Customer Reviews
Great movie 
2008-11-09
I'm not a huge fan of football movies, but this one goes beyond that. It has its cliched moments, but overall, it has a wonderful message. And the fact that it's based on real events is even better. A movie I think everyone should see.
A very good movie about an important real-time subject 2008-10-11
Dwayne Johnson did a very nice, sincere job in this part. The movie was a very believable, accurate portrayal of the subject matter.
Gridiron Gang 2008-09-18
Great uplifting movie on a true story. I'm disappointed to find out that the cheerleaders were added in the movie just for comic relief. In the actual story they never had any cheerleaders. Just saw it this week. Now I need to see the documentary whenever it comes out.
Gridiron Gang Satisfies 
2008-07-15
While the Gridiron Gang, like most sports movies, has game sequences that are unrealistic, the story is compelling enough to carry the movie. The acting is good and believable, and you end up caring for the characters. Inspirational and thought-provoking. Coarse language may make it inappropriate for younger viewers.
Profound and emotionally powerful 2008-05-27
First and foremost, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is incredibly believable in Gridioron Gang. The role is not a big stretch for Johnson considering his history as a child with a distant father (Johnson's father was often away wrestling professionally), and as a former football player. It should come as no surprise that he completely nails the part, playing the role of Sean Porter perfectly; so much so, in fact, that the actual documentary footage of the real Porter was a near mirror image of Johnson's portrayal of Porter in the movie.
Sean Porter (Johnson) is a former football player turned counselor at a juvenile detention center. The job is daunting enough, especially considering that nearly 75% of those leaving the facility end up as repeat offenders at one time or another after their release. Porter sought to encourage the young men, show them that they have inner-strength, worth, and that they were actually winners in the game of life, not the losers that ended up in the facility.
The movie is full of cliches, and it's about as predictable as a sunrise. It's the typical underdogs-achieve-excellence-through-adversity-and-teamwork story. It's formulaic, and just like countless other sports movies. The difference, however, is that this movie has incredible heart. Johnson exudes powerful yet gentle emotion as the fatherly, caring, football coach who uses tough-love and the bonding of football to bring about both football and character results.
There are a handful of genuinely touching scenes, and I'll admit that it got a bit dusty while watching. My allergies were really acting up during the scene that the players buy flowers for Porter's ailing mother.
Gridiron Gang is well worth the watch. Despite the fact that I knew the entire movie by the time I heard the beginning, I still enjoyed it immensely.
Movies 2008-05-20
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars in this gritty and inspirational movie based on a true story of a group of teenage delinquents given a second chance to redeem themselves by playing football. Sean Porter (Johnson) is a frustrated juvenile probation officer. Most of the kids in his detention camp are either sent back to prison once they leave or meet a violent end when they return to the streets. Desperately looking for a way to make a difference, he and his co-worker Malcolm Moore (Xzibit, TV's
Pimp My Ride) devise a plan to teach discipline and responsibility through the game of football. But with only four weeks before the start of the season, Porter must overcome insurmountable odds to put together a competitive team. It's a season that will test their minds, spirit, and bodies as Porter teaches his players the principles of good character, strength through resiliency, and genuine respect for one another.
fabulous! 2007-12-18
this movie has a great moral behind it and i loved watching it. it will be one i have my kids watch when they are alittle older!
A Hit With Everyone--Add this to your collection! 2007-12-17
I was very hesitant to purchase this movie because I thought it was "just" another underdog story and after so many--who cares, right?
WRONG! Because of the total sincerity Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson puts into his performance, the grit displayed by the young actors and tight pacing by the director, I've had several mixed groups of adults (male and female) and kids plus teens be riveted to the movie and find it not only enjoyable but with a motivational message that is superb. This is the movie to keep on hand when you have a houseful of guests or a classroom of students--probably 6th grade or so-- and above. A great purchase and a keeper of a DVD--grab it now!
About True Teamwork 2007-12-14
This is a surprisingly good movie. It's a true story about a youth detention counselor (starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) who needs to come up with a strategy to straighten out some unruly male juvenile delinquents so that they do not return to a life of crime on "the mean streets" of their respective neighborhoods. The counselor decides that the youths could build character and learn some very valuable life-lessons through the teamwork of organized football. It's not an immediate transformation but they eventually come around to trusting each other and become a real team.
Surprisingly Good!! 2007-11-04
Forget what ya heard. This movie has way more heart than most!!
First of all, I didn't go into this movie having any high expectations. Frankly, I made this movie very last on my list of things to watch after I had seen everything else I wanted to see. I was wrong! This movie was so much more than I expected it to be. I know there are quite a few people saying that this movie wasn't anything special, but truthfully, there really aren't many things you'll find special about a lot of movies these days. That's mostly due to the lack of originality floating around though. Secondly, The Rock's acting ability has come light years since his first film. Frankly, I expected him to be a one hit wonder with the "Scorpion King", and eventually fizzle out just like the rest of his fellow wrestler/actor compadres who have failed miserably at it long before him. Third, I found this movie to be very inspirational by having grown up in the hood and witnessing a lot of my family and friends living this lifestyle and ending up in places exactly like this due to the choices they made. Fourth, I finally got to see a movie that actually shows life behind bars as being much more than prison rapes, riots, shankings, and drug cartels. It's usually those type of prison movies were everyone dies and you end up being so depressed at the end of it because nothing good happened throughout the entire movie. I've certainly seen my fair share of those films I'll tell you. That's why I'm glad this movie showed that just because these individuals had become locked up for whatever reason that still didn't mean they were all hopeless human beings who had become threats to society and themselves. It shows that these men can actually come out of this situation rehabilitated and with something to strive for. A lot of these men have been written off by society and nobody really cares what happens to them. Therefore, since they don't have support systems or people who believe in them they are most likely to become habitual felons and go back into incarceration. This movie shows how these young men were given hope, and that lets them know that coming back to prison doesn't have to be their future. That they can actually be good at something, and learn how to turn their aggressions into something positive. I don't know about other viewers, but I really liked this movie seeing as how I've seen first hand what places like that can do to a person's spirit if they allow themselves to be destroyed. In conclusion, my sypnosis ladies and gents is... I dug it!
