There’s no denying that inspirational sports movies are a dime a dozen. Take some troubled youths, throw them onto a playing field and watch as the games (and dramas) begin. Despite this, there’s just something so satisfying in cheering the underdogs on.

No doubt, this tried-and-tested formula continues to put movies such as Coach Carter and The Longest Yard on Hollywood producers’ radars, but it also takes something extra to create a movie that truly resonates and inspires.

Directed by Phil Joanou (State of Grace), Gridiron Gang is based on a true story (and a 1993 documentary of the same name). It opens with grave statistics: 75% of inmates in American juvenile detention centres either return to prison or get killed after being released.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (The Scorpion King) stars as Sean Porter, a probation officer working at a juvenile detention centre, Camp Kilpatrick. Tired of seeing his charges hit the streets only to be killed or sent back in, he decides to build their self-esteem through organising a football team.

With the assistance of fellow officer Malcolm Moore (Xzibit), Porter persuades the boys to form the Mustangs, and pushes them to their limits. While these boys are familiar with aggression, violence and hatred, teamwork and discipline are completely foreign to them. Porter and Moore not only have to convince them to take the team seriously but also find a football league willing to take on these ex-convicts.

In the beginning, some of them still find it hard to put past rivalries aside. A newbie to Camp Kilpatrick, Willie Weathers (Jade Yorker) immediately starts off on the wrong foot with Kelvin Owens (David V. Thomas), who belonged to a rival gang. Along the way, they also encounter several snags: their first game ends in humiliating defeat; their low self-esteem hinders them in pushing themselves further, and it seems almost impossible for them to gain respect from their family and peers.

However, their desperation to make a name for themselves and prove to people what they can do pushes them to train every day. They place their trust in the one man who believes in them – their coach, Porter. Believing in Porter’s promise that all of them will “walk away as winners”, the Mustangs start to lead their lives with new-found enthusiasm.

Gridiron Gang may not offer an outstandingly fresh storyline, but it’s the little details that make this movie a worthy watch. It draws the audience in from the moment it begins, immersing viewers in the cold interior of Camp Kilpatrick, random gang shootings on the streets and a heartbreaking domestic abuse scene. These glimpses help us empathise with the lives that inmates lead.

Johnson is surprisingly appealing as Porter and manages to bring depth to his character. Although he isn’t new to the big screen, his previous action/comedy roles have not allowed him to flex his thespian muscles. Xzibit, the host of MTV’s Pimp My Ride, was competent. The well-known rapper has dabbled in movies with appearances in Derailed, xXx²: The Next Level and 8 Mile, but takes on a much more serious and significant role in Gridiron Gang.

The true stars of the show, though, are the supporting actors in the roles of the Mustangs. Veteran actors they’re not, but they take on their characters with such ease that you will find yourself laughing and crying along with them. In particular, Yorker stands out as Willie; his depiction of a violent youth struggling with the emergence of his softer side is very admirable indeed.

With a running time of 2 hours, however, Gridiron Gang drags on. The pep talks given by Porter feel repetitive and cheesy. Furthermore, while it’s good that the script builds on Porter’s character and background, at some points, it almost seemed as though the movie was all about him instead of the Mustangs.

The ending of the movie was expected, but it was the snippets of the actual documentary during the credits that will keep you in the cinema a little longer.

All in all, Gridiron Gang is a good effort, accomplishes what it set out to do, which is to impress the message of giving second chances. There’s barely a shred of originality but it deserves praise for its honest depiction and its assembly of relatable characters.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie Details

Opens: 18 January
Runtime: 120 minutes
Rating: PG
Cast: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Xzibit, Jade Yorker, Brandon Smith
Director: Phil Joanou

Official Website & Trailer