Too much of everything

Thanks for the memories!

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Former American football star turned juvenile penitentiary manager Sean Porter (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) makes it his goal to train and give discipline to a bunch of no hope loser detention centre detainees. It's an uphill struggle for Porter at first, but through hard work and commitment he makes these kids learn that valuing oneself and being a team player can go an awful long way...From its brutal opening sequences to its rather touching (albeit predictable ending) Gridiron gang is a message film - admittedly one that is metaphorically emblazoned on its chest a little too much. It's a warm film and one with so much heart to it that it's almost impossible not to find oneself touched by it.The start of the film is very clichéd filled with practically undecipherable 'street dialogue' before this story-thread comes to a rather abrupt halt...Then we find ourselves in the detention centre and in steps Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - a man who at this point in his career had only just left wrestling to form a career as an actor. At this particular juncture, Johnson was still trying to establish himself as an actor so perhaps this was his time to showcase his talents and to be fair he really takes the bull by its horns in this film. Yes we know he can do all the shouty tough-talking stuff and I'm sure he embraced the scene where one of the football team has to try and knock him down - it probably reminded him of his WWE days. However, Johnson is also good outside of the obvious and manages to give some heart and weight to the picture - the scenes with this mother are very touching.Not only is the film successful as a basic 'feel-good' story, but the film also benefits from strong characterisation; you find yourself indifferent to a lot of these juvenile detainees at the start of the film, but due to strong character development I found myself caring about them - the likes of Junior and Weathers have a lot to fight for, but it just takes them both a while to realise it and as a result of this their characters are particularly compelling.Gridiron gang remains a great film and one that opens our minds to the turf wars that are still wholly real in this day and age. The writers showcase that working as a team and being part of a team can often overshadow more trivial aspects of life (such as gang-warfare) and despite its slightly heavy-handed and clichéd approach it does achieve its goal and gets its message across in an entertaining and rather informative manner.

It may seem like we have seen this kind of a film before. The one where we have troubled adolescents with no real direction of life, getting the motivation from dedicated teachers to provide tough love and to motivate these kids to prepare them for the future and to inject a positive outcome and to show that you can be anything you want if you set your mind to it. Based on actual events based on the Emmy winning show of the same name, "Gridiron Gang" is one of many films focused on the trials and tribulations of troubled teens. The delinquents fail to co-exist, but through the power of sport, they are able to learn about teamwork, the power of cooperation and the gift of hope. In order for this dream to become a reality, they need to have someone to guide them on the right path. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson walks in familiar territory like Michelle Pfeiffer in "Dangerous Minds" and Samuel L. Jackson from "Coach Carter" he takes the helm as the guy setting these delinquents on the straight and narrow by getting involved in football. With his experience in wrestling and football, Johnson is the perfect choice for the role. With his tough attitude and his glimmering charisma, he not only looks believable he also fits the role to a tee. Even though he has starred in mostly action films, The Rock has stepped out of his bubble to expand in other areas by taking on a more dramatic role as we can sit back and enjoy the laughter and tears as his words of wisdom combined with his humour will bring out that feeling of hope. Even though the movie lasts well over two hours, I was surprised that this movie never feels like it's dragging and the sports scenes get a piece of action as well. The dramatic scenes and the action scenes are both equally proportioned and manages successfully to keep its audience intrigued. That's a rarity because in many movies they either usurp one another. Even though these types of films are formulaic, but here in "Gridiron Gang", we can't help but feel sympathy for the characters. Even though football is the sport of choice here, you don't need a full encyclopedic knowledge to enjoy the movie. This further expands its viewers who don't know the game or are fans of the game.As the film progresses, you begin to root for the Mustangs as they gain the confidence in winning and functioning as a team. It's very freshening that teamwork can help solve one's problems and that all underdogs can achieve their goals when the odds are stacked against us. And though these kids have committed acts of terrible, sometimes violent crimes, it's very rarely brought upon by director Phil Joanou who's concentrating on looking though the positive ways of life through these characters and paint a positive outlook on their lives. It's never an easy path to take, therefore football is the pivotal start in the right direction. Sure there's some preachiness in the film about staying strong, confident and don't throw your lives away. As long as you're alive on this planet, you'll never stop learning and that rings true to the Mustang team, the coach and the trainers as well.At the end of the film as the credits roll, there are brief snippets of the documentary that this movie is based on which includes the opportunity to see the real Sean Porter and the Mustang players this movie is based on.

After watching the Gridiron Gang, I really enjoyed it. The story revolves around a group of juvenile delinquents that come from all different gangs and places. The man that brings these kids together as one really cared for them and believed in every single one of them, if they could believe in themselves. He shows them they don't have to be losers the rest of their lives.The story took place in California, 1988. Sean, (Dwayne Johnson) is the coordinator of Camp Kilpatrick and decides to give the kids hope and make them feel like their actually part of something other than some gang. Roger Weathers, (Michael J. Pagan) has troubles figuring out what he should do when he's out, rob and steel or start fresh without all his gang members and such. Sean forms a football team to let the kids who want to play prove themselves and to everyone else they can be winners too. Kelvin Owens, (David V. Thomas) and Willie Weathers, (Jade Yorker) both join the team but do not like each other because of the gangs their both in but, have to learn to get along to be on the team. Junior, (Setu Taase) is kind if a trouble starter and isn't even aloud on the team until he proves to Sean he won't start any trouble.Dwayne Johnson was a huge part in the film. If it wasn't for him the football team would have never been started and the kids would still be causing trouble and still be losers. David V. Thomas and Jade Yorker played a big role in showing that it doesn't matter what gang you come from, on the Gridiron there together as one, as a team.All around I enjoyed every part of the movie especially when it went back into time to show how Willie Weathers got in trouble to begin with. Also it showed Roger Weathers after he got out and what he decided to do. I liked how Sean was very hard on the boys just because he cared for them and wanted to push them to the limits.Overall the main idea of the film in my opinion was to show that juvenile delinquents or any troubled kids that they can still be winners as long as they realize what's important and what's not. It doesn't matter what gang or hood your from you can still have a positive relationship with anyone even if they come from a different place. It takes a matter of believing in yourself and others to succeed.All different types of people could like this film. The movie shows a lot of different themes and the actors play very well as their characters. So yes, in my opinion I think many different age groups could like the movie.I would rate the film a 5 star. The reason for this rating is because, myself personally didn't find anything I disliked in the movie at all.My name is Austin Fabian, I am 17 years old and I'm in the eleventh grade. I enjoy playing the guitar and hanging with fiends. I also skateboard and snowboard and love the outdoors.

Gridiron gangThe film is about a man, a possible coach, who worked in the prison pear that all inmates who are about to leave reinvent society. The idea of this man is making a football team to reinvent faster without having any problem with the lei, order and society. The biggest problem with this idea is that when gathers the boys needed to form the team, many of them do not get along, or are of different bands. The worst of them is second, because in the film explains that one of the guys who are there, killed a family of another boy what is on the same computer. Seeing that you are together in the same team is trying to kill to defend his honor to the band. The coach takes the view that wrong, grabs and told that if they do not take well to get out of prison, there will never be. At these words the boys try to get along to get out. In any case the film is about this team of football becomes the best teams from all over USA. To me, the film seems to me that wants to represent many of the things that often go between bands, partly symbolizes the respect they have for people.