THE STORY – Stories like Anthony Robles’ are the stuff of inspirational fiction, except this one actually happened. Though born without a right leg and growing up in a volatile household, Robles never let go of his dream. He set out to develop the strength and skills that college wrestling demands. He aimed to earn a place on a US Division 1 team despite being its only disabled athlete. And he competed to win.
THE CAST -Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña & Don Cheadle
THE TEAM – William Goldenberg (Director), Eric Champnella, Alex Harris & John Hindman (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 123 Minutes
One can never underestimate the power of a good underdog story. Everyone loves to root for a great narrative, whether it’s Rocky, Rudy, or real-life individuals. In sports, an underdog seems to pop up every other minute. People love stories that not only make them feel good but also inspire them. That’s probably why sports dramas have always had a permanent mainstay in the Hollywood ecosystem. By now, it feels like the genre has been milked for all its worth, and even though it does a fine job at what it so desperately wants to achieve, “Unstoppable” is just another reminder of this.
“Unstoppable” follows Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome), a high school wrestler born with one leg, constantly fighting to prove his place in the sport. Despite having this disadvantage in life, Robles is relentless. He’s always working to better himself, whether it’s watching tapes of collegiate wrestlers he idolizes, working out, or working extra hours at his part-time job to help support his family. The closer Robles gets to achieving his dreams, the more challenges appear, as he must also fight other obstacles off the mat alongside his supportive mother, Judy (Jennifer Lopez). If “Unstoppable” sounds familiar, it’s because almost every aspect of this sports drama feels like it was plucked straight from the early 2000s. First-time director William Goldenberg dips his toe into what could be considered a reliable mode of genre filmmaking and creates a safe crowd-pleaser that ultimately gets out what it wants to say. Anyone who watches “Unstoppable” will know where the story goes before it gets there. Where the film truly shines is with its terrific lead performance by Jerome, who truly is the heart and soul of the movie. He conveys a ferocity in what is a more than physically demanding performance. Despite the rather familiar material he has to work with, Jerome attempts to rise above it.
Everyone else in the cast is there for set dressing, contributing little to nothing as characters lean into the typical cliches of this genre. Jennifer Lopez is quite underwhelming, especially when the material she’s given does no favors for her as a performer. Her character is more tied to the domestic drama and is nowhere near as interesting as seeing Robles evolve as a wrestler. It’s her best work since “Hustlers,” but that’s not saying much. Don Cheadle and Michael Pena, who both star as coaches who are formative figures in Robles’s life, are essentially playing the same character. They’re both, in a way, father figures who are there to push our protagonists to their furthest ability. There’s little to no distinction between the two, as they both serve the same purpose and are there to crack the occasional one-liner. Bobby Cannavale also appears, playing the usual dirtbag dating the athlete’s mother. His character doesn’t do anything besides playing a stereotypical adversary to Robles so that there’s drama away from the wrestling itself.
“Unstoppable’s” screenplay struggles to balance both Robel’s issues with his mother’s partner and their financial struggles compared to his journey to becoming a collegiate champion. Just because one is adapting real-life elements into the film doesn’t mean it has to be translated formulaically. Goldenberg gets more out of “Unstoppable” when he’s dedicated to the wrestling. While the screenplay could be seen as generic, Goldenberg’s direction is pretty solid. He keeps a steady rhythm, going through obvious story beats with ease and getting a solid group of actors to work well inside the lines that have been more than established. That being said, the third act is where Goldenberg’s direction feels the most cohesive. The wrestling matches, especially those involving Robles’ playoff runs, are the most dynamic of the entire film. There seems to be a sense of comfort allotted to himself as a director, and “Unstoppable” is at its best when he gives in.
A more experienced filmmaker could take this story and push it past the genre’s limits, but with “Unstoppable,” everyone seems perfectly content with not switching anything up. Many people will get enough from the film, as Robles’ story has motivated many, especially those who have felt his struggles. Instead, “Unstoppable” is just another digestible biopic that, while structurally sound, doesn’t have much to stand out from the rest of the offerings sports films have to offer. If only the retelling of his own life was as captivating as the individual himself.
