Invincible

"Invincible" is a good movie for football fans looking for inspiration and hope from one of their own. Mark Wahlberg stars as Vince Papale, a Philadelphia bartender down on his luck in nearly every way. Based on a true story set in 1976, Papale is unable to keep a full-time teaching job, can never get his car to start, and can't pay the bills.

None of this goes over well with his wife, who eventually leaves him, taking all the furniture at the same time. For as well-meaning and big-hearted as he is, Papale can't catch a break. That is, until the Philadelphia Eagles hire a new coach, Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear), to turn around the struggling football team. In an effort to kick start his team, and to get fans to rally around the team, Vermeil announces that he will be holding open tryouts for anyone up for the challenge. After much coaxing from his friends, Papale goes to the tryouts and is eventually offered a chance to attend camp to try to earn a spot on the team. Nobody gives Papale a chance though seeing as how he is a thirty-year old who never played beyond high school.

Wahlberg is effective as the struggling bartender, bringing a depth of emotion to a character that could have been much more of a stereotype. Kinnear once again impresses, this time as a new coach who feels like he has bitten off more than he can chew. For all the character development and great football shots, though, this is a Disney movie and it shows. Even when Vince and his buddies are playing football in the mud it seems sanitized. The dialog is elementary, giving the film more of a made-for-TV feel. "Invincible" is a decent movie, but I'd wait to rent it. I give it a B-.

"Invincible" is rated PG with a running time of 104 minutes.