History is full of inspiring people who have taken on the impossible and persevered. They did so despite their hardships, despite how difficult it was and despite all the people who told them they couldn’t. All because they believed that they had what mattered inside them.
Growing up in Arizona Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) was born with only one leg, regardless of this misfortune, he wants to be the best. Raised by his single mother, Judy (Jennifer Lopez) and encouraged by his high school coach Bobby Williams (Michael Peña), Robles aim is to become NCAA Wrestling champion. The prestigious title is challenging enough as it is, but Anthony must work twice as hard as every other contender. However, if his hero Rocky Balboa can make it to victory then so can he.
Robles’ tenacity in the face of his physical adversity shows that he might have what it takes. Moving from high school to college, he sees challenges at home with his abusive stepfather, Rick (Bobby Cannavale) and doubt from his new coach Shawn Charles (Don Cheadle). Yet his mother’s unwavering support is always there. Robles trains, perseveres and through sheer determination and grit, shows the world that this is one legged man who can win an ass kicking contest.
The Oscar winning editor of ‘Argo‘ (2012) and personal favourite ‘Heat‘ (1995), William Goldenberg makes his directorial debut with Unstoppable. Telling the amazing true story of 2011 wrestling champion Anthony Robles and the various trials and tribulations that the man saw throughout his college life.
Unstoppable is a film that is hard not to find yourself becoming deeply invested in. The combination of family drama and uplifting sports story becomes intoxicating. We want to see this young man fight against the cards he’s been dealt and change the minds of his detractors. He’s a man who doesn’t want to be defined by his disability and strives to be the best that he can be with what time he has been given.
The stakes and tension build as we follow Anthony Robles through his three years of college life. Admittedly, even playing a little fast and loose with the reality of things for dramatic purposes, Goldenberg never falters in his aim to tell an overall inspiring and exciting story of self-determination.
The performances throughout are incredible with Jharrel Jerome powerfully delivering in his role as a vulnerable teenager going against the odds. Impressively, this is also his first leading role in a film. Jennifer Lopez’s Judy as well shows that JLo can exhibit in a much more emotional turn as an actress than what we’re used to seeing from her. Even if perhaps ‘Jenny From the Block‘ might be a little too glamorous and thin portraying a put upon single mother of five!
The supporting cast handle themselves well with Cheadle and Peña as likeable as they’ve ever been as the two real men in Rhodes’ life, while Cannavale is at his thoroughly despicable best as quite possibly the worst stepfather that an aspiring sportsman with a disability could ever have.
This is where the film strains a little, with incredulity as Goldenberg’s inspirational tale goes a little overboard at times. A few too many emotional speeches and some on the nose scenes of melodrama, spoiling an otherwise grounded story of survival. There is just a thin line between what is acceptable in these types of sports biopics what comes across as pushing it. Well, this wrestling movie doesn’t mind putting us in a chokehold of hamminess.
Thanks to the fine performances and its endearing plot. It’s easy to look past Unstoppable’s more sensational attempts to get us over the line. Although it may not be the next ‘Rocky‘, Unstoppable succeeds mostly in what it’s set out to do, tell an emotional and (once again) inspiring true story of resilience, determination, grit and sporting achievement.
Unstoppable is streaming on Prime Video from January 16th.