The newspaper headlines read: “Fan turns overnight player.” Back in 1976 when UCLA football coach Dick Vermeil took over the struggling NFL franchise Philadelphia Eagles, folks called it a publicity stunt when he called for an open tryout. But among the motley crew that showed up was one Vince Papale a 30-year-old teacher who had never really played organized ball. After running a 4.5 forty-yard dash, Vermeil had him catch a few balls. The rest is history, and if it weren’t true, people would never have believed it.

“Invincible” is a great sports movie. It tells a “Rocky-like” story credibly ratcheting up the entertainment value convincingly with realistic and exciting football sequences. This tale follows Papale (Mark Wahlberg) as he goes from playing ball with his drinking buddies to playing in the big leagues. In 1976, Papale was struggling to find work teaching high school in Philadelphia making ends meet by tending bar at night. When we meet him, his wife has left over money troubles and the only steady work he can get is mixing drinks. Not even his beloved Eagles can bring him much pleasure only winning something like 4 games and turning in another losing season. But the old coach is about to be replaced by young college up and comer, Dick Vermeil. And he’s got some new ideas, like the open try out.

A great amount of fun is had with the try out. Freaks from all over Philadelphia show up and the event is somewhat of a side-show to be covered by the local media. Papale is pushed to try out by his bar buds and surprisingly makes a good first impression. Of course, the entire activity is meant to create buzz and try to reenergize fans, but Papale shows coach Vermeil that he’s really got talent. A great scene that has been spoiled already in the trailers has Vermeil following Papale to the parking lot and asking him where he played college ball. Papale shocks him by saying he never played in college. Actually, we learn that he only played one year of high school football. Needless to say, at 30, Papale was a late bloomer.

But getting picked out of a publicity stunt open try out is one thing, making the team is another. Papale is depicted as humble even to the point of being unambitious. Wahlberg plays him with a certain amount of quiet reserve—you’re not really sure whether he knows something no one else does or he’s just lacking confidence. At football camp, the other players do not warmly welcome Papale, which is in stark contrast to the fans that can’t seem to get enough of him. But fan adoration doesn’t pay the bills, and if he doesn’t make the team, Papale will end up back tending bar and playing ball with his fellow drunks. Papale’s story has a real blue-collar everyman quality to it that is both charming and genuinely moving in places. Again, if it weren’t true, you’d just think it was make believe.

Greg Kinnear plays Vermeil, the shaggy haired coach from the West Coast who would later make history in the NFL on the East. According to the press notes, back in the 1970s, when the events of the film actually took place, talk was that any movie about Papale would have to have Robert Redford in the coach’s role. For whatever reason, the Papale story was passed over and almost forgotten over the past 30 years. No doubt that Redford would have played Vermeil well, but Kinnear, who is very good in the film, bears an uncanny resemblance to the 1970s coach. And while Wahlberg is reportedly quite a bit shorter than the real Papale, he too looks like the character he’s playing. Wahlberg who has always had an athletic physique must have hit the gym for this role, which helps sell the whole story. He looks like a football player and the camera work creatively hides his size. Of course, I’m still wondering what real forty time he posted.

The sports film is becoming a solid staple these days. This film comes to us from the producing team that pitched the G-rated “The Rookie” to box office success and recreated the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team victory in the film “Miracle.” “Invincible” is a worthy addition to the genre. And not only does the cast look right, but the film itself has a texture and depth that feels authentic. Director Ericson Core, whose previous work has been mainly as a cinematographer, serves double duty both directing the performers and the photography. Much of it reminds me of an ESPN classic production that uses actual footage. In fact, the NFL cooperated with the production that added to the realism. And the football scenes are exciting and serve to remind us how thrilling this game really is, which may have already replaced baseball as America’s pastime.

What makes “Invincible” work as a movie though is the true story upon which it is based. While there is no doubt dramatic license was taken and certain events were condensed to tell the story within an appropriate running time, “Invincible” ends with old footage showing the real Papale in action. And as the credits roll with the old footage and photos, you shake your head in disbelief. Yes, it really happened: The Fan turned into an overnight Player.

Jonathan W. Hickman

Related links:
IMDB: Invincible (2006)