You won't be disappointed!

Very well executed

Crappy film

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

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.

Movie: A chance for a team T.J. Bailey Director: Phil Joanou So I just got done watching the movie Grid Iron Gang, a movie about a correctional facility with a number of different gangs and people trying to survive around each other, although there is always a fight, throughout the movie teamwork prevails and lessons are learned. I have to say I liked the movie even though you can sort of already tell what is going to happen just like other movies involving an inspired football team with issues. I enjoyed the movie the characters and the events kept me interested. Dwayne Johnson playing as Shawn, a guardian of the correctional facility where he also coached and mentored the convicts into a football team. He made the kids work together and dealt with their differences to get them to work as a team. Jade Younker Playing as Willy, did nothing but fight and stay in gang related activities. He learns how to calmly respect others and be a better team player. Exhibit playing as Malcom, the assistant coach helped the team find games to play by talking to other schools and coaches. He wanted the boys to have a chance to play against other teams but his team full of convicts, made finding teams to play hard, most schools were not willing to face them. Setu Taase Playing as Jr., showed his progress from constantly fighting and arguing with others to becoming a team player. When Malcom doesn't allow him on the team, after realizing the situation he fought for the chance to be on the team and to make his son proud of him. David V. Thomas playing Calvin, a gang member who hated the gang that Willy was in. He showed his hatred by giving him dirty looks and threatening him. As time goes by, he starts to trust Willy and on the field one day gets shot by Willy's cousin who Willy then stops to protect Calvin. At the end they are friends and watch over each other.

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.