A simple but well-written sports biopic
Unstoppable is a well written and simple sports drama, retelling the true story of a man who inspired a generation of kids to overcome any adversity. This man is Anthony Robles, a guy born with one leg and determined to prove the world wrong by making it big in the world of wrestling.
There’s no flashy gimmicks or crazy table matches here, as we get down to the nitty-gritty of college athletic wrestling. For those unaware of the difference, the wrestling here is less about big finishing moves and taunting the audience, and very much in the court of strength, technique and balance.
The film does a good job introducing newcomers to this world, and Anthony Robles is undoubtedly an easy guy to root for. He works hard, is determined and makes big sacrifices for his family. When he’s not busting a gut at school or wrestling guys on the mat, he’s trying to provide for his family. This is where Unstoppable’s secondary plot comes into focus.
As has become the norm for a lot of these sport dramas, Anthony has problems he needs to overcome back home, which cause just as much difficulty as those at school. A lot of this stems from step-dad Rick (brought to life with incredible sliminess by Bobby Cannavale) a man who’s very much a Dad when he wants to be, and has a lot of issues, which he unfortunately takes out on his mum, Judy, and the kids.
Rick is absent during some nights, while other times he comes home in a foul temper, spouting out monologues about choices and “being a man”. It’s all very toxic and it’s partly what drives Anthony’s character forward. He’s not only wrestling his teammates, but he’s also wrestling the very family that he’s trying to provide for.
This sets up a lovely friction that’s explored across the two hour run-time, although if you’ve seen other movies of its kind, Unstoppable holds absolutely no surprises in this department. The same can be said for the characters, who all feel pretty cliched in their roles.
Don Cheadle slips effortlessly into the role of Coach Shawn Charles, a man who starts off as a hardass and dismissing Anthony’s talents, before softening and becoming a believer.
We also have Jennifer Lopez in the role of Judy Robles, a woman struggling to keep everything together in the wake of overwhelming stress. She plays the role of an exasperated and abused partner to perfection and you really see that internal struggle during her chats with Anthony, played by Jharrel Jerome.
In fact, Jerome’s performance is partly what helps drive this film forward so effectively, which is just as well because when it comes to the screenplay, there’s nothing too noteworthy here that stands out from others in this field.
You’ll know every beat and twist that’s coming, just because the film is so unashamedly rigid in its desire to be an inspirational sport biopic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth noting if you’re looking for something a bit different to the norm.
If there’s one downside to this drama though, outside its simplicity, it stems from the lack of an antagonistic force to hold everything together. There’s an ongoing rivalry with amateur wrestler Matt McDonough, but it’s never really given the time to properly marinate. Given the amount of time this film has to work with, sprinkling in a bit more drama with him and Anthony would have worked wonders just to make the finale that much more spicy and dramatic.
Similarly, we all know Anthony is an inspiration so a scene late on involving Judy reading out letters about how inspirational he is feels like positive affirmation that’s really not needed and this time could have been better served to beef out the secondary characters in this one.
However, gripes aside, the film does a commendable job with the ensemble and the screenplay is pretty well put together. The music choices are great, and there are a couple of motivational montages that work well, and will have you itching to get in the gym when the final credits roll.
Its certainly not perfect, and the predictable screenplay is both the movie’s biggest strength and greatest weakness. However, if you’re after an inspiring sport biopic, Unstoppable is definitely a solid option and well worth checking out.
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Verdict - 7/10
7/10