Invincible (2006)
Average Rating: 6.4/10
Reviews Counted: 132
Fresh: 94 | Rotten: 38
As simple and authentic as the gritty South Philly invirons in which it's set in, Invincible sends a uplifting and heartfelt message packed with an athletic enthusiasm that shouldn't be missed.
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 13
As simple and authentic as the gritty South Philly invirons in which it's set in, Invincible sends a uplifting and heartfelt message packed with an athletic enthusiasm that shouldn't be missed.
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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 85,579
Movie Info
From the producers of The Rookie and Remember the Titans comes an inspirational sports drama detailing the true story of a down-on-his-luck football fan whose dreams of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of the gridiron became a once-in-a-lifetime reality when he took part in an open tryout organized by Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) was a 30-year-old substitute teacher and part-time bartender who had never even played college football. When Coach
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Cast
-
Mark Wahlberg
Vince Papale -
Greg Kinnear
Dick Vermeil -
Elizabeth Banks
Janet Cantwell -
Kevin Conway
Frank Papale -
Michael Rispoli
Max -
Kirk Acevedo
Tommy -
Dov Davidoff
Johnny -
Michael Kelly
Pete -
Sal Darigo
Mick -
Nicoye Banks
TJ Banks -
Turron Kofi Alleyne
Ronnie Sampson -
Cosmo Dematteo
Dean German -
Stink Fisher
Denny Franks -
Michael Mulheren
AC Craney -
Michael Nouri
Leonard Tose -
Jack Kehler
Wade Chambers -
Lola Glaudini
Sharon Papale -
Paige Turco
Carol Vermeil -
Tristan Phillips
Richie Vermeil -
Morgan Turner
Susan Vermeil -
Lynn Cohen
Mrs. Spegnetti -
James Murtaugh
Principal -
Dominick Cicco
South Philly Man -
Randy Couture
"Toruci" Player #1 -
Earle Masciulli
"Toruci" Player #2 -
Jeffrey Lee Gibson
"Tanker" Opposing Playe... -
Patrick Walsh
"Tanker" Opposing Playe... -
Rick Reilly
Disgruntled Fan -
-
Patrick F. McDade
The Turk -
Fred Strother
Eagles Coach #1 -
Tim Crowley
Eagles Coach #2 -
Brian Hayes Currie
Eagles Coach #3 -
Kerry Shawn Duffy
Eagles PR Man -
Paul Laquerre
Kneeling Veteran -
Kevin Ingram
Giant Kick Returner -
Michael McCarthy
Giant Defender -
Tony Luke
Cape-Clad Fan -
Mark Simms
Weekend Warrior -
Frank Ferrara
Tryout Hopeful -
Bryan Donoghue
Hopeful -
Jimmy Palumbo
Philly Fan #1 -
Johnny Alves
Philly Fan #2 -
Peter DiStefano
Philly Fan #3 -
Pride Grinn
Philly Fan #4 -
Daniel Spink
Philly Fan #5 -
Jimmy Graham
Dour Fan -
Anthony Lawton
Pressroom Reporter -
John Leslie Wolfe
TV Anchor -
Tim Lamendola
TV Cameraman -
Susan Moses
Teacher -
Michael P. Hayes
Student #1 -
Justin Goncalves
Student #2 -
Michael S. Brainard
Eagles Coach #4 -
Joe Thompson
Ref -
Frank Kosman
Ref -
Charles Pendleton
Frank's Friend -
James A. Carr
Frank's Friend -
Joe Guglielmucci
Umpire -
Anthony R. Duncan
Eagles Coach -
Harry Donahue
Play-by-Play Announcer -
Merrill Reese
Voice of the Eagles -
Mike Quick
Voice of the Eagles -
Mark Robert Ellis
Football Coordinator -
Sean Graham
Vince Double -
Chris Place
Pete Double -
Thomas Place
Max Double -
Jared Burke
Johnny Double -
Ralph "Cliff" Dell
Tommy Double -
Tim Lajcik
Max's ND Stunt #1 -
Kevin Cassidy
Toruci ND #1 -
J.J. Dashnaw
Tanker ND Stunt #1 -
Darrell Craig Davis
Tanker Stunt #2 -
Mike Ribaudo
Tanker ND Stunt #3 -
-
-
-
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All Critics (134) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (38) | DVD (19)
There's a sugar coating to the way Papale's story unfolds, but not so much that you'll spoil your dinner.
