Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer

It seems that the Hollywood cup from which sport-related bio-pics keeps flowing over is a bottomless one. So Invincible, based on the life of American football player Vince Papale, has now joined the ranks. Fortunately, it is a quite entertaining, heart-warming story and so it is welcome.

Invincible is an engaging, enjoyable blue-collar fairy tale that uses the magic of cleats and oval-shaped pigskin instead of a magic wand and glass slippers. The movie is sweet, but never sappy. It has the bone-crunching action that one expects on the football field, a few laughs and the lightest touch of romance, spread just right.

Papale was among the masses of Philadelphians way down on their luck in the mid-1970s. He seemed to have struck out completely in life and work, with only a regular game of neighbourhood football to look forward to. However, when his favourite team gets a new coach he gets the quintessential one in a million chance and takes it.

Charming, thoughtful job

Mark Wahlberg plays the lead role and he does a charming, thoughtful job. Walhberg has come a far way from his days of hanging about on billboards showcasing his Calvin Klein tightie-whities. It has been fascinating to watch him grow, especially as he has often settled for quieter roles which kept him from being stereotyped then used up and cast aside. In Invincible he plays the perfect working-class hero, as he combines likeability with depth.

Like Wahlberg, his co-star, Greg Kinear, has been focusing on characters with more depth than noise and the two make a good combination. Thankfully, the story also works against the stereotype of yelling coach and rebellious player.

Artfully directed by Ericson Core, the film was scripted by Brad Gann. The two allow Invincible to separate itself from many of its sport bio-pic predecessors by not being too heavy-handed with the inspirational message.

Personal story

Additionally, unlike most of the other stories which deal with a team Invincible is a very personal story, though it has impact for the entire community and that is where it works. In that vein it has more in common with Cinderella Man than other films in the sub-genre.

Core's direction allows the simplicity and honesty of the story to come forth. Additionally, it is a story that one does not have to be a sports fan to connect with, as you simply have to like seeing someone overcoming adversity.

The cast is generally a good one and, with the exception of Wahlberg, it is largely comprised of slightly recognisable faces who put in good performances and add to the depth of the story.

Of course, the key to all inspirational tales is how they end, and Invincible ends well. It is a story well told that is solid enough to make you cheer - even if you still cannot understand why on earth that game is called football.