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Forever Strong

Forever Strong

2008

Rick Penning (Sean Faris) is a bad-boy rugby player. When life on the edge lands him in jail, prison ward Marcus Tate (Sean Astin, Lord of the Rings) offers him a chance to get back into the game by playing for long-time rival team, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly, Rick joins the team where he has to adopt gruelling training schedules and a unique code of conduct that Highland's legendary coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole) demands.

Gelwix is a real guy and the film is based on his coaching philosophies.

Starring Sean Astin, Gary Cole, Sean Faris, Penn Badgley, Julie Warner, Arielle Kebbel

Directed by Ryan Little ('House of Fears', 'Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy')

Written by David Pliler

Sport, Drama | 1hr 52mins | Rated (M) | contains drug use | Origin: USA | Official Site »

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Flicks review

  •  2

    Rugby is an exotic sport in the United States where its rarity can be molded to fit the needs of almost any parable. New Zealanders familiar with the rucking and post-match debauchery of First XV munters will find the saintly aura affixed to our national code in Forever Strong somewhat disconcerting.

    This is a two-toned inspirational sports film, in which characters are either models of abstinence, sobriety, charity work and fair play, or Quaalude-scoffing psychopathic cheats. For an indie-budget production the rugby scenes are on par with a bottom-of-the-table provincial match, but despite the simplifications this morality tale should play well with parents.

    This is easily the best film about rugby I’ve caught on the big screen. That's because flicks about rugby are rarer than midget locks – making this the only film about rugby I’ve seen.

    Agree? Disagree?...

The people's reviews

22 reviews

  • True story, they say?

     4

    Friend

    Nobody (?)

    My friend was on the Highland Highschool Rugby Team and he told me that most of these events are true, but a lot of them are from different years and almost no original names were used. An interview with the coach verified this. It played out with the same plot as any other sport movie. Still, it was a good movie, albiet predictable. But why is everyone upset about the Haka and the New Zealand All Blacks? Unless something was incorrect, like mispronounced words or something, I think that there should be no reason to not use a war dance to pump up for a game. And Highland dominates as much as the All Blacks do in their league.

    I would have rated 3.5/5 stars, but I bumped it up because my friend was on the team. Hey, I can show a little favoritism, can't I?

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Review

     4

    Josh Howard

    Nobody (?)

    It is interesting to note people complaining about the use of the haka in this film. Are they aware that the actual highland rugby team have been performing the haka for 20+ years now? It has become part of their culture also. This started as the coach was taught rugby by coaches from NZ and they brought it with them. I think it is great to see our culture being embraced by others around the world. We need more of it if it is to survive and even thrive.

    This is a movie I enjoy, though I do see it's flaws. Yes the rugby scenes might be compared to our provincial games, but remember this is High School rugby, in a country who only have a small pool for competition.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • amazing

     5

    jojo

    Nobody (?)

    you guys dont even know what you are talking about this movie was ficken amazing dude...it had to be the best movie i ever seen in my entire life...the star rating may only go to 5 but i give it a 10 it was that good

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Sick

    NZgirl

    Nobody (?)

    It sickens me to hear that an American team are going around performing the Haka and drawing Koro patterns on their arms in a black marker.

    The Haka is a traditonal Moari war dance ...yeah MOARI meaning America has NO RIGHT to perform it. No right.

    Truly disgusting.

    •  

       

    • Bourbonjon

      learn to spell Maori mate... you got no right otherwise

    •  

       

    comment / reply

    1 of 1

  • Mauri Ora!

     5

    Beautiful

    Nobody (?)

    LOVED seeing my culture on the big screen, the world stage! Big ups, its a great story to be told! Lighten up reviewers, we have one of the most unique cultures - share it with the world!!!!!!

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • GREAT inspiring movie for ALL people!!

     5

    Janine Cornelissen

    Nobody (?)

    I loved this movie and cant get enough of it! I watch it over and over again!! I am a huge huge rugby fan in South Africa but what makes this movie so awesome is that you dont actually have to now anything about rugby to enjoy or understand the movie! It shows the better side of what a team can be like and building relationships, forgiveness and being the best YOU!! And its actually based on real life happenings so that. I think all people should watch this movie to know theres more to life than just booze drugs sex and everything that goes with it...
    Hope theres going to be lots more in the future:)

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Not Cool

     1

    GC

    Nobody (?)

    Exactly...rugby isnt about NZ and Maori... so maybe they shud jus make a rugby movie and leave the wanabe haka bois out of it.... And if they hav it ther because the real life school does it... then maybe someone shud teach them how to do it properly and teach them the Tikanga behind it, cus this movie is crap!

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • There is another rugby film in the NZ festival

     1

    Hayden Worling

    Nobody (?)

    This one is a load of american turd. But there is another film kind of about rugby in the New Zealand Film Festival. Its about a team called the Natives and their captain Joe Warbrick. They were the first team to perform the haka and these guys were hard!!! A whole heap tougher than the zero rate american rugby players in this film. The movie is only a short movie and its called "Walbrick". It shows before the Mike Tyson documentary. Even though its short it has much more than forever strong. See it before you even think about wasting time on this rubbish.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • There is another rugby film in the NZ festival

     1

    Hayden Worling

    Nobody (?)

    This one is a load of american turd. But there is another film kind of about rugby in the New Zealand Film Festival. Its about a team called the Natives and their captain Joe Warbrick. They were the first team to perform the haka and these guys were hard!!! A whole heap tougher than the zero rate american rugby players in this film. The movie is only a short movie and its called "Walbrick". It shows before the Mike Tyson documentary. Even though its short it has much more than forever strong. See it before you even think about wasting time on this rubbish.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • This is Gay - not Gay in Happy

     2

    Jay Sepleu

    Nobody (?)

    If they going to make a Rugby movie at least make it believeable.
    Charaters aren't very strutcured. Same old story line I've seen in many
    sports movies..... needs more research from directors/producers to the
    realism of the sport. Need to get some decent actors, but on the flip side
    I give it 2 stars, for them trying to make a rugby movie.

    Agree? Disagree?...

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Press Reviews

  • Hollywood Reporter

    This inspirational sports drama unfolds in such generic fashion that it feels contrived more often than it rings true.
    Read full review

  • Los Angeles Times

    The movie is well shot and edited, the rugby scenes are enjoyable (if likely puzzling to the uninitiated) and "Strong's" earnestness excuses at least some of its predictability.
    Read full review

  • New York Times

    A mawkish drama hobbled by a thoroughly unpleasant and uncharismatic lead performance.
    Read full review

  • TV3 (Kate Rodger)

     1

    You’ve probably seen this story a million times before and there is no need to see this one.
    Read full review

  • Urban Cinefile (Australia)

    In the end, the film becomes emotionally gripping with its interest in the human condition - a universal exploration through specifics. Male aggression - when properly channelled - doesn't have to be destructive.
    Read full review

  • Variety (USA)

    The performances are credible across the board, excessive sentimentality is largely avoided, and the sequences devoted to rough-and-tumble rugby match-ups are expertly shot and edited.
    Read full review

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