When the Game Stands Tall

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When the Game Stands Tall

PG

Released Aug 22, 2014

1h 55m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

21%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 2003, high-school football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) and his De La Salle Spartans have just completed an incredible 151 consecutive victories and 12-straight state championships. While the team's seniors receive offers from colleges all over the country, the advancing juniors look forward to making their mark. However, beloved "Coach Lad" has a brush with calamity, while the Spartans face their most-challenging, most-unpredictable season yet.

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Critics Consensus

An uneasy blend of solid game sequences and threadbare inspirational sports drama clichés, When the Game Stands Tall is overshadowed by better players in a crowded field.

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Bilge Ebiri

New York Magazine/Vulture

The real-life story behind When the Game Stands Tall sounds amazing. But for all its exciting sports scenes, the movie version falls flat as drama.

Aug 22, 2014

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Susan Wloszczyna

RogerEbert.com

Most often in its early stages, the melodrama onscreen edges precipitously close to dissolving into a puddle of platitudinous pabulum served in the manner of a rote Sunday school lesson.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 22, 2014

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Steven D. Greydanus

National Catholic Register

A faith-friendly sports film that's more interested in extolling character than in developing characters.

Rated: C+

Aug 22, 2014

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

For football fans the movie brings a famous story to life. For the rest of us it plays like an after school special with better production value.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 1, 2021

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

One of the better inspirational sports stories to come along in recent years.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 27, 2020

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Allen Almachar

The MacGuffin

The finished product did not do enough to make me forget this is another typical sports film. It felt generic, recycled, and forgettable.

Rated: C-

Jul 20, 2020

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High F

The movie is a winner and leaves you feeling refreshed. I hope all my friends get to experience this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

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Dennis H

Great football flic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

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Ryan

Don't get me wrong it's definitely not perfect and some acting isn't great but it has just enough for me to keep me interested

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/29/23

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Amy J

Very touching, down to earth in what life really is and what it means.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/23

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Carlos T

Minha opinião: Um filme tocante de fé. Mas não é um filme #Cristão porém não deixa a fé de lado. Em vários momentos são comentados e sentimos sim um fundo bíblico na historia. E como vários filmes do gênero, a diferença aqui, que não se trata de uma historia triste e eles se superam. Aqui eles já são vencedores a muitos anos e até os adversários não querem competir com eles. E aqui ocorre que seu técnico Bob sofre um infarto e isso faz ele rever pontos da forma como ele sempre liderou sua equipe. Principalmente que são invencíveis, que não podem perder, mas eles estavam perdendo a sua identidade como ser humano e que há momentos na vida que existem derrota e que derrota não é o fim do mundo, mas sim aprendizado para a sua formação. Tanto que isso é testado na vida dos jogadores, pais e do próprio técnico em suas vidas. E que os jogadores são tocados a entenderem isso, pais são tocados a entender isso. E no final o técnico também é tocado entender e viver isso. Uma boa atuação dos atores e que tras esta mensagem diferente neste filme. Roteiro e enredo bom e tras uma visão diferente neste filme. Vale apena assistir? Sim, para toda família. Nota: 8

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/22/23

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Audience Member

It's a workmanlike picture but so cliched and lacking in an identity to distinguish itself from all the other sports dramas. A film centered on a remarkable true story shouldn't slump this much.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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Thomas Carter

Director

Jim Caviezel

Bob Ladouceur

Michael Chiklis

Terry Eidson

Alexander Ludwig

Chris Ryan

Clancy Brown

Mickey Ryan

Laura Dern

Bev Ladouceur

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Synopsis

In 2003, high-school football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) and his De La Salle Spartans have just completed an incredible 151 consecutive victories and 12-straight state championships. While the team's seniors receive offers from colleges all over the country, the advancing juniors look forward to making their mark. However, beloved "Coach Lad" has a brush with calamity, while the Spartans face their most-challenging, most-unpredictable season yet.

Director: Thomas Carter
Producer: David Zelon
Screenwriter: Scott Marshall Smith
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Mandalay Sports Media
Rating: PG (Brief Smoking|A Scene of Violence|Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.1M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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