Movie Review: "Gridiron Gang"

While it's been on DVD for quite some time now, I finally got the opportunity to see Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's movie, "Gridiron Gang".

"Gridiron Gang" is based on a true story about Camp Kilpatrick, a juvenile detention center which attempts to intervene in the lives of its incarcerated youths. The movie opens with the startling facts that each year approximately 120,000 youths are incarcerated in detention centers across the US and over 75% of those youths make a return back to detention after their release.

Willie Weathers aka "Drac" and Roger are cousins shown early on who get caught up in a driveby shooting in their neighborhood. Roger is struck by the driveby shooters' car and killed, sparking rage amongst his cousin and the rival gang. Drac goes to avenge the killing and shoot a member of the rival gang at a convenience store, but backs out when it goes wrong. As he gets home, Drac finds his mother has been assaulted again by her abusive boyfriend. Drac ends up shooting the boyfriend in a matter of self-defense, after the boyfriend pushes him and his mother around their home. Drac is sent back to be incarcerated at Camp Kilpatrick. Sean Porter (played by the Rock) and Malcolm Moore (played by Xzibit) play counselor/staff who work inside the detention center.

Disappointed at losing the constant fight to rehab incarcerated youth, Sean Porter (The Rock) asks the administration to start a football team to teach the detention center youths to respond better to authority and rules. Acting as coach and recruiter, Sean puts together a team from the various youth at Camp Kilpatrick. He then tries to find opponents for his team. Early on he meets with resistance from school coaches who decline to play a team which includes gang members and violent criminals. After finally finding competition and a place for the team to play, Sean begins training his "gridiron gang", The Mustangs, to institute discipline and respect in the members of the team. To be competitive as a team, the Mustangs will also need to learn to put aside personal differences amongst rival gang members and enemies on the team. Along the way, their coach also deals with his own personal crisises with his sick mother and criticism from the detention center administration about having the football team.

"Gridiron Gang' might seem like the cliche inspirational team sports flick, but it offers a different tale and one that needs to be told about how team sports can help the rehabilitation process of incarcerated youths. The movie also reflects on using opportunities and new chances to find personal growth and success. While it doesn't include any Oscar-worthy performances, it keeps you interested throughout with its action, drama and suspense. The Rock offers passion and humor in a more heartfelt role which fans of his will enjoy seeing, as it shows he is coming a long way from his roles in "The Mummy Returns" and "The Scorpion King".

"Gridiron Gang" is rated PG-13 and has a run time of 120 minutes . The DVD includes special features such as deleted scenes, a look at the actors' training for football and a multi-angle football scene you can control with your DVD player remote.

Read here about upcoming movie projects starring The Rock.