American Underdog is the story of NFL Quarterback Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi). Based on real events, the film chronicles Warner’s humble beginnings as a boy from Iowa with a big dream: to play football professionally at the highest level. Along the way he meets Brenda Meoni, a former Marine and her two children. Kurt is instantly smitten with the whole lot of them. But as his career progresses and falters he must figure out how to reconcile his sports aspirations with being present for the people he loves and adores.
What works in American Underdog is its heart and relate-ability. Directors Joe and Andrew Erwin (I Can Only Imagine) wisely choose a balance in their narrative that puts Kurt’s football journey at the center, but also places heavy emphasis on Brenda’s role and arc as well. American Underdog paints the Warners as real people who struggle only to triumph thanks to the love and support they share as a family. While Kurt’s rise is certainly heartwarming, there are much deeper messages at play about faith and perseverance that will likely resonate positively with most audiences.
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On the topic of football—and being a sports film in general—American Underdog is top notch. The on-the-field sequences have been expertly recreated and edited by Sean Albertson and Andrew Erwin. They manage to conjure up the same thrill one gets from watching a live event, but also maintaining a cinematic feel. The filmmakers also weave in old footage from actual games to give the experience an even more authentic feel.
Audiences who don’t enjoy sports-based movies with familiar themes are less likely to enjoy American Underdog. Many similar movies follow the same recognizable trajectory, and while American Underdog avoids some tropes, it still follows the playbook pretty close. People who don’t have a particular interest in professional football will probably feel less invested in how things unfold or understand certain ramifications.
American Underdog is a warm blanket of a movie. Levi’s charm makes him impossible not to stand up and root for—something the whole family can do together. While the beats and outcome may be predictable (or known), the whole affair is incredibly endearing and entertaining.
PS – Nicholas Harris as Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis is very amusing—his mannerism and speech are incredibly spot-on.
Recommended if you Enjoyed: Rudy, The Replacements, Hoosiers, Rocky
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