Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Gridiron Gang

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Constantine
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Average
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults Teens
Genre: Sports Drama Adaptation
Length: 2 hr.
Year of Release: 2006
USA Release: September 15, 2006 (wide)
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Featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Xzibit, Danny Martinez, Maurice McRae, Mo, Trever O’Brien, Six Reasons, Brandon Smith, Jade Yorker, Robert Zepeda, Michael J. Pagan, Kevin Dunn, Leon Rippy
Director Phil Joanou
Producer Shane Stanley, Michael I. Rachmil, Ryan Kavanaugh
Distributor
Distributor: Columbia Pictures. Trademark logo.
Columbia Pictures
, a division of Sony Pictures

“One Goal. A Second Chance.”

“Based on a true story, ‘Gridiron Gang’ sends out a message that one man can make a difference and the most hopeless kids in our society can change the course of their lives through hard work, commitment and bold leadership.”

For a football movie, I sure did feel like crying several times while watching “Gridiron Gang.” This is one of those movies that more people should see than probably will, if only because Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has yet to find his nitch on the big screen. Johnson is a huge success in the world of wrestling and has talent that just needs the right movie to showcase it. Johnson is a good guy, and with the exception of “The Scorpion King,” has always played one on screen. In his autobiographical book entitled The Rock Says, Johnson is at once humble, honest about his shortcomings, and frowns on the adultery that is present in the circuit when the wrestlers go on the road. And so with “Gridiron Gang,” we see a continuation of that same theme.

Based on a true story, the movie is set in LA, where gang activity seems to be a way of life for teenagers. Johnson plays Sean Porter, a juvenile detention camp probation officer who is frustrated at the lack of success the program is having. 75% of all the young boys that leave the center wind up back in jail or dead within a short amount of time. Out of desperation to reach these young men, many of whose parents have given up, Porter is inspired to have them form a football team. This is not without its challenges: the boys will have to work together (letting go of gang rivalries), submit to authority figures, work hard, and keep their grades up. And then there is the issue of who and where they will play.

It is not until Porter speaks to a Christian Principal that he gets his chance. Unfortunately, before that Principal relents, he has to be reminded by Porter’s fellow officer Moore that Jesus tells us to be merciful, not judge anything before it’s time, and if you give, it will be given back to you in good measure. But what I liked, also, about this movie was how real the characters were. How many times do we need a gentle reminder before we do the right thing?

Porter displays a lot of compassion when dealing with the youths. He seems to have a knack for knowing when to be the disciplinarian and when to ease up and just listen. But he’s also not afraid to speak the truth in love when one of the boys tries to make excuses for himself.

We also learn that Porter’s mom is dying (presumably from cancer), but she is a constant source of love and encouragement for him. In the scenes where she is present, we learn more about what drives Porter. His own dad berated him after every football game and was never able to provide the loving support that all boys need from their fathers.

Although Johnson is not 100% convincing when he has his big football speech moments (I kept expecting a People’s Eyebrow to slip in at any moment), Johnson is great with the intensely emotional scenes. One of the most memorable moments in the movie is when he is dealing with a youth named Willie who has seemingly lost it. Only days before, his friend was shot on the football field by a rival gang member who belonged to the same gang Willie was in before becoming incarcerated. The two had been able to stop hating each other and become friends. As he struggles to sort out his loyalties and subdue the rage he feels at the world, Johnson’s character encourages him to forgive those people who have hurt him, including his father. Willie asks him when he forgave his father. Johnson pauses, looks at the ceiling for a moment and then responds with tears in his eyes, “Just now.”

I caution parents to consider leaving anyone under 13 at home. What moviegoers will most likely find the most offensive is the language peppered throughout the movie. There are at least three instances of the Lord’s name being taken in vain, and a few instances of other curse words. There is a scene where the boys respond somewhat inappropriately at a passing car full of attractive women and Porter only smiles. There are several scenes where the boys are shown without shirts. There is a also violence, both on the field and off, but there is nothing too graphic. It is only shown to help viewers understand the world that the kids come from.

