We Are Marshall

I really liked "We Are Marshall" for the mere fact that you get exactly what you expect. This is a tear-jerker of a movie that also inspires. It will touch your heart because you know it's based on a true story, but also because of the moving performances from so many of the actors.

The Marshall University football team was dealt a devastating blow in 1970 when, on a return trip home after a hard-fought game, 75 teammates, coaches, boosters, and other fans were killed when their flight crashed just miles from the airport. This is where "We Are Marshall" begins. We are introduced to those whose lives are directly effected, including the quarterback's father and fiancé, the four surviving varsity players that didn't make the trip, and the assistant coach that drove back. We soon see, though, that this tragedy also impacted an entire town and college community. How they overcome such a loss is at the heart of the rest of the story.

That's when Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) enters the scene. Hired on as the new head coach after nobody else would take the job, it's up to him to somehow build a football team from the ground up. Helping him in the cause is the assistant coach who averted death (Matthew Fox) but who still is riddled with guilt for not going down with the team. Coach Lengyel deals with one road block after another, including the mixed feelings from a community uncertain as to whether Marshall should continue with football at all.

You can't sugarcoat such a tragedy, and "Marshall" makes no attempt at doing so. McConaughey is perfect as the head coach who wants to help a community heal. He's a bit quirky and offbeat throughout, yet manages to make their efforts all the more heartfelt. Fox and the four returning players bring the tears through their mixed emotions of wanting to move forward but not wanting to let go. In the end, we're reminded that their performance on the field was really nothing spectacular. It's how they got there that is the truly winning story. I give it an A.

"We Are Marshall" is rated PG with a running time of 127 minutes.