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
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Title: Forever Strong (2008)
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1 win.
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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 | |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
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. Written by statmanjeff
Taglines:
The Greatest Victories are Born in the HeartMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving teen drug and alcohol use, and for some disturbing images | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
26 September 2008 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Untitled Ryan Little Project See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$68,283, 3 October 2008, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$630,649, 2 November 2008Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Rick Penning: I'm not your "brah," so quit calling me that.
Bingham: Okay, okay, no problem. Belt up, SISTER.
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Written by Alex Anderson & R. Alex Anderson
Performed by Mugsy
Courtesy of SBI America
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The chants and tribal markings the Highland players make/wear are "a haka" (Maori warrior challenge) before each match. Maori are the aboriginal (native) peoples of New Zealand, and Maori people have a long history of participation in Rugby, the national sport of New Zealand See more »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. See more »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.
See more »
Crazy Credits
The coaching philosophies of Larry Gelwix has led the Highland Rugby team to a record of 361 wins, 9 losses. They continue to dominate in their sport today. See more »Soundtracks
Mele KalikimakaWritten by Alex Anderson & R. Alex Anderson
Performed by Mugsy
Courtesy of SBI America
See more »
First of all, I know almost nothing about rugby, so although I found the rugby-aspect of this movie to be interesting it could have been any sport and I think I would have enjoyed it just as much. The fact that it as about rugby didn't make it any better or worse for me.
What made this movie great is the story itself, based on actual events that have occurred over the last 30 years with the Highland Rugby club. Coach Gelwix is the kind of coach that most every parent would like their children to have, someone who cares more about the person than the sport (even though they have won 17 national championships and have only lost 9 games in over 30 years!). The more I have learned about the coach and team the more I like this movie and its message.
I have seen other sports movies that seemed great at first, but then I researched the details only to find that most of those movies were 10% fact and 90% fiction, with the 10% of facts being greatly exaggerated. Not so with Forever Strong. It may seem too good to be true, but that's what's so amazing about it. If it were fiction it would just be an enjoyable story and nothing more. Instead, the movie is inspirational and makes you want to be a better person.
Don't miss this movie because of a few negative reviews by professional critics. I have been reading some of their reviews and most of them have given the movie horrible reviews. These are generally the same critics who rave about movies that most people hate. In fact, I would be worried if some of these critics had given the movie good reviews because I almost always disagree with their opinions.
Go see this movie and post your review (positive or negative)! Currently most of the audience reviews are enthusiastically positive (here and on Rotten Tomatoes and similar sites), and I am interested to see if this trend continues. Thanks!