Invincible parents guide

Invincible Parent Guide

Overall B+

Thanks to an open tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles, an avid fan (Mark Wahlberg) gets an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on his favorite football team. The movie is inspired by the true story of Vince Papali, and will be a must-see for sports loving families.

Release date August 24, 2006

Violence B-
Sexual Content B+
Profanity B
Substance Use C

Why is Invincible rated PG? The MPAA rated Invincible PG for sports action and some mild language.

Run Time: 105 minutes

Parent Movie Review

For the historic city of Philadelphia, 1976 is a year of celebration and commemoration. However the urban center is also besieged with rising unemployment, a looming strike and a lackluster, losing season for their NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fresh from a position at UCLA, head coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) shakes things up by hosting a one-day open tryout for the squad. Seen by some as a publicity stunt, the stadium, nonetheless, is full of fans streaming out of the stands and onto the turf for a chance to play with the big guys.

Among the hopefuls is a 30-year-old, unemployed school teacher and part-time bartender who has been egged on to the field by his buddies at Max’s Bar. When Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) receives the only invitation at the end of the day to attend training camp, the city, the media and the bar patrons go wild over the story of the local boy from the beleaguered South Philly neighborhood.

But for Vince, the unexpected invite is the start of a grueling work out where his potential teammates from the football franchise would rather grind him into the grass than give him a chance on the gridiron. Not only does the unlikely rookie have to prove to the coaches and the other players that he deserves a spot on the roster, he also has to overcome his own internal doubts.

Sports movies are a dime a dozen but Invincible stands out with the strong cast of secondary characters who surround Vince. (Unfortunately, we mostly see them drinking in the bar or playing pick up ball in a vacant lot.) A sense of community evolves as these men pin their own battered hopes on the one guy who has a chance to make his personal dreams come true. And when Vince runs on to the field, he learns to do it for every adult who’s been beaten down by the harsh realities of life and for every kid who still believes he can make the big league.

Along with the heavy alcohol consumption, there are plenty of bone-crunching tackles on the Eagles playing field and in the vacant lot where Vince and his barroom buddies play. Yet this inspiring story, based on the life of the real Vince Papale, reaffirms that sometimes dreams come true—even for old guys.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks. Running time: 105 minutes. Theatrical release August 24, 2006. Updated

Invincible
Rating & Content Info

Why is Invincible rated PG? Invincible is rated PG by the MPAA for sports action and some mild language.

Max’s Bar is the local hangout where the guys come to drink, watch T.V. and commiserate over the setbacks in their lives. The result is ample depictions of alcohol consumption and some mildly drunk characters, one of which urinates outside the bar. Lots of rough and tumble sports action happens both at the vacant lot and during training camp. Some tussles break out among the fans during football games. A man also violently throws furniture and causes some damage to his house. A couple shares a brief, passionate kiss.

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Invincible Parents' Guide

How does Vince use the note from his wife as motivation during training camp? How does he finally overcome his doubts about his abilities?

While talent and skill is important, what other factors contribute to a person’s success on the sports field, in the music room or in an academic pursuit? How does Vince’s father, his friends and the little boy wearing his number help to motivate the rookie to do his best?

What things do Coach Vermeil and Vince have in common? Why does the coach give Vince a chance to come to training camp? Have others ever believed in you when your chance for success seemed highly improbable?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Invincible movie is December 19, 2006. Here are some details…

Invincible takes its turn on the home video playing field with a DVD release that offers the following bonus extras: a commentary by Vince Papale (the man whose life story the film is based on), producer Mark Ciardi and writer Brad Gann, a second commentary by director Ericson Core and editor Jerry Greenberg, and the featurette Becoming Invincible: The Story of Vince Papale. Audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and French (Dolby Digital 2.0), with subtitles in Spanish and French.

Related home video titles:

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