Shadows on the Wall | The Senior

The Senior

dir Rod Lurie
scr Robert Eisele
prd Mark Ciardi, Campbell McInnes, Justin Baldoni, Andrew Calof, Manu Gargi
with Michael Chiklis, Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn, Rob Corddry, James Badge Dale, Corey Knight, Terayle Hill, Christian Becerra, Chris Setticase, Gail Cronauer, Shawn Patrick Clifford, Taylor Fono
release US 19.Sep.25
23/US Angel 1h39

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Based on a true story, this is set in the culture that thinks American football is greatest sport ever. It's also about a man who gets a chance to right a past mistake. But this nutty premise needs a more comical approach than this relentlessly inspirational one. Indeed, the script thickly lays on themes of forgiveness and redemption at every opportunity. It's so cheesy that it almost works.

At 59, tough-guy construction manager Mike (Chiklis) has a happy life in West Texas with his wife Eileen (Masterson) and their grown kids. Then a reunion reminds him how his short temper got him expelled from university. And his old football teammates convince him to re-enrol to finish his senior year, which makes him eligible to rejoin the team. Coach Sam (Corddry) is dubious, but Mike makes the team. When old anger issues reappear after the team bully (Setticase) attacks him, the question is whether he can transcend his nature, forgive himself and move forward.

We never doubt it for a moment. But football fans will enjoy watching a middle-aged grandfather working overtime to keep up with these youngsters. Mike is so focussed, never shying from a challenge, that the kids begin to look up to him. And he makes them believe in themselves. Meanwhile at home, Mike's tortured relationship with his father (Dale) is echoed in a strained connection with his college-age son Micah (Flynn). There may not be a single surprise along the way, but it's relentlessly heartwarming.

Chiklis has a lot of fun as the bullheaded Mike, whose experience gives him strength as a teammate, even as his body struggles with injury. His energy is intense, balanced by a thoughtfulness that remains far under the surface. He also has terrific chemistry with Masterson, who plays Eileen as a supportive wife who speaks the truth and has her own stubborn streak. And Corddry and Flynn get their own moments in pointed subplots.

Because it's based on real events, the film holds the attention with the messier true-life details. So even if pretty much everything has been sculpted to convey a message about second chances, the characters make it watchable. Otherwise, even this bonkers set-up feels rather predictable as it is ruthlessly moulded into the usual sports movie formula, leading to a climactic game with the requisite big motivational speech. But it's always nice to be reminded that we should live without regrets.

themes, language, violence 11.Sep.25

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