Top CriticEven Papale's most famous play, recovering a fumble to set up a touchdown, is embellished, as if Disney can't bear to stick with the facts.
When it's good it's very good. When it's bad -- well, it's still pretty good.
Invincible is a working-class jock Cinderella fantasy with the sincerity of a beer commercial, the soul of a Republican incumbent, and the designer-flannel esthetics of an old Bruce Springsteen video.
It may not break new ground, but Invincible is an entertaining film, awash in clichés but leavened by the charismatic performance of Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale.
What's modestly refreshing about the way this story is told by director Eric Core and writer Brad Gann, is that the person with the largest doubts about going pro is Papele himself.
Inspiring sports-underdog story for tweens and up.
Mark Whalberg is surprisingly good, delivering a likeness to the real Vince Papale that is uncanny.
It may seem that Invincible takes too long to get to the football. But by the time it does get down to it, we've invested enough in Wahlberg and Kinnear to give a damn about the outcome of the all-important Big Game.
I wonder how many more of these inspirational sports films we have to sit through in 2006.
Screenwriter Brad Gann shares the guilt for this predictable cinematic travesty along with composer Mark Isham whose bombastic musical score is akin to hammering a nail with a shotgun blast.
Invincible is the story of Vince Papale, who was an actual figure -- a part-time bartender who went to a tryout, survived training camp, made the Eagles team, and became a Philadelphia legend.
ricson (who doubles as cinematographer) has a good feel for urban grit and blue-collar dreams, and he gets good, unpretentious performances-especially from Wahlberg, who provides the movie's solid, dependable center.
The script by newcomer Brad Gann hits all the right notes.
Though familiar and cliched, Invincible succeeds in spite of itself because it is so technically well done and full of heart.
Mating calls aside, the paint-by-numbers sports side of this picture is only likely to capture the imagination of kids under the age of ten.
As far as sports films go, Invincible doesn't offer anything original or notable ... except Mark Wahlberg's performance.
...Greg Kinnear is particularly engaging as Papale's coach...
Invincible is a Walter Mitty tale, but a true one, a fantasy come to life.
A film lacking Herzog's USP -- an ironic and regressive sense of the irreducible power of images -- 'Invincible' feels as though it has been devised by a scholar steeped in Herzog lore, but who at some crucial early stage mistook him for Istvan Szabo.
This 'chump-to-champ' story adheres to the 'Three R' formula: Part 'Rudy,' part 'Rocky,' with a dash of 'The Rookie' tossed in for good measure.
If Vince Papale was the heart and soul of Philadelphia during the mid-1970s, Wahlberg brings those same qualities to "Invincible," a movie served considerably by them.
The latest in Disney's line of films about real-life sports figures never settles for easy answers.
Weak on acting power, strong on cinematography and heart.
Out of work schoolteacher and part-time bartender, Philadelphia Eagles football fan Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) had nothing to lose when new coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) held an open tryout. With sheer determination and stamina, Papale made the team
Audience Reviews for Invincible
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Wade Chambers: People don't want 'heart', Dick, they want wins.
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Movie: ID: 270600420 Title: Invincible Release Date: 2006-08-25 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 2 Status: 1
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Top Headlines
Director: Ericson Core
Summary: Devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) has just lost his wife and his job as a substitute teacher. But by impressing his favorite NFL team's coach in open tryouts and winning a place on the field, he turns a terrible year into a winner.
My Thoughts: "I really love football movies, being a football fan and all, but this movie was just OK for me. The acting was good. The story line was good. Its based on a true story of Vince Papale, who became a member of the Eagles football team as a 30 yr-old. He is the oldest rookie to make an NFL team. I just think there could have been more story. But it was a good decent football movie."