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Sean Faris, Gary Cole, Sean Astin, Neal McDonough, Penn Badgley ... see more see more... , Arielle Kebbel , Julie Warner , Eliot Benjamin , Michael J. Pagan , Nathan West , Max Kasch , Tyler Kain , John Kepa Kruse , Junior Salt , Jeremy Isaiah Earl , Larry Bagby , K. Danor Gerald , Leroy "Big Budda" Teo , Andrew Roach , William Rubio , Teddi Siddall , Olesya Rulin , Elizabeth Hansen , Joey Miyashima , Laurn McNight , Jimmy Chunga , Brian Peck , David Fox , Matthew Flynn Bellows , Maclain Nelson , Britani Bateman , Taylor Bateman , Mark Ormsby , Mark Numbers , Haloti Liavaa , Larry Gelwix , Dean Grace , Mike Laws , Rick Spencer , Irene Santiago , Alema Harrington , Devin Wolfe , Steven Luna , Steven Tyndall , Yolanda Wood , Peter Tuiaki , Johnathan Law , Ivan R. Bird , Shareece Pfeiffer , Kirster Wunderlich , James Airhart , Dave Anderson , Peter "Hollywood" Black , David Cole , Nathan Herrscher , Ben Hill , Cameron Kiser , Trevor King , Scott Nielsen , Colton Phippen , David Root , Ryan Roundy , Andrew Swingle , Jorge Portal , Sam Thorley , Fau Tuuanaiaou , Robert "Lopeti" Wolframm , Neil McDonough

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... read more read more... 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. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

9,014 ratings

Critics

29% liked it

21 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Ryan Little

Release Date: September 26, 2008

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DVD Release Date: June 9, 2009

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Stats: 431 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (431)

  • EightThirty
    January 17, 2012
    EightThirty
    18/01/2012 (PS3, NETFLIX)
  • helpahorse
    May 16, 2011
    helpahorse
    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 li... read moreke 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. :)
  • LWOODS04
    May 8, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Gary Cole, Sean Faris, Neal McDonough, Sean Astin, Arielle Kebbel, Penn Badgley, Olesya Rulin, Julie Warner, Nathan West, Max Kasch

    Director: Ryan Little

    Summary: Rick (Sean Faris) is a star player on his dad's rugby team until a DUI lands him in a reformatory. Whil... read moree he's serving his sentence, tough rival coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole) allows him to play for his team, which helps Rick straighten up his act. Upon his release, however, Rick becomes a pariah to his former teammates and even his father when he refuses to divulge Gelwix's strategies.

    My Thoughts: "I am a complete sports film nerd. I love them, and probably rate them higher then what they actually deserve to a non-sports loving person. But I really enjoyed this one, and it's always better when the film is based on true events. It has good acting, an inspiring story, and a lot of heart. I am even more impressed that their is a coach out there like this. Coach Gelwix has some really great quotes in the film like, "I'm more interested in turning out champion boys than champion teams", and "I want you to be forever strong on the field so you will be forever strong off it". Other coaches should take note.
    Sean Faris is really good in the film. He goes through the motions like a pro. Rugby is a tough sport, kudos to those who play it. Great sports flick, see it if you like them, skip it if you don't. But it's a good story either way."
  • fb733768972
    January 13, 2010
    fb733768972
    During the trailer, I was like: no no no no no no no!
    But during the movie I was like: yes yes yes yes yes yes!
    This was actually a really good sports drama!
  • LitelBluHli
    June 8, 2009
    LitelBluHli
    My neices are in love with these young boys, so they made me watch it with them. I have to say it was a pretty decent movie, a little touching. The main character plays rugby for his high school and gets into some trouble. He is sent to juvi where he starts playing rugby for anot... read moreher school and turns his life around for the better, but trouble seems to follow him.
  • panta2
    May 12, 2009
    panta2
    [b][size=5][color=blue]FOREVER STRONG (2008)[/color]
    [/size]
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/custom/55/10010155.jpg[/img]

    [color=green]Film za ljubitelje ragbija i prave mu?karce, jer kako se u ovom filmu tvrdi fudbal je za seka-perse, a ragbi za prave mu?ka... read morerce...

    Jedan od mnogobrojnih filmova sa pozitivnom porukom u razvoju omladine preko sporta (film je snimljen po istinitom događaju). Rick Penning je dobar igrač ali bez discipline, u stvari vi?e voli da sa dru?tvom popije nego da po?teno trenira... dok se ne dogodi nesreća... i on zavr?i u zatvoru, gde se sve menja.

