Street Date: May 26

Official Synopsis:

Rick Penning (Sean Faris) 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 (Sean Astin) offers him a chance to get back in the game by playing for longtime rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly Rick joins the team where he must adopt the grueling training schedule and unique code of conduct that Highland’s legendary coach (Gary Cole) demands. Egos clash and bitter competitors struggle to find the meaning of “teach.”

As on-field battles rage, hearts are challenged and loyalties are tried. Rick Penning decides in between the life he lived and a life that stands before him. With a national championship on the line, he will learn that the greatest victories are born in the heart.

Our Take:

A feel-good sports flick with all the classic elements, Forever Strong uses a sport that has been around for a long time, but is now reaching new popular heights in the first decade of the 21^st century.  Rick Penning is sent off to a juvenile center for driving drunk and injuring his girlfriend in a car wreck, but finds the best obedience while playing rugby for longtime rival, Highland.

Penning’s father is a pressure-heavy rugby freak who can’t seem to communicate respect to his son, so it’s no wonder Penning is a whiny, egotistical punk until he learns and adapts to the lifestyle of the Highland Rugby program. After getting released for good behavior and sent back to his original Razorback Rugby team, Penning finds himself stuck between his former team, with team members who are troublesome and less focused, and his new team, as the new captain with teammates who know and understand pride and discipline. Penning finds himself back in the lockup shortly after being released, and not much later, off to the national rugby championships in Colorado, facing off against his old team.

Highland and the Razorbacks both make it into the national title game, and Highland performs the sacred Haka dance, a real-life tradition symbolizing special tribute to family, living and deceased, done rarely before games. Pennings former team puts a whoopin’ on him, but it’s his roots that keeps his battered body in the game in the end.

Forever Strong has a couple extra features:

• The Making of Forever Strong — An inside look at the making of the blood-filled rugby film, Forever Strong
• Life Lessons from Coach Gelwix — Six values held in high regard to real-life Highland Rugby coach Larry Gelwix, following the traditions of honesty and honor, that the DVD showcases in depth, based on a presentation by Gelwix on “Living Forever Strong.”
• Haka — An inside look at the sacred dance done by Highland Rugby
• Outtakes — Funny outtakes from filming of the film, including a mocking of Gary Cole’s character from Office Space
• Viral Videos — Hilarious rugby tackles out of no where on unsuspecting athletes of other sports. Hilarious.
• Trailers

A good film based on an atypical sport with the classic idea of redemption and integrity, Forever Strong is well written and produced, and I recommend it to any sports lover. The film uses the theme of pride to transform its main character, Penning, into a soldier and admirer of the game, letting that prevail over any other feeling he has, even leaving this side of his friends. It’s a neat flick with neat special features.

RECOMMENDED!

Overall Picture:

Movie: B+

Extra Features: B

- Sam Hollingsworth
Staff Writer