Gridiron Gang (2006)

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

Director:

Phil Joanou

Writers:

Jeff Maguire, Jac Flanders (film "Gridiron Gang")

Stars:

Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 McRae	...	Leon Hayes (as Mo)
James Earl	...	Donald Madlock (as James Earl III)
Trever O'Brien	...	Kenny Bates
Brandon Mychal Smith	...	Bug Wendal
Jurnee Smollett-Bell	...	Danyelle Rollins (as Jurnee Smollett)
Michael J. Pagan	...	Roger Weathers
Jamal Mixon	...	Jamal Evans

Storyline

In the Kilpatrick juvenile detention center, the supervisor and former football player Sean Porter sees the lack of discipline, self-esteem, union and perspective in the teenage interns and proposes to prepare a football team to play in one league. He is supported by his superiors and his successful experience changes the lives of many young kids.

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Plot Keywords:

football | football team | football coach | football practice | alliterative title | 

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Taglines:

One goal. A second chance.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Gangue está em Campo

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,414,630, 17 September 2006, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$38,432,823, 22 October 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Industries,Original Film,Visual Arts Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the players on Barrington had the last name of Plank. Kevin Plank is the founder & CEO of Under Armour. All the team's uniforms in this movie were sponsored by Under Armour.

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Goofs

In the playoff victory, after the long 50 yard completed pass, setting up the final play...before the play starts, there are 11 seconds left. The prior play ended with the receiver getting knocked out of bounds. Then, before the ball is snapped before the last play...the clock is running. That shouldn't have happened...the clock shouldn't run until the ball is snapped.

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Quotes

Malcolm Moore: You know you're an idiot, right?
Sean Porter: I'm making progress. I used to be an asshole.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Up in the Air/Everybody's Fine/Brothers (2009)

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Soundtracks

Celebration
Written by Robert Kool Bell (as Robert Bell), Ronald Bell, George Funky Brown (as George Brown),
Eumir Deodato, Robert Spike Mickens (as Robert Mickens), Claydes Smith,
, J.T. Taylor (as James Taylor), Dennis D.T. Thomas (as Dennis Thomas) and Earl Toon (as Earl Toon,
, Jr.)

User Reviews

Ignore the cold-hearted critics

Prepare to hear whining and complaining from movie critics who fall outside the boundaries of this movie's target demographic by a good 15 - 20 years: "This is so predictable!" "What a bunch of clichés!" "We've seen it all before!"

You know what? I'm not going to argue with those points. I don't deny that this is a by-the-numbers sports drama. "You can do it" speeches fill the air, inspirational music soars high, and anybody well-versed in this genre can easily call the shots. Come on, did you really doubt that there'd be a jerk opposing player that we'd be forced to hate? Are you naive enough to wonder if he'll get his comeuppance by the movie's end?

Gridiron Gang is a movie that understands who its audience is, and it plays them like a fiddle. But you know what else? I don't care. The audience absolutely loved it. Biggest crowd reaction of any movie I've seen so far this year. They cheered when the gang got a touchdown, they grimaced at every painful tackle, and they chanted for Johnny Betts to take his shirt off. Hey, I thought it was a little out of place as well. But who am I to deny my fans?

Now I'm not saying this is a movie of the year contender, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not ashamed of that, and I'm not going to apologize for it. I'll even go so far as to admit that there were a couple of scenes during which I got a little choked up - the only time it's happened this year.

Yeah, I said it. You got a problem with it? My biker boots (size 11) and I would be more than happy to discuss the issue. If you can turn an indifferent eye to the scene near the end involving Rock's mother then you, my friend, are a cold, cold man. Or woman.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for inspirational sports movies, especially when they star an actor I like - and I really like The Rock. His charisma and natural screen presence are undeniable, and he even displays some impressive acting chops here. The man gives us real tears - from BOTH eyes. Take that, Ashley Judd!

Not every film has to be a deep, insightful masterpiece of epic proportions with layers and layers of social commentary and "vertiginous fluidity." Some movies are simply made to entertain. What's wrong with giving the audience something to cheer? You know, there are still a few moviegoers out there who want to go home happy and inspired.

If you fit into that category then you won't have any problem ignoring the familiarity of Gridiron Gang. The wonderful mixture of humor and drama will suck you in and have you rooting for these kids to overcome the odds.

If you've got a "Mr. Potter heart" then do us and George Bailey a favor and stay home. The theater will be more pleasant without your curmudgeonly ways.