Forever Strong

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

29%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 21

75%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 9,883
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Forever Strong Photos

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Movie Info

A talented but troubled high-school rugby star gets a second shot at redemption after being sentenced to serve time in a Salt Lake City boys' home and landing a coveted spot on the famed Highland High School rugby team in this inspirational sports drama from director Ryan Little (Saints and Soldiers, Everything You Want). Rick Penning (Sean Faris ) was the star player on his Arizona rugby team until his life took a turn for the worse. Now, after a fateful brush with the law, Rick finds himself out of the spotlight and forced to ponder the consequences of his actions in a Salt Lake City juvenile detention center. As fate would have it, however, Salt Lake's famed Highland High rugby team could use a player like Rick. With a little help from coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole), Rick may even be able to lead the Highland High team to the national championships. When Rick discovers that the team they'll be competing against is none other than his old team from Arizona, which is coached by his father, Richard Penning (Neal McDonough), the deciding game takes on a newfound sense of gravity in the eyes of the ambitious young athlete. Arielle Kebbel and Sean Astin co-star.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for thematic material involving teen drug and alcohol use, and for some disturbing images)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Ryan Little
  • Written By:
    David Pliler
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $549,351
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Crane Movie Company

Cast

Sean Faris
as Rick Penning
Penn Badgley
as Lars
Sean Astin
as Marcus Tate
Gary Cole
as Coach Larry Gelwix
Neal McDonough
as Coach Richard Penning
Arielle Kebbel
as Emily
Julie Warner
as Natalie Penning
Eliot Benjamin
as Marty
Michael J. Pagan
as Kurt
Nathan West
as Quentin
Max Kasch
as Griggs
Tyler Kain
as Tami
John Kepa Kruse
as Tumo
Jeremy Earl
as Sanchez
Junior Salt
as Peeta
Jeremy Isaiah Earl
as Sanchez
Larry Bagby
as Coach Cal
K. Danor Gerald
as Coach JT
Leroy Teo
as Bingham
Leroy "Big Budda" Teo
as Bingham
Andrew Roach
as Joey
William Rubio
as Ernesto
Teddi Siddall Cole
as Cathy Gelwix
Teddi Siddall
as Cathy Gelwix
Olesya Rulin
as Emily's Friend
Elizabeth Hansen
as Judge Alvarez
Joey Miyashima
as Defense Attorney
Lauren McNight
as Gina
Jimmy Chunga
as Max Griffin
Laurn McNight
as Gina
Brian Peck
as Colton Mcdonald
Dave Fox
as Radio Commentator
Taylor Bateman
as Samantha Tate
David Fox
as Radio Commentator
Matthew Flynn Bellows
as Highland Player #1
Maclain Nelson
as Scotland Player
Britani Bateman
as Renee Tate
Mark Ormsby
as Field Referee #1
Mark Numbers
as Field Referee #2
Haloti Liavaa
as Field Referee #3
Larry Gelwix
as Field Referee #4
Dean Grace
as Field Referee #5
Mike Laws
as Field Referee #6
Rick Spencer
as Athletic Trainer
Irene Santiago
as Sports Reporter #1
Alema Harrington
as Sports Reporter #2
Devin Wolfe
as Boy #1
Steven Luna
as Guard
Steven Tyndall
as Server
Yolanda Wood
as Young Mother
Peter Tuiaki
as Flagstaff Hooker
Johnathan Law
as Flagstaff Assistant
Ivan R. Bird
as Police Officer
Shareece Pfeiffer
as Marty's Girlfriend
Kirster Wunderlich
as Party Girl
James Airhart
as Highland Rugby Player
Dave Anderson
as Highland Rugby Player
Peter "Hollywood" Black
as Highland Rugby Player
David Cole
as Highland Rugby Player
Nathan Herrscher
as Highland Rugby Player
Ben Hill
as Highland Rugby Player
Cameron Kiser
as Highland Rugby Player
Trevor King
as Highland Rugby Player
Scott Nielsen
as Highland Rugby Player
Colton Phippen
as Highland Rugby Player
David Root
as Highland Rugby Player
Ryan Roundy
as Highland Rugby Player
Andrew Swingle
as Highland Rugby Player
Jorge Portal
as Highland Rugby Player
Sam Thorley
as Highland Rugby Player
Fau Tuuanaiaou
as Highland Rugby Player
Robert "Lopeti" Wolframm
as Highland Rugby Player
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Critic Reviews for Forever Strong

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (15)

  • This earnest indie production comes across like formulaic fiction while taking cues (and recycling cliches) from the 'inspirational sports drama' playbook.

    Sep 29, 2008

    Joe Leydon

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • It's definitely possible to make artful message movies -- just consider the filmography of ex-Mormon iconoclast Richard Dutcher -- but Forever Strong is generic faith-and-redemption fare, devoid of nuance.

    Sep 26, 2008 | Rating: C-

    Noel Murray

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • As directed by Ryan Little and written by David Pliler, Forever Strong dredges up every sports movie cliché and stereotype ever invented. (Cue the slow-mo in the rain.)

    Sep 26, 2008 | Rating: 0.5/4 | Full Review…

    V.A. Musetto

    New York Post
    Top Critic

  • The movie is well shot and edited, the rugby scenes are enjoyable (if likely puzzling to the uninitiated) and Strong's earnestness excuses at least some of its predictability.

    Sep 26, 2008 | Full Review…

    Michael Ordoña

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • The whole package here is warmed-over mush from a hundred other sports movies, a tale padded out with game footage, training sequences, absurd coincidences, life lessons that teach nothing and wasted casting.

    Sep 24, 2008 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

  • Shares the secret sin of many a pigskin pic: Despite all the macho posturing, the corny story is just as sappy as anything on Lifetime.

    Sep 24, 2008 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

    Adam Markovitz

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for Forever Strong

  • Jan 17, 2012
    18/01/2012 (PS3, NETFLIX)
    EightThirty . Super Reviewer
  • Sep 24, 2011
    heavy handed drama that didn't really explain to much.
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • May 16, 2011
    It's a pretty decent film. There's a lot of cliches and the classic father-son relationship issue that we all see in sports films, but it wasn't too bad. Rick Penning had a pretty bad attitude for most of the film, but somehow I managed to like his character near the end. I like to see characters develop into a completely different one, and he definitely did. I felt like the video was sort of rushed. I didn't really get a good background on Rick until after the car accident. It was okay though. I'd most likely watch it again. :)
    Japes . Super Reviewer
  • Apr 16, 2011
    Nothing special, totally cliche these types of films but very enjoyable. Enjoy!
    Ovi G Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Forever Strong Quotes

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