Rated PG-13 for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language. Yet, this film is based on teens who lived this violence, mature material and language. Gridiron Gang is, also, about the men who turned around the statistic that said 75% of these boys would be in prison or dead soon after their release from Camp Kilpatrick, a juvenile detention center in Los Angeles.

The young men at Camp Kilpatrick are there for everything from stealing a Nissan Sentra to murder. They don't have discipline, education or someone who believes in them...until Sean Porter, an officer at the detention center, decides to use his football background to give them those 3 things.

With the help of Malcom Moore, another detention center officer, Porter puts together a football team...or what he hopes will become a team. Overcoming the boys prejudices against each other, rival gang members fighting and their lack of discipline is the first steps to making this team work.

Porter gives the Camp Kilpatrick Mustangs his all, even with his ailing mother in the hospital, trouble from some of his team members and few people believing the boys can become more than what they are...convicts.

I am not a football fan...
but I am a sucker for true life stories about people with heart. It seems that lately these movies revolve around football, such as this one and Invincible.

Gridiron Gang is an amazing story that shows how one man can make a huge difference in life. It shows how if one person steps up to make a difference, others will follow. Most of all, it shows that with guidance and someone that cares about them, people can change.

I loved this movie and would have given it 5 stars if Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, as Sean Porter, hadn't fallen flat in his dialogue at times. In some scenes it was like he was just reading the script, instead of feeling what he was saying.

Xzibit, as Malcom Moore, was good. I think Moore had a bigger part in the success of the Mustangs than this movie depicts. He gave support not only to the boys, but Porter as well.

While all the boys who played detention center inmates did well in their roles there were 4 that stood out to me:

Jade Yorker as Willie Weathers was great. He had me feeling his anger, confusion and finally, pride.

Setu Taase playing Junior Palaita was impressive in this role. Going from detention center thug to role model in this movie was well done and believable.

Trever O'Brien as Kenny Bates did well in bringing a more vulnerable side to the movie, compared to the harsher violent aspect.

Brandon Smith played Bug Wendal. Before the movie was over I was calling him "the scene stealer". Too small to be on the team, he becomes the water boy. Smith played the cocky, in charge role well.

Most of all...while the movie is entertaining and interesting...the boys who lived this movie and moved past their criminal behavior are the real stars.

Runtime: 120 minutes
Directed by: Phil Joanou
For complete cast list visit www.imdb.com











Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older