Rick Penning lives life just like he plays rugby; fast, hard-hitting and intense. When life on the edge lands him in jail, prison ward Marcus Tate offers him a chance to get back in the game by playing for his rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly Rick joins the team where he must adopt the grueling training schedule that Coach Gelwix enforces, or finish out the season behind bars.
The whole package here is warmed-over mush from a hundred other sports movies, a tale padded out with game footage, training sequences, absurd coincidences, life lessons that teach nothing and wasted casting.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Sep 2008
fresh:
The movie is well shot and edited, the rugby scenes are enjoyable (if likely puzzling to the uninitiated) and Strong's earnestness excuses at least some of its predictability.
– Michael Ordona,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Sep 2008
rotten:
As directed by Ryan Little and written by David Pliler, Forever Strong dredges up every sports movie cliche and stereotype ever invented. (Cue the slow-mo in the rain.)
– V.A. Musetto,
New York Post,
26 Sep 2008
rotten:
It's definitely possible to make artful message movies -- just consider the filmography of ex-Mormon iconoclast Richard Dutcher -- but Forever Strong is generic faith-and-redemption fare, devoid of nuance.
– Noel Murray,
AV Club,
26 Sep 2008
rotten:
This earnest indie production comes across like formulaic fiction while taking cues (and recycling cliches) from the 'inspirational sports drama' playbook.