Invincible (2006)

Massive Disconnect

As a huge football fan--and because I very much remember, and watched, Vince Papale play--I so wanted to like INVINCIBLE. And what's not to like? A hometown, down-on-his-luck, thirtysomething ex-jock getting a shot to play in the NFL is mega-inspiring. . .or should be. But this film misses the mark, and fails to connect. Why?

Mark Wahlberg plays Papale as a silent, brooding man; when his wife leaves him, he sits in his empty apartment and broods; when the pressures of making the Philadelphia Eagles' roster mount, he sits in the stands and broods; he broods in the bar where he works; he broods on the stoops of his father's flat; he broods in his dorm room at training camp. Problem is, he's so aloof--to all the other characters, and to the audience--we never get to meet Vince Papale. Who is this guy? Why is he so emotion-less? Why won't he engage with. . .anyone? And then, during the film's closing credits, when we watch clips of the real Vince Papale playing football--an animated, engaging, enthusiastic Papale--we feel a massive disconnect between the real man and Wahlberg's portrayal. I sure wanted to get to know the guy in those clips; it definitely didn't seem like the same person who was sleepwalking through the film.

Speaking of animation, Coach Dick Vermeil was one of the most fired-up, enthusiastic coaches to ever roam an NFL sideline; yet even here the filmmakers give us a very somber, subdued portrayal (Greg Kinnear). And Elizabeth Banks, the mandatory romantic interest, is often downright obnoxious as an in-your-face New York Giant fan in Eagle-crazed Philadelphia. There was so much to like--and so much squandered--with the premise of INVINCIBLE. Huge cinematic disappointment.
--D. Mikels, Author, Walk-On October 27, 2008

Invincible - Blu-ray Info

Version: U.S.A / Region A
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
MPEG-2 BD-25
Running time: 1:43:59
Movie size: 22,46 GB
Disc size: 24,91 GB
Average video bit rate: 20.72 Mbps
Number of chapters: 16
Subtitles: English / English SDH / French / Spanish

LPCM Audio English 4608 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 16-bit / 4608kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps

#Audio commentary x 2
#Extras:
"Becoming Invincible: The Story of Vince Papale" featurette (25:38)
High Definition Exclusive Bonus feature:
"Recreating the Vet" featurette (7:30) October 27, 2008

Disappointed

I expected him to be a better football player... I cannot understand how he became a professional athlete - he doesn't cut it in my eyes and my husband felt the same way - he was just an average player at best and we were bored October 25, 2008

Well-done movie about an unlikely hero

This is a nice story of an unlikely hero along the lines of another Disney movie, The Rookie (starring Dennis Quaid). This time, the sport is football, not baseball, and setting is Philadelphia in the mid-70s. The hometown team, the Eagles, have been lousy for too long, and the fans, arguably the toughest in the league, are fed up. But then Dick Vermeil is brought on as the new coach (Greg Kinnear is excellent, as always), and he decides to shake things up by holding an open tryout. Enter South Philly native Vince Papale, a 30 year old, down-and-out, long-time fan who has done little more than play touch football in an abandoned lot with his buddies. Vince is clearly a long-shot, but is he what the Eagles need?

Mark Walhberg plays Vince, and although he does a decent job overall, he's rather stoic. He doesn't seem to fully capture the full enthusiasm of the real Vince Papale, who is featured in an excellent 25-minute bonus feature, "Becoming Invincible: The Story of Vince Papale." (A second bonus feature focuses more on filmmaking.) Overall, this is a well-done movie, and although it wasn't quite as good as The Rookie, it is definitely not just for sports fans and should appeal to a wide audience. And, if you're originally from Philly like me, it's a must-see! :) October 17, 2008

Need not be a football fanatic to enjoy

I like football, but I'm not the biggest fan in the world. This movie, however, blew me away. The story of a small-time guy who makes the big leagues through hard work and a little luck isn't predictible because it's a true story. The choice of actors was well done and the sets and feel of the movie put it appropriately in its time period. I loved it so much when I watched it at my brother-in-law's house that I went out and bought it for my husband--who IS a huge football fan. He loved it too. September 14, 2008

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