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Storyline
Rick Penning, the 17-year-old star player on his coach/father's rugby team, lands inside the Wasatch County Juvenile Detention Center following his second drunk driving conviction (and where his father leaves him to rot). Mistrust and dislike of the situation makes Rick anything but a model prisoner, but counselors at the center nonetheless hook him up with the Highland Rugby Team, a team renowned for its long string of successive state championships. Its coach, Larry Gelwix, has a surprisingly unexpected philosophy: train boys to be champions in life first, then on the field. Rick doesn't buy into this, which could earn him some time in State Prison if he doesn't turn his life and attitude around by the time he turns 18. Written by
statmanjeff
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
The Greatest Victories are Born in the Heart
Motion Picture Rating
(MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving teen drug and alcohol use, and for some disturbing images
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Details
Release Date:
26 September 2008 (USA)
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Also Known As:
Untitled Ryan Little Project
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Box Office
Opening Weekend:
$68,283
(USA)
(3 October 2008)
Gross:
$630,649
(USA)
(31 October 2008)
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Company Credits
Technical Specs
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Getting this story into production as a film was twenty-one years in the making.
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Quotes
Coach Larry Gelwix:
Son, when are you gonna dig down and first-string the real Rick Penning?
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Crazy Credits
After the full credits roll, the team can be seen chanting on the field.
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Soundtracks
The Deal
Written by
Clay Duncan & Kenric Dion Frelix
Performed by
Clay Duncan & Allday
Courtesy of Claybirds Music & Sun Up 2 Sun Up
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I think a several of America's baseball movies are among the best movies ever made. When this movie was in production and heard it described as a rugby movie. I'd read about the Highland team in the newspapers, but didn't have high expectations for this film about a sport that didn't interest me.
Last night I viewed it "on-demand" and loved it almost as much as my favorite baseball movies. Ryan Little and the cast and crew did an amazing job. Neil McDonough was especially convincing. As the "bad dad" he displayed fine range and a subtle, but moving character arc.
I also enjoyed the Pacific Islander actors. I've been fortunate to know many of these fine people and this film captures their wonderful spirit and culture. A flashback showing how the Islander culture became such a key element of Highland's team would have been a excellent addition to the film.
Some pretty tacky movies have been shot in Utah recently. It's good to see a quality film like this from the Beehive State.