There’s something about sports epics that rarely goes wrong. Unstoppable is the latest entry in the genre, premiering at TIFF 2024. With a cast including Jennifer Lopez and Don Cheadle, it’s clear the film has a solid budget and some respectable acting (though J-Lo has been hit or miss for me). Any story involving an athlete overcoming the odds usually packs an emotional punch, and Unstoppable is no exception. It’s a good movie, based on a true story, and while it’s well-acted and well-executed, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, leaving us with a story we’ve seen before.
There are so many versions of this kind of film out there and the formula is usually the same. You have:
1. An athlete who isn’t rising to their full potential or is overlooked because of their circumstances (education, finances, in this case, a missing leg).
2. Someone who believes in them despite all odds.
3. Opportunities for second and third chances for drama,
4. Eventual success.
Unstoppable follows a familiar formula. As the name suggests, our athlete never gives up—aside from the moment in the film when he doubts himself and gets a pep talk from his role model (see step 2 in the typical sports film formula). The true story follows Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome), an athlete born with only one leg, who excels on his high school wrestling team and works tirelessly to earn a college scholarship. Though his school of choice doesn’t offer him a full ride, he perseveres, gains admission, and proves himself, eventually earning a spot on the team. It’s an incredible achievement, and to be clear, despite the critique here, I deeply admire what the real-life Robles accomplished.
“With a cast like this, Unstoppable is emotional and powerful, even though the plot feels familiar.”
I was wondering how people would feel about Jerome playing Robles, given he does have both his legs. However, according to APNews, “Robles, a producer on the film, also serves as Jerome’s stunt double. For the wrestling scenes, Jerome and Robles, both in costume, would take turns performing the moves on the mat. Goldenberg would later mix the two together, using visual effects to remove Jerome’s leg.” The film and casting seem to have Robles seal of approval, and that’s good enough for me! Also kudos to that CGI team, I had no idea they were removing his leg digitally.
My biggest issue with Unstoppable is that nothing feels earned in terms of character development for Robles socially during the second act. We see him at odds with his team to start and eventually a couple people talk to him. After another hurdle of the school’s program being shut down, donors bring it back, but they need to approve Robles on the team, since it’s their money.
Every teammate unanimously risks sacrificing their full-ride scholarships if Robles isn’t brought back. And not just brought back, but given the same full scholarship they have—the one he never had to begin with. Had we spent more time seeing him develop relationships with his teammates beyond a single nice guy and one brief interaction at the gym, this moment would have felt earned. It could have been sweet and emotional. Instead, it felt very convenient. If that part of the story is true, Unstoppable would have benefited from giving us more insight into those relationships, so we could fully get on board.
“My biggest issue with Unstoppable is that nothing feels earned in terms of character development for Robles socially during the second act.”
Of course, with a cast like this, Unstoppable is emotional and powerful. Jennifer Lopez plays Judy, Anthony Robles’ mother. Bobby Cannavale takes on the role of the abusive stepfather, while Don Cheadle plays Coach Shawn Charles, Anthony’s college coach, and Michael Peña portrays Bobby Williams, his high school coach and confidant. Finally, Jharrel Jerome delivers an outstanding performance as Anthony Robles.
Everyone fits into their roles well, with Bobby Cannavale being believably shaky as the cruel, angry correctional officer stepdad. Jennifer Lopez plays the protective mother and obedient wife convincingly, and both coaches serve their purpose. However, Jerome shines in the role of Robles. He has mastered the look of determination, and I can’t even begin to imagine the intensity of the training required for this role.
I always appreciate a good recap at the end of a sports film, and Unstoppable ties up all the loose ends, leaving viewers with a sense of closure and peace knowing that Robles went on to achieve great things, even after retiring from wrestling. All in all, Unstoppable is a solid movie with strong performances and impressive CGI, but its lack of originality makes it just another sports film on the list.
Check out more of CGMagazine’s TIFF 2024 coverage here throughout the festival.
