Gracie (2007)

A teenager faces an uphill battle when she fights to give women the opportunity to play competitive soccer.

Director:

Davis Guggenheim

Writers:

Lisa Marie Petersen (screenplay), Karen Janszen (screenplay)

Stars:

Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue, Elisabeth Shue

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jesse Lee Soffer	...	Johnny Bowen
Christopher Shand	...	Kyle Rhodes
Carly Schroeder	...	Grace Bowen
Karl Girolamo	...	Curt
Vasilios Mantagas	...	Craig
Donny Gray	...	Donny
Emma Bell	...	Kate Dorset
Dermot Mulroney	...	Bryan Bowen
Hunter Schroeder	...	Mike Bowen
Trevor Heins	...	Daniel Bowen
Josh Caras	...	Peter Wicker (as Joshua Caras)
Elisabeth Shue	...	Lindsay Bowen
Madison Arnold	...	Granddad
John Doman	...	Coach Colasanti
Andrew Shue	...	Coach Owen Clark

Storyline

This is the story of a teenager named Gracie Bowen, who lives in South Orange, New Jersey, is crazy about soccer, as are her three brothers and former soccer star father. Although Gracie wants to join her brothers and father in the nightly practices, she is discouraged by everyone except her elder brother, Johnny. Her father does not believe that girls should play soccer and tells her that she is neither tough enough nor talented enough to play with the boys team. Undeterred, Gracie finds reserves of strength she never knew existed, and persists in changing everyone's beliefs in what she is capable of, including her own. She faces an uphill battle when she fights to give women the opportunity to play competitive soccer. But as the beautiful and strong person that she has always been but she also brings her family together in the face of their own tragedy.

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Plot Keywords:

soccer | teenager | girl | boy | south orange new jersey | 

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Taglines:

Inspired by one family's real story

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Finding Gracie

Filming Locations:

Alpine, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,355,904, 3 June 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$2,955,039, 22 July 2007

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,036,736, 26 July 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elevation Filmworks,Picturehouse,Ursa Major Films LLC

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Is inspired by events in the life of Elisabeth Shue while growing up (in the same town where the movie was filmed), who played soccer with the boys for as long as she could before turning her focus to gymnastics.

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Goofs

When Johnny was taking the penalty shot the goalie was lined up in front of the end line. In a soccer game, when a penalty shot is taken the goalie must be standing on the goal line.

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Crazy Credits

A dedication to Elisabeth Shue's deceased brother, William, appears at the beginning of the film. Quotations from Elisabeth and William appear before and after the closing credits.

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Connections

Features The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

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Soundtracks

Funk #49
Written by Jim Fox (as James Fox), Dale Peters and Joe Walsh
Performed by James Gang (as The James Gang)
Courtesy of Geffen Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

enjoyable despite the clichés

When high school soccer star Johnny Bowen is killed in a car crash, his grieving kid sister vows to keep his memory alive by taking his place on the team. But first Gracie will have to overcome the strenuous objections of both the coach and her own misogynistic father to her plan.

Although it has many of the hallmarks of a Lifetime Original Movie - souped-up gender conflict, an overdose of sentimental uplift, and a plucky, inspirational heroine at its core - "Gracie," which is set in late 1970's New Jersey, transcends many of its stereotypes and clichés through heartfelt performances, unpretentious writing and earnest direction.

Carly Schroeder has grit and charm to spare as the indomitable Gracie, while Dermot Mulroney and Elizabeth Shue acquit themselves nicely as her ultimately supportive parents.

It's true that "Gracie" provides us with nothing we haven't seen a thousand times before - from "The Karate Kid" to "Bend it Like Beckham" - but inspirational-sports-movie fans should still find themselves cheering on this latest underdog story.