‘American Underdog’ — From Groceries to Superbowls
The Pure American Story of Kurt Warner
Courtesy of Lionsgate
The Webster dictionary defines an underdog as “a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight.” In that light, Kurt Warner’s story is the very essence of an underdog. A lifelong dedication to football led to him sacrificing daily for his dream of playing in the NFL. Bagging groceries for years and making $100 per touchdown in arena football, led to him achieving something many said would never happen. Fans of football may be familiar with his story, but now so can film fans.
Courtesy of Lionsgate
‘American Underdog’ stars Zachary Levi as Kurt Warner, and is available for rent on Amazon Prime. It follows Warner’s story from beginning to end. After winning Conference Player of the Year at the University of Northern Iowa, Warner desperately wanted to join the NFL. It was during this time that he met his now-wife Brenda, she had two children with a former marriage. But despite all of his efforts, the one team that gave him a chance, the Green Bay Packers, released him from the team. Warner struggled to get any team to give him a chance and reluctantly had to get a job bagging groceries just to make ends meet. Eventually, he would get his chance to play football, but in a league called the American Football League (AFL) or better known as arena football. Warner tried out for the Iowa Barnstormers, yes that’s a real team, and would go on to dominate the league. He was paid the handsome sum of $100 per touchdown and quickly began to make a name for himself in the league. It was during this time that he married his wife Brenda, she was his rock and was the near-constant in his lifelong chase for the NFL.
Warner dominated the league so much so that an opposing team’s coach convinced the GM for the Chicago Bears to give him a tryout. No this wasn’t charity, the opposing coach wanted him out of the league. Warner would eventually sign to the St. Louis Rams. And in 1999, after the starting QB tore his ACL, he was put in charge of the most loaded offense in football history. It even had a nickname, The Greatest Show on Turf…
In a storybook ending, a 38 years old Warner would lead the Arizona Cardinals to their first Super Bowl. His story embodies the American dream and is worthy of a big-screen dramatization.
“Struggle and Criticism are prerequisites for greatness. That’s the law of this universe and no one escapes it.”
‘American Underdog’ captures his arc in an intimate way. And the audience isn’t spared any of the hardships or disappointments that Warner had to endure while working towards his dream. It’s one of those stories that we all need to hear from time to time. No matter who we are or what we may be struggling with, diving into the story of real people who faced enormous odds can give us the boost we need. And if films are not here to inspire us to be greater than our low points, then what are they here for.
Warner is played in the film by Zachary Levi. Many of you may recognize Zachary Levi from his days on the hit show ‘Chuck’ or his superhero role ‘Shazam’. Yet this is his first foray into playing an athletic legend. Levi’s acting can be irksome at certain moments in his career. He sometimes comes off as a wounded puppy that just needs a hug.
But in this movie, he propels himself into a more sturdy foothold. The responsibility of playing a real person has to be immense. As an actor, if you mess it up then you’re messing up part of their legacy in a sense. Instead of playing a dopey superhero, Levi is spreading the legacy of Kurt Warner in a positive way. He perfectly broadcast what Warner must have been feeling during some of the lowest points in his life, simultaneously remaining hopeful that his dream will come true.
‘American Underdog’ is a beautiful arc and a must-watch for both football fans and film fans alike. Since this is a true story, it’s hard to pick apart any characters considering that they’re all real people. However, the casting here was well done and brought in some other familiar faces such as Anna Paquin, Dennis Quaid, and Bruce McGill.
Also, the pace of the movie matches the story. There is a lot to cover in Warner's story, yet the movie touches on every element; making sure to guide the audience all the way through the trenches and successes.
From stocking grocery store shelves to winning a super bowl, ‘American Underdog’ is a feel-good movie that will make you want to attack your dreams. Check out the trailer and rating below!
Barry’s Bites Rating = 8.1/10
*This article was originally published in the Film Cut
