No surprises here really. Just a feel good, by the book, underdog defies the odds to find success in a professional sport. I’m not belittling the formula. I like it. I liked Rocky, I liked Cinderella Man, I even liked Waterboy. But, Invincible wavers a bit in the acting department. While the film is otherwise directed well enough, because of a more or less uniform unimpressive acting by all, I feel the direction of the acting lacked. Even Marki Wahlberg, who I otherwise quite enjoy, doesn’t peak here. Also the editing doesn’t help. Pedestrian at best, it fails to assist in punctuation and emphasis.

That said, the cinematography stands out. It attains a difficult mixture of warmth and grit. And the opening credit montage is excellent. I love the shot, as if from a blimp, that pans over the snow and parked cars into the Philadelphia Eagles football Stadium. I also greatly enjoyed the sound track. Choice picks from the rock and roll of the seventies give the sweet images a drive not quite attained in the rest of the production. During the ending credits, images of the real Vince Papali project across the screen. I greatly appreciated that -- would have loved to see more. I have no idea why they were used so sparingly. Are there only a few highlights of this player?

Despite formula, despite almost film school production (cinematography and music aside), the film has a great deal of heart. It’s main character gets messages of doom through out, his wife leaves him with a note that proclaims her feeling that he will never amount to nothing -- I love how he turns those negative messages into fuel as he drives even harder toward his goals. Families and football fans should enjoy..

This film screened at a Krikorian Theatre.

Free Ross Anthony Signed Book Contest!