American Underdog (2021)

★★★
There are three reasons why, in 1999, I was not aware of Kurt Warner or The Greatest Show on Turf. During that N.F.L. season, I was a senior in college and focused on finishing up my education. Secondly, going to the movies was my preferred form of entertainment, not least because 1999 was such a strong year for movies, enough that there’s a book dedicated to it—Brian Raftery’s excellent Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen. Finally, as a native of Southwestern Pennsylvania, I was indifferent to whatever was going on that season when the Steelers lumbered to a 6-10 record. Warner’s first season with the St. Louis Rams was a remarkable achievement, and Warner himself has always come across as a stand-up guy. American Underdog tells the story of his rise to stardom through adversity. In that, it follows the standard underdog story arc. However, this movie has some things going for it. While it falls squarely in the Christian Film genre, it’s a polished presentation with experienced actors to give the narrative gravitas, which elevates it above the weaker entries in this genre.

Zachary Levi stars as Kurt Warner, playing him from his football days at Northern Iowa to his debut with the St. Louis Rams. The resemblance is striking. He’s a talented quarterback but playing at a lower-level school makes his journey to the professional league extremely tough. Nevertheless, he’s determined to overcome his obstacles. One night he meets Brenda (Anna Paquin), and they hit it off soon after. The plot follows Warner to his initial shot at the N.F.L. as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers and the struggles that come afterwards when he is cut. Back in Iowa and low on money, he gets a job stocking shelves at a grocery store. Financial problems follow, but Kurt and Brenda’s love for one another endures. Their story gets a fair amount of exposition, and this is what carries the movie when it isn’t focused on football.

Kurt finally gets his shot to play, but it’s with the Iowa Barnstormers, part of the Arena Football League. He initially scoffs at the notion, but a deteriorating home situation with no money to pay the bills eventually convinces him to give it a go. It is here that he learns to play the game at a fast pace, which, when coupled with his natural abilities, improves his gameplay to the point that he will eventually be noticed. The situation at home, however, becomes strained, with the road schedule taking a toll on the family. The money is coming in, but the adjustment to his absence isn’t going well. Eventually, the St. Louis Rams come calling, and Kurt finally gets an opportunity to showcase his skills. The story of how he becomes the starting quarterback is largely familiar by now, even to me. Initial starter Trent Green goes down with an injury in the preseason, so coach Dick Vermeil (Dennis Quaid) makes the call to insert Warner into the starting role, much to the chagrin of offensive coordinator Mike Martz (Chance Kelly), who sees the 28-year-old rookie as the product of a lesser league. Martz is brutal in his assessment of Warner, to the point that I had to wonder how much of this was for drama and how much actually happened.

By now, if you conclude that American Underdog sounds by-the-numbers, you’d be correct. Kurt Warner leads his team to a Superbowl victory, his relationship with Brenda is solidified, and Mike Martz’s behavior was all for motivation. What I appreciated here was how good Kurt and Brenda’s story is played out, and how Levi and Paquin make a great couple onscreen. They deliver real conviction to their roles, and the couple’s Christian faith is woven into their dialogue perfectly instead of coming across as trite. I haven’t seen many faith-based films. I appreciate what they’re trying to do, but judging from what I’ve seen, their dialogue is often delivered with little elegance. Here, with Levi and Paquin coming in as professional actors, they honor their characters’ faith with their sincere performances.

American Underdog blends the underdog film with the Christian film and presents a real person—Kurt Warner—who’s difficult to dislike. Minor quibbles like their ages (Levi is 41 and Paquin is 39) relative to the events depicted herein and the feeling that there’s much more to the story to tell (there actually is) are probably unavoidable but really don’t hurt the story much. Levi brings a youthful energy to his part and Paquin complements him so well that their ages were not a big deal. The story ends when Warner unexpectedly (except to him) wins his first game with the Rams. The rest of the season and Warner's three Superbowl appearances don’t figure into the narrative. The question “Who IS This Guy?” appeared on the October 1999 cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. This movie answers that question.

© 2021 Silver Screen Reviews