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Film review

Life-altering scrimmages

In Gridiron Gang, a determined, empathetic football coach helps youthful criminals turn dysfunction into direction, and prepare for life's Really Big Game.

By STEVE PERSALL
Published September 14, 2006

Like all good sports movies, Gridiron Gang isn't about sports but about the proverbial "game of life."

When coaches use that analogy to pep up players, it never fails to draw a few smirks, usually from those who will ride the bench. Players who believe the philosophy that what happens on the field will matter years later often discover it's true.

The padded gladiators of the real-life Gridiron Gang learned that the hard way, after criminal lives without football landed them in Camp Kilpatrick, a Southern California juvenile detention center. A former college player and corrections officer named Sean Porter gave them chances to redeem themselves through football, replacing irresponsibility with self-worth, breaking down gang anger and instilling commitment to a team.

It sounds too good to be true, but it isn't. Stick around for the end credits, featuring clips from Lee Stanley's 1993 documentary, also called Gridiron Gang, to understand how precisely director Phil Joanou follows the story of Porter's team.

This isn't merely The Longest Yard Jr. Like Hoosiers and Remember the Titans, Joanou completely buys into that "game of life" philosophy and passionately sells it to viewers.

Dwayne Johnson plays Porter, and he's too good to be referred to as the Rock. Before Johnson was a celebrated pro wrestler, he was a delinquent, like the Camp Kilpatrick crew. Football straightened him out, and he earned a spot on the University of Miami roster.

In this movie, Johnson performs with a sense of urgency to make a difference, not in his career, but for teenagers watching. You believe him when he's rallying his team and when he's counseling a player. Johnson won't win any awards, but he deserves respect.

The chief strength of Gridiron Gang is Jeff Maguire's screenplay, lifting memorable lines directly from Stanley's documentary. Maguire whittles the human interest stories to a worthwhile handful: Willie Weathers Jade Yorker shot his abusive stepfather and holds a nasty grudge against rival gang member Calvin Owens (David Thomas), now a teammate. Kenny Bates (Trevor O'Brien) has family issues, even while incarcerated. Others make impressions by their bulk (Setu Taase) or lack of it (Brandon Mychal Smith), and everyone has a shot at declaring his aspirations.

Maguire and Joanou deftly juggle the multiple dysfunctions, usually stopping short of anything that smacks of sentiment, especially in football sequences matching the choreographed mayhem of Friday Night Lights. That makes the inevitable teardrop moments - there's a lot of death for dramatic effect here - seem sincere and worth our Kleenex. Of course there is a Big Game, but under these compelling circumstances, every game is fairly momentous for one reason or another. That's life.

Steve Persall can be reached at (727) 893-8365 or persall@sptimes.com

GRIDIRON GANG

Grade: B+

Director: Phil Joanou

Cast: Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, Xzibit, Jade Yorker, Trevor O'Brien, Setu Taase, L. Scott Caldwell, David Thomas, Kevin Dunn

Screenplay: Jeff Maguire, based on the 1993 documentary

Rating: PG-13; violence, profanity, mature themes

Running time: 120 min.

[Last modified September 13, 2006, 12:59:56]