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Local Boy Makes Good 1976 was a pretty good year for Philadelphia's image. Our country's bicentennial brought renewed interest in American history and sights like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. The movie "Rocky" inspired countless dashes up the steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. But for Philadelphia Eagles fans, 1976 was expected to be no different than 1975: another losing season. After a disappointing 16-25-1 record under coach Mike McCormack, new blood was brought in to reinvigorate the flagging NFL team. "Invincible" tells the story of Vincent Papale, a 30-year-old Philadelphia teacher and bartender who actually tried out and made it on to the 1976 team and went on to play three seasons with the Eagles. A story like this has the potential to be schmaltzy on screen, yet I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked "Invincible." Mark Wahlberg plays Papale, a down on his luck guy whose wife has just left him for being good-for-nothing. But Papale is of course good at plenty of things, including football, and he spends his free nights playing rough touch ball with his bar buddies. When new Eagles coach Dick Vermeil, eager to build fan interest, holds open tryouts, Papale is at first skeptical as to whether he should show up. But constant prodding from his friends brings him to Veterans Stadium one Saturday, where he impresses Vermeil enough to earn a spot in training camp. Papale's talent and heart eventually lands him on the team's roster. It's the ultimate fan's dream come true for Papale, who plays like every game is his last, obviously pinching himself each time he takes the field. And that's the story in a nutshell, really. Oh, Papale also meets cute with Janet, a -- gasp -- New York Giants fan who starts working at the same bar as him. In real life, Janet went on to marry Vince, and they're still together today. Despite the fact that I grew up in Texas, where Friday night rivals Sunday morning for worship services of one form or another, I am not really a football fan. I've absorbed the game and know the basic rules. I even attended a few Houston Oilers games in the 1970s and 1980s (and I can still recite a naughty rhyme I learned in grade school about quarterback Dan Pastorini). But I do love a good sports movie, and despite its simple story, "Invincible" is a good show. Wahlberg is a perfect athletic-type, and I've always felt he gets a bum rap with regard to his acting. He's very likable here, as are most all the characters. Coach Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) is humble, he has a supporting wife, and the whole community rallies behind Vince. The conflict in the film comes less from the jealous pro players already on the team than from Vince himself, whose self doubt is the only thing standing between him and his dream. Finally, it's worth noting that "Invincible" is a good family film. It's unapologetically inspirational, and clean -- there's a curious lack of swear words uttered, even though many of the scenes take place in a bar or at a football stadium (that's probably where the movie deviates furthest from reality!). The DVD of "Invincible" is relatively light on special features, but the two that are included are worth noting. A half-hour featurette on the disc refreshingly focuses mostly on the real story of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970s, and less on the standard "making of" the film. And Vincent Papale himself joins an audio commentary track included on the disc. Yes, 1976 was a pretty good year for Philadelphia's image, despite the weak national economy and work stoppages that manifest themselves on screen to form the backdrop of "Invincible." And for one guy from the neighborhood, 1976 was a great year. 1/31/07 Back to the main Cinema Tuesdays Reviews page More about the Cinema Tuesdays series  |
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