Gridiron Gang (2006)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Phil Joanou

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Maguire (written by)
Jac Flanders (film "Gridiron Gang")

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

One goal. A second chance.

Plot:

Teenagers at a juvenile detention center, under the leadership of their counselor, gain self-esteem by playing football together.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Juvenile Delinquency | Fight | Fighting | Shot In The Arm

Cast

Dwayne Johnson	...	Sean Porter (as Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson)
Xzibit	...	Malcolm Moore
L. Scott Caldwell	...	Bobbi Porter
Leon Rippy	...	Paul Higa
Kevin Dunn	...	Ted Dexter
Jade Yorker	...	Willie Weathers
David V. Thomas	...	Kelvin Owens (as David Thomas)
Setu Taase	...	Junior Palaita
Mo	...	Leon Hayes
James Earl	...	Donald Madlock (as James Earl III)
Trever O'Brien	...	Kenny Bates
Brandon Smith	...	Bug Wendal (as Brandon Mychal Smith)
Jurnee Smollett	...	Danyelle Rollins
Michael J. Pagan	...	Roger Weathers
Jamal Mixon	...	Jamal Evans

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41479) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:15 | Denmark:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Agoura High School - 28545 W. Driver Avenue, Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Industries

Trivia:

Though portrayed as the antagonist of the film, the real Paul Higa was one of the biggest advocates of the program.

Goofs:

Continuity: The first time we see Junior's last name written on his helmet (inside the locker room), it is written with one capital letter and the rest are small letters. Seconds later, on the practice field, his name is written in all capital letters.

Quotes:

Sean Porter: Go easy on the ref, he knows he made a bad call.

Movie Connections:

References Madden NFL 94 (1993) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Celebration

When A Strong Man Shows Them The Way

Other than some bad language, I can't see why The Gridiron Gang rated a PG. It's a really nice inspirational story about a man with idea to slow down the rate of recidivism among juvenile offenders.

Based on the true story of Sean Porter, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson plays Porter a former college football star who thinks that if he can get some of the kids to organize as a football team in his ward of the Los Angeles Juvenile Detention Center it might keep them from going back to the gangs and returning to jail or winding up dead.

The Rock, trading in on the name and image that professional wrestling gave him, maybe for the first time is playing a normal human being albeit a former sports star. No superhero heroics for once in this film, just a man with an idea who inspires a bunch of kids to not think of themselves as losers.

Dwayne Johnson dominates the film just as he dominated the ring in his wrestling matches. He's got his own troubles as well, a mother who is dying well he's dealing with the problems of his juvenile charges. But he does persevere and he turns losers to winners.

It's a nice film about what can be accomplished when you believe in yourself.