A film lacking Herzog's USP -- an ironic and regressive sense of the irreducible power of images -- 'Invincible' feels as though it has been devised by a scholar steeped in Herzog lore, but who at some crucial early stage mistook him for Istvan Szabo.
Invincible (2006)
Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins
Synopsis: The story of the misfit outsider who rises through the ranks of a professional sport to enjoy inexplicable success has been stamped into celluloid more times than most folks can remember. INVINCIBLE tells the tale of bartender Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a down-on-his-luck former... The story of the misfit outsider who rises through the ranks of a professional sport to enjoy inexplicable success has been stamped into celluloid more times than most folks can remember. INVINCIBLE tells the tale of bartender Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a down-on-his-luck former teacher who decides to answer an open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles. It doesn't take a genius to work out what happens next, but the twist here is that Vince Papale is a real person, and the story is based on his eyebrow-raising memoir of the same name. Papale's call-up to the Eagles occurred in 1976, so the flowery fashions and long flowing locks worn by both men and women of the era are all immaculately replicated by director Ericson Core's carefully styled cast. When Eagles coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) throws his last, desperate roll of the dice and recruits Papale, he faces open hostility from his team of professionals. Papale also has to catch a few jibes at his expense, especially as he's a little old to be a professional football player. As the ill-fitting future star jostles with his teammates and strives to prove himself in the team, a host of '70s hits rip through the soundtrack, and subplots about a jealous friend (Dov Davidoff) and a lover (Elizabeth Banks) are utilized to lure in non-sports fans. Wahlberg is well cast, drawing on his experience in the similarly themed ROCK STAR, and once again proving his chops as a leading man. INVINCIBLE is a Disney film and follows firmly in the footsteps the company has imprinted upon the movie industry, with its wholesome tale closely resembling two other flicks the company has produced--REMEMBER THE TITANS and THE ROOKIE. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Kirk Acevedo, Kevin Conway
Screenwriter: Brad Gann
Producer: Mark Ciardi, Ken Mok, Gordon Gray
Composer: Mark Isham
DVD Info
Release:
Jul 12, 2007
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English, French
- Subtitles - French, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
- Featurettes - 1. "Becoming Invincible: The Vince Papale Story"
- Commentaries - 1. Vince Papale, Producer Mark Ciardi, Writer Brad Gann
- 2. Director Ericson Core, Editor Jerry Greenberg
Reviews
Though familiar and cliched, Invincible succeeds in spite of itself because it is so technically well done and full of heart.
Mating calls aside, the paint-by-numbers sports side of this picture is only likely to capture the imagination of kids under the age of ten.
As far as sports films go, Invincible doesn't offer anything original or notable ... except Mark Wahlberg's performance.
Invincible is a Walter Mitty tale, but a true one, a fantasy come to life.
There's a sugar coating to the way Papale's story unfolds, but not so much that you'll spoil your dinner.
This 'chump-to-champ' story adheres to the 'Three R' formula: Part 'Rudy,' part 'Rocky,' with a dash of 'The Rookie' tossed in for good measure.
If Vince Papale was the heart and soul of Philadelphia during the mid-1970s, Wahlberg brings those same qualities to "Invincible," a movie served considerably by them.
The latest in Disney's line of films about real-life sports figures never settles for easy answers.
Out of work schoolteacher and part-time bartender, Philadelphia Eagles football fan Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) had nothing to lose when new coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) held an open tryout. With sheer determination and stamina, Papale made the team
The formula is predictable but the film deserves props for making a momentary fan out of someone who wouldn't be caught dead watching Monday Night Football
You're likely to find this a touching, stirring story even if it has been given the Hollywood treatment.
For the umpteenth time, Walt Disney Pictures repackages the American dream. Go ahead and groan over all the predictable elements, but you'll root for Papale, Vermeil and the Eagles.
A little "Rocky," a little "Rookie," and all heart, "Invincible" is a good-natured sports movie that's as uplifting as it looks.
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