The thing however that bothered me the most was that other than one instance of Moore telling Porter to pray, because they could use all the help they can get, there is an element of humanism in the film that encourages viewers to believe in themselves. We are admonished that apart from Jesus, anything we do will not count. We are not to believe in ourselves, but to believe that through Christ (and Christ only) we can do all things (1 Peter 4:10-12).

As long as parents are able to communicate this with their children after the movie, I heartily recommend it. This is a movie that deals successfully with actions and consequences, as well as forgiveness and second chances.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Minor

Editor’s Note: According to a published report, “Gridiron Gang” includes at least one use of the f-word, plus five uses of God’s name in vain.

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Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive—This was a good movie, only bad part was the cussing, which wasn’t that bad. If you have a kid under 10 or 9, don’t let them go see it, because they probably couldn’t understand it.
My Ratings: Good / 4½
Carolyn, age 32
Comments from young people
Positive—“Gridiron Gang” is a movie about a man named Sean Porter who decided to start a football team in a juvenile jail. It is a pretty good sports movie (slightly better than “Invincible”) that has a good message behind it. That message is that everyone needs a second (or third, or fourth, etc.) chance. As Christians, we all know that every person on this planet has innumerable chances to be saved. Jesus Christ doesn’t reject anyone who rejects Him once, He gives everyone many chances to be saved (He only rejects someone if they reject Him for life.) Christians might be reminded of this concept when watching this movie (even though God is never really mentioned except, sadly, through blasphemy).

However, though this film has a great message, it has many content concerns. I didn’t get an exact number because I didn’t exactly keep count, but I know that there are at least more than 40 instances of profanity in this movie. Most or all of it might have meant to have been used to show the depravity of all these people, but I doubt that was the case. There’s no blood, but there is plenty of non-football violence. Three people are shot (two of them die), there is a short scene showing an abusive man beating up on a woman and her son (consequently, he gets shot by the son), and one kid dies by getting hit by a car. Sexual content is practically non-existent (I say “practically” because there is only one scene I remember that featured sexual content).

This film is suitable for those 15 and up, but I can’t really say for sure that I would recommend it. The movie has a good message that Christians can relate to (sinners getting a second chance), but I have a little trouble recommending it because of the content concerns. It is better than “Invincible” in moviemaking quality, but is a few levels below it in the moral quality (or at least in the lack of offensive content).
My Ratings: Offensive / 3
Ross, age 17
Neutral—…a terrific movie. As I walked in the theater I was thought I was going to see a nude-filled action packed film. As I left the theater I was in awe that it was all drama. This film did have about 50 S-words and some F-words, A-words, and B-words, but I have seen worse. This was a very informing movie about what goes on out on the streets. I would not recommend anyone under the age of 14 seeing this movie and make sure your comfortable with some guns and violence. In one part of the movie a character by the name of Willie Weathers is being spectated by some of his former gang members. While the celebration after the game his so called “88” gang members came on the field and confronted a teammate of Willies. Knowing Willie’s teammate was from a rival gang he watched his fellow “88s” pull a gun and shoot his friend. As his gang members went to finish him off with a second bullet, Willie tackled his gang friend who then ran off the field shooting at police. If you feel, as a Christian, that you don’t think that violence is right, then I don’t feel that it would be comfortable for you to see this. I, a Free lutheran, don’t feel that was a great, God-praising movie, but it was a lot better than “Longest Yard” or “Mr. and Ms. Smith.” My final conclusion of this film is that, the movie is a 4 on the Christian scale, and a 4 on the public scale.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4
Nick, age 12
Positive—I think this movie was the best I have seen all year. Aside from the amount of swearing, I would recommend this movie for teenagers, at the lowest. The violence and cussing were fitting, because that is the background these kids came from. But they don’t need to over-do it. I think that the morale of the story was clearly stated throughout… It was AWESOME!!!…
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
Chris Hebert, age 13
Positive—This was a really good movie; I really liked it. …great story and the acting was good. There was language though, but there is not sex or anything like that. …
My Ratings: Average / 5
Steven, age 15