capture Philly. Elizabeth Banks is the pretty love interest (in a Giants jersey) and is sweet as pie. The football footage is fast and fun. Rocky meets Rudy has the formula down pat. Enjoy!

[someguy]

All of these movies, ALL OF THEM, are pieces of shit to me. The whole American dream/overcoming odds/rags to riches/nobody to somebody bullshit is so god damn cliche and annoying I want to rip my hair out. I'm just sick of these movies taking such an easy way out, why can't somebody try to change it up instead of walking down the same boring path we've seen over the years?

[Moviefan1234]

I just got back from INVINCIBLE a couple hours ago, and I must say that it's a great film. Much like MIRACLE afterwards I find myself smiling and in a good mood. I really like how it shows that you can never say never and in the very worst of times, one can change their life for the better. This was a great film and a very inspiring story. I can't wait to add INVINCIBLE to my DVD library.

[OUTLAW]

Me and two of my friends went and saw it the other night. We all really liked it. Definatly a feel good movie, modern day Rocky. Walberg did a great job as the regular joe that gets a moment in the spotlight. Its more of a friendship movie than a football movie. I think I would see this one again before I would go see Gridiron Gang. They are promoting this Rock movie so much that I feel like I've already seen it........:rolleyes:

[hubbard_28]

Awesome movie. I thought it was going to be good, but didn't expect it to be this good. Its easy to do an OK "underdog" movie, but pretty difficult to make one of this calaber. I thought Friday Night Lights was horrible. Choppy and uninteresting. Remember the Titans was a very good movie. This one, in my opinion, outdoes every recent sports movie to come out lately.

[Bourne101]

Great story, extremely entertaining and decent acting from leading and supporting roles. Sure it's the annual CLICHE Disney sports movie, but every year they're entertaining with great stories.

8/10

[austingirl]

I was really surpsirsed to see this do so well. But after it did, I am really more interested in seeing this movie!

[bigred760]

I like movies like this. The underdog story where the hero overcomes several obstacles to come out on top. Disney seems to hold a monopoly on movies like this, probably because they're so good. You've got Remember the Titans and Miracle being two of the better ones - in my opinion. Invincible is up there too. You can't help but cheer for this guy who's down on his luck, but ends up playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The movie not only shows how this part-time bartender ended up being a pro football player, it shows his relationships with his father and his friends - who are behind him 100%. The movie also strings along Greg Kinnear as the coach, Dick Vermeil, who took a chance on the guy. It throws in how he's dealing with all the pressure of coaching a losing team with a big devoted fanbase. It didn't add much to it, but hey, it's still a good movie.

Props go out to Wahlberg and the guys who played his friends, because those are the moments that make the movie good. Them playing football and looking like they're having fun, them supporting each other through tough times, and cheering on our hero when he's playing for Philly. And a shoutout to Elizabeth Banks because she's always a welcome sight in any movie.

7/10