Forever Strong (2008)

A rugby player is put up in a juvenile detention center. There he plays for the Highland Rugby team and ultimately plays against his father in the National Championships.

Director:

Ryan Little

Writers:

David Pliler, Dony West (song)

Stars:

Sean Faris, Penn Badgley, Gary Cole

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Cole	...	Coach Larry Gelwix
Sean Astin	...	Marcus Tate
Neal McDonough	...	Coach Richard Penning
Sean Faris	...	Rick Penning
Julie Warner	...	Natalie Penning
Penn Badgley	...	Lars
Eliot Schwartz	...	Marty (as Eliot Benjamin)
Michael J. Pagan	...	Kurt
Nathan West	...	Quentin
Max Kasch	...	Griggs
Arielle Kebbel	...	Emily
Kepa Kruse	...	Tumo (as John Kepa Kruse)
Junior Salt	...	Peeta
Jeremy Earl	...	Sanchez
Larry Bagby	...	Coach Cal

Storyline

Rick Penning, the 17-year-old star player on his coach/father's rugby team, lands inside the Wasatch County Juvenile Detention Center following his second drunk driving conviction (and where his father leaves him to rot). Mistrust and dislike of the situation makes Rick anything but a model prisoner, but counselors at the center nonetheless hook him up with the Highland Rugby Team, a team renowned for its long string of successive state championships. Its coach, Larry Gelwix, has a surprisingly unexpected philosophy: train boys to be champions in life first, then on the field. Rick doesn't buy into this, which could earn him some time in State Prison if he doesn't turn his life and attitude around by the time he turns 18.

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Plot Keywords:

rugby | coach | montage | juvie | father son relationship | 

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Taglines:

The Greatest Victories are Born in the Heart

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving teen drug and alcohol use, and for some disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Movie Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Ryan Little Project

Filming Locations:

Provo, Utah, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$68,283, 3 October 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$630,649, 2 November 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Go Films,Picture Rock Entertainment

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Big Budah, who plays Bingham, is a news reporter for Fox 13 Utah.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, when Rick angrily charges at a sideline bench, there are people right next to it. When the camera switches to show Rick kicking down the bench, the people have disappeared.

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Quotes

Bingham: [with Rick getting in his car] Belt up, brah.
Rick Penning: I'm not your "brah," so quit calling me that.
Bingham: Okay, okay, no problem. Belt up, SISTER.

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Crazy Credits

"It's not about Rugby, it's about young men. It's not about building a championship team, it's about building championship boys. Boys who will be forever strong." - Larry Gelwix

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Connections

Spin-off Larry Gelwix: No Regrets (2011)

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Soundtracks

Mele Kalikimaka
Written by Alex Anderson & R. Alex Anderson
Performed by Mugsy
Courtesy of SBI America

User Reviews

You gotta see it!!!

Forever strong is one of those sports movies you can actually watch. It reminded me a lot of Remember the Titans because it included comedy, sadness, and just awesomeness. I saw it at a pre-screening and all my friends liked it and easily put it in their top 2 sport movies. The acting is great in the movie. Even though it is similar to Remember the Titans it there is something very unique about this movie. I feel this is definitely Oscar worthy and will receive many awards. Everybody should definitely go see this movie and it is worth your $10. I'm going to have to see it again when it comes out because it was that good. I cant say one bad thing about the movie.