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	...	Danyelle Rollins
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:

los angeles california | california | usa | united states | football team | 

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Taglines:

One goal. A second chance.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Mustangs logo is the same as the running horse of the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders; the team that Dwayne Johnson previously had a tryout with as a defensive tackle in 1995. The Stampeders first used that logo when Metro Ford was a major sponsor and was promoting the Ford Mustang, which also has the same logo.

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Goofs

Willie would not have been sent to a Juvenile Detention center for shooting his mother's boyfriend. With the boyfriend having already abused Willies mother in the past, the physical violence against her that evening, his physical violence against her in the scene, the physical violence and threat against Willie himself, and then rushing Willie; Willie was within his legal right of self-defense and the rightful defense of others for his actions to not be prosecuted.

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Quotes

Roger Weathers: [Sean whacks Roger with a rolled up magazine] Mr. Porter?
Sean Porter: Getting beat in the middle of the night, how'd you like it Roger?
[Hits him again]
Sean Porter: You like that?
Roger Weathers: What are you hittin me for?
Sean Porter: What you hit Kelvin Owens for?
Roger Weathers: He dissed my hood!
Sean Porter: And now he's up there sleeping, and you're stuck in here! So, what does that make you?
[Hits him again]
Roger Weathers: Hey man, can you do that?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Scenes are shown from the 1992 documentary "Gridiron Gang" which inspired this film.

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Connections

References Madden NFL 94 (1993)

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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

Gridiron Gang Better Than Expected

Gridiron Gang was better than expected because of the exceptional performances by the cast including Dwayne Johnson and Xzibit. Director Phil Joanou is admirable in making this movie based on a true story because I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one and I ended up enjoying it. Dwayne Johnson turns in a solid performance as Sean Porter a juvenile detention center counselor who changes the lives of many troubled teenagers for the better by getting them to join a football team. Xzibit doesn't have much to do but he still is effective as Malcolm Moore whose Sean's friend and a fellow counselor. The rest of the cast are good in their roles as well. The pacing was a little slow at times but the rest of the movie made up for it's few flaws. I was impressed with Gridiron Gang and if people give it a chance I'm sure they'll enjoy it too. Overall despite some flaws Gridiron Gang is a well made coming of age drama with complex characters, some realistic sports action, and equally impressive performances by the cast especially Johnson who make this movie based on a true story worth the time to watch because it deserves to be told.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gang Gridiron

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

Gross USA:

$38,432,823

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$41,480,851

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