Just in time for football season, When The Games Stands Tall (rated PG), inspired by the true story of legendary football coach Bob Ladoucer, is in theaters nationwide.
Synopsis: Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to an unbelievable 151-game winning streak that crushed all records for any American sport, including college and professional teams. But what does the pressure of winning do to a team that can’t lose, and how do they rise again when the streak comes to an end?
I’m a sucker for inspirational sports movies, especially ones inspired by true stories and real-life heroes. Rudy, Miracle, Bend It Like Beckham, Friday Night Lights … I love them all! I fully expected to enjoy this movie simply because of the genre and the fact that I am also a Jim Caviezel fan. When the Game Stands Tall not only met my expectations, it exceeded them.
The headline is the winning streak, but that isn’t actually what the film is about. The story begins at the tail end of the streak. Falling off a pedestal is painful, and the higher the pedestal, the harder the landing. The coaches, the players, their parents, and the whole town maneuver through a vast array of negative emotions when their very identity is shattered by a loss. The inspiration comes from watching the coaches guide the kids (and their families) through tough times, both on and off the field. The beauty is seeing a community come out stronger than before with character, integrity, and resilience.
When The Game Stands Tall is rated PG. There is only mild profanity, no graphic violence, no nudity. However, this movie contains some very mature subject matter, including the death of a parent, a verbally abusive parent, an adult who smokes cigarettes, and a student who is shot and killed by another teen. There are very intense emotions portrayed throughout the film (and, in return, felt by the audience). Because of this, I would recommend this film for families with older kids. My boys are 8 and 10 years old, and we had some conversations that I wasn’t really expecting to have just yet.
That being said, I absolutely recommend this film to families! If your kids are too young to see it now, buy it when it comes out on DVD and watch it together later. There are some incredibly powerful messages about selflessness, character, loyalty, and becoming your best.
Watch the trailer:
youtube.com/watch?v=qT0aE4iAnJo
