12 Mighty Orphans is yet another sports film based on true events. The movie is slow paced and drags but its charming sentimental story makes it worth the watch. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
12 Mighty Orphans, starring Luke Wilson and Martin Sheen dropped in theaters Friday, June 11th. The story is based off the true story of Texas Coach Rusty Russell and is adapted from Jim Dent’s nonfiction novel. The story is heartwarming and explores the prejudices against orphans during the Great Depression. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
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12 Mighty Orphans Movie Quotes
12 Mighty Orphans Parents Guide
During the Great Depression, Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson) gives up a privileged position to coach football at an orphanage in Fort Worth, Texas. Whipping his young players into shape, they soon become an inspiration to their city, state, and an entire nation.
12 Mighty Orphans Age Appropriate Parents Guide
Lets take a look at what parents need to know before allowing their kids to view 12 Might Orphans.
Language: 12 Mighty Orphans contains some strong language with profanity used, including words like: f*ck, sh*t, son of a b*tch, d*mn, a**, and uses some sexual innuendos like “shucking your corn.”
Mature Content: The film contains some disturbing abuse against the boys in the orphanage, including paddlings, beatings, and slave labor. A mother slaps her son repeatedly which may be triggering for some. There is a scene which shows a football player injured on the field with a shot of his broken leg. There is also a scene with a peeping Tom and some kissing.
Overall Thoughts
I have a soft spot when it comes to sentimental football flicks that are based off true events, so you can imagine I was looking forward to 12 Mighty Orphans. The film is based on sportswriter Jim Dent’s book of the same name and features a stellar cast which includes Luke Wilson, Robert Duvall, and Martin Sheen. There is little doubt then that the performances from this cast of veteran actors were stellar. Wilson delivers a solid performance as coach Rusty Russell, a orphan himself, and pulled at all the right heart strings connecting with viewers in the hero role.
Despite the stellar cast, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of back story of the “orphans” and wished the filmed focus more on these players than the events of the time. Each player was showcased at the end of the film during the credits, giving viewers a bit of a “where are they now” information, however I found this information more informative then what we were given during the film.
Sure the 12 Mighty Orphans is a predictable film, yet most movies based on these inspirational sports films usually are and still produce an inspiring movie for all ages. It doesn’t rework the tried and true formula you’ve come to expect of inspirational sports stories based on true events, but it doesn’t have to either. People love tales of underdogs and ne’er do wells coming into their own and overcoming the odds, because of course who is more deserving of a win? The trick is to make it special by the acting and direction of the right cast, and I believe that 12 Mighty Orphans does this justice.
