A Feel Good Movie Just Short of
Strong
Based on actual events, Forever Strong is an inspiring
story of Rick Penning(Sean Farris), a young rugby player who after two DWIs gets
sent to a juvenile school in Utah. Shortly after arrival, he’s
asked to play on the Highland Rugby team where he is one of the star players but
off the field he has a poor relationship with his father and a bad attitude in
general. Rick is faced with the opportunity to take a good look at
what he has become and with the help of his coach and team he learns the value
of honoring himself, his peers, and his family.
Overall I enjoyed Forever Young, it just didn’t turn
out to be a film that tugged on my heartstrings. I appreciated the
efforts of trying to teach young athletes the importance of respect for
themselves and others, but at times it just felt like the movie was trying too
hard. The acting wasn’t too shabby by the main character, Sean
Farris and his father played by Neal McDonough but again, the story was just a
bit shallow. I say for a film like this that could have a big
impact, go big or go home! Make me want to stick my hand in and shake the
character in the beginning, and give him huge hugs by the end! Sorry to say it,
but if you really want an athletic, feel-good movie, rent something akin to The
Grid Iron Gang….that’s right, do you know what The Rock is cookin’?
Motherly Advice: Since I knew Forever Strong would be a feel-good
movie, I set my filter on least. The film begins with Rick as a
snot-nose punk kid, he’s a rebel that kicks around bleachers, drinks beer at
parties, drives drunk, and makes out with his girlfriend. Ergo,
you’ll see kids partying and drinking, a few shots of girls in bikinis jumping
in the pool, and a few scenes where the kissing lasted just a few seconds too
long. The parts that were hard on my eyes were when Rick and his girlfriend were
drunk driving and they get into an accident and you see his girlfriend all
tangled up in barbed wire. Ouch! Then you’ll see where some painkillers are
smuggled in, and Rick takes some of them. I hate seeing all of
this but I suppose it does happen in the real world of teenagers.
In the end the message is strong and moving and therefore would be
appropriate for most teenagers 13 and up.
Trisha~ Even more scared of my babies becoming
teenagers!!!
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