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1201192/photo_10_hires.jpg[/img]

    Odluka da li da prihvati novi način ?ivota bez la?i i uvek najnapornijeg treninga ili da se vrati na staro, bez obaveza i napredka.

    Done?ena odluka iznenađuje sve, posebno njegovog oca.

    U ovom filmu će u?ivati posebno starija generacija tinejd?era, ali i roditelji uvek mogu naći izgovor da ga pogledaju. Poruka filma je vera u bolje pojedince kao deo dru?tva, ?to svima nama, na kom bilom kraju sveta da smo, uvek treba!

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1201192/photo_12_hires.jpg[/img]

    Na?alost zbog pomalo klimave re?ije Ryan Little-a, i malo klimavijeg scenarija i glume (Gary Cole, Sean Faris, Arielle Kebbel, Julie Warner) ? za bioskopsko gledanje 5/10. Ali nije lo?e pogledati ovaj film na DVD-ju sa dru?tvom![/color]

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1201192/photo_07_hires.jpg[/img][/b]
  • paj85
    May 25, 2012
    paj85
    The critics may have hated "Forever Strong," but I found it to be a moving sports drama that explores an important theme that has often been left out - the effect of strong moral behavior on a team's success. Coach Larry Gelwix has accomplished incredible feats as a result of hi... read mores strong code of ethics and I'm thankful that his story has become accessible through this film. Who knew that there was more to Gary Cole than "Office Space"? He was fantastic, giving a very heartfelt performance. I loved all of the Christian values that his character had, and belief that rugby is not about building a strong team, but about building men that are strong in character. I was also really buying into Sean Astin's performance. I like that this film showed underage drinking and drugs in a negative light, as most films glamourize it and add to our country's moral downfall. Although I found much of Sean Faris' acting to be overdramatic or over the top, his character had a nice transformation (in spite of his acting) and I could truly feel the change of heart by the end of the film. Neal McDonough was also pretty hit or miss, creating the emotional climax of the film with that one tear, but also feeling WAY overacted in the first half of the movie. "Forever Strong" is a film that can be enjoyed by families, and teach a lot, too. With intense rugby action enhanced by great cinematography and a story that you desperately want to resolve the right way, this success story of Larry Gelwix's morally driven coaching style will leave you satisfied.
  • SarahEH
    October 25, 2011
    SarahEH
    Forever Strong was much better than I was expecting. I had never heard of it before and figured it to be another bad B rated movie. I was wrong. This flick had a well rounded cast. The story/plot was both interesting and inspiring. The rugby added additional entertainment value. ... read moreAll-in-all, I found this movie quite entertaining and even touching.
  • HeroPK
    June 23, 2011
    HeroPK
    A familar story but one of the few Rugby movies out there. I kept thinking of "Never Back Down" which was a "OC" take on MMA.
  • rymetal
    June 2, 2010
    rymetal
    This wasn't Rugby. I have never seen so much man hugging and man crying for a sport that declares itself as the supreme of all modern day testosterone. Aside from the Director trying to show off its actors as cry baby rugby players, the veteran actor's acting was on cue. Yet, I m... read moreost definitely can't speak for these other people who are what? actors? They did a good job at crying a lot though. Maybe one day they'll become forever strong.

View All Forever Strong Reviews

Critic Reviews

Joe Leydon
September 29, 2008
Joe Leydon, Variety

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

V.A. Musetto
September 26, 2008
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

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.) Full Review

Michael Ordońa
September 26, 2008
Michael Ordońa, Los Angeles Times

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. Full Review

Roger Moore
September 24, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

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 ... Full Review

Adam Markovitz
September 24, 2008
Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly

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. Full Review

Nick Pinkerton
September 24, 2008
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice

Though director Ryan Little puts together a clean, professional package, at bottom this is a nearly-two-hour scrum of therapeutic direct encounters. Full Review

Charles Cassady
June 17, 2009
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Uplifting jock drama is predictable but OK for older tweens. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
June 10, 2009
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com

Created under the vague guise of "inspirational cinema," Strong is a sloppy, soggy pile of clichés, unable to sort itself out, grow a pair of cinematic cojones, and actually try to subvert some of its... Full Review

Andrew L. Urban
April 18, 2009
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

The father-son relationship that bolts this rugby film together provides the textured backdrop for a sports film that engages Full Review

Bruce Bennett
September 27, 2008
Bruce Bennett, Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

The very Tom Cruise-like Sean Faris makes this respectable portrayal noteworthy considering the gritty sport's irrelevancy to most Americans. Full Review

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