Going to the Mat

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TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

73%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,253

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Movie Info

Jace Newfield has a problem. Besides being blind and being the new kid at school, his problem is that the kids at his new school thinks he's a jerk. Jace has to find a way to be accepted into his new school. Joining the wrestling team just might work.

Rating:

G
Genre:

Drama, Kids & Family, Sports & Fitness
Directed By:

Stuart Gillard
Written By:

Chris Nolan, Laurie Nolan, Steve Bloom, Stu Krieger
On Disc/Streaming:

Aug 26, 2008
Runtime:

120 minutes
Studio:

Disney Channel

Cast

Andrew Lawrence
as Jace Newfield

Khleo Thomas
as Vince `Fly' Shu

Billy Aaron Brown
as John Lambrix

D.B. Sweeney
as Coach Rice

Wayne Brady
as Mr. Wyatt

Brenda Strong
as Patty Newfield

Brett Yoder
as Mike Mallon

T.J. Lowther
as Luke Nolan

Scott Christopher
as Mr. Kamins

Alessandra Toreson
as Mary Beth Rice

Tim Whitaker
as Boomer Cleason

Christopher Miller
as Phil Pavone

Brian Wimmer
as Tom Newfield

Danny Henze
as T-Rex Turner

David Morales
as Kevin Wilson

Christopher Miller
as Phil

Marcus T. Paulk
as Peter

Darin Southam
as Yardley

View All

Critic Reviews for Going to the Mat

All Critics (3) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (3)

It may be as subtle as an after-school special, but... "Going to the Mat," about a blind teenager who wrestles his way to acceptance and self-discovery, is above average, enjoyable family fare.

Sep 17, 2019 | Full Review…

Lynne Heffley
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic
Although a bit heavy on the slo-mo sports sequence, [Stuart] Gillard otherwise nicely balances action with drama, touching on universal teen themes of alienation and the undo pressures of high school sports.

Sep 17, 2019 | Full Review…

Laura Fries
Variety
Top Critic
"Going to the Mat" is actually pretty predictable. You aren't expecting something other than a happy ending from a Disney Channel movie, are you?

Sep 17, 2019 | Full Review…

Scott D. Pierce
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

View All Critic Reviews (3)

Audience Reviews for Going to the Mat

Aug 01, 2010

John Lambrix: (Before Jace's match with T-Rex Turner) How you feelin'? Jace: Like a dinosaur snack. Plot: Going to the Mate, a Disney Channel Original Movie, stars Andrew Lawrence as Jason "Jace" Newfield, a blind popular New York City teenager who plays drums in the band and playing baseball with his friends. His family decides to move to a small Utah town where his peers begin to treat him differently, and he soon finds out that it is because people think that he is a snob, and not because he is blind. Desperate to fit in, he finds out that if he wants to be accepted, he must join a sport. He decides to try his luck with wrestling. Review: A very entertaining and inspirational film. This film shows us you can do anything you set your mind to whether you have a disability or not. Andrew Lawrence is a talented young actor and he gave a very realistic performance as a blind teen. D.B. Sweeney, Wayne Brady, and Khleo Thomas performances stood out as well. An over all great film not to be missed.

Amanda . Super Reviewer