Nerdly » ‘American Underdog’ VOD Review

18th May2022

‘American Underdog’ VOD Review

by Phil Wheat

Stars: Zachary Levi, Anna Paquin, Hayden Zaller, Ser’Darius Blain, Dennis Quaid, Chance Kelly, Simeon Castle, Bruce McGill, Adam Baldwin, Cindy Hogan, Nicholas Harris, Steven Chester Prince, Dean Denton, Kevin Downes | Written by Jon Erwin, David Aaron Cohen, Jon Gunn | Directed by Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin

Who doesn’t love a good sports movie? Or a life-affirming feel-good film? And what’s better than a feel-good sports drama? Nothing much really. But what if that film is based on a true story, making it even more uplifting? Good god, it’s enough to make a grown man cry.

American Underdog fulfils all those qualities and more, telling the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi) and the years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and goes from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback.

Do you know why American Underdog works? Not only is the story stirring – after all, don’t we all want the opportunity to pursue our dreams (and many of us give up, unlike Warner) – but the film also has one of America’s great underdog performers in the leading role. Zachary Levi has always had an everyman charm about him; it’s why he worked so well as the lead in Chuck and why, along with the child-like wonder he instilled in the character, Shazam is one of the most beloved movies in the DCEU lineup.

It also helps that, like a lot of similar sports movies, you don’t need to follow the sport, know the sport or even care about the sport. American Underdog is about the human condition, not American Football. The people, the passion, the drive, the desire. Qualities that can be applied to any situation, any career, any life; not just a sport. Of course this IS a movie, so we get the usual emotional manipulation that comes with these kinds of films – it’s a tried and true formula but, honestly, when you have a story as strong as Kurt Warner’s, just telling that tale would have been enough.

In terms of the football action, the Erwin brothers know how to stage an exciting game; and they know when a football film, nay ANY sports film, needs some P.O.D. own the soundtrack… Talk about pumping up an audience! Again, it’s all familiar stuff but it’s done so well. But this is a film of two halves and when you combine the two – football and drama – you have a slice of Americana that you can’t help but love.