Inspired by the true story of Vince Papale, a man with nothing to lose who ignored the staggering odds and made his dream come true. When the coach of Papale's beloved hometown football team hosted an unprecedented open tryout, the public consensus was that it was a waste of time – no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way.
It may not break new ground, but Invincible is an entertaining film, awash in cliches but leavened by the charismatic performance of Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale.
– Claudia Puig,
USA Today,
25 Aug 2006
rotten:
Invincible is a working-class jock Cinderella fantasy with the sincerity of a beer commercial, the soul of a Republican incumbent, and the designer-flannel esthetics of an old Bruce Springsteen video.
– Geoff Pevere,
Toronto Star,
25 Aug 2006
fresh:
When it's good it's very good. When it's bad -- well, it's still pretty good.
– Joanne Kaufman,
Wall Street Journal,
25 Aug 2006
rotten:
Even Papale's most famous play, recovering a fumble to set up a touchdown, is embellished, as if Disney can't bear to stick with the facts.
– Bill Muller,
Arizona Republic,
25 Aug 2006
fresh:
There's a sugar coating to the way Papale's story unfolds, but not so much that you'll spoil your dinner.