Parents' Guide to

When the Game Stands Tall

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Football biopic has positive messages but doesn't score.

Movie PG 2014 115 minutes
When the Game Stands Tall Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 5 parent reviews

LauraBear
LauraBear Parent
September 29, 2014
age 9+

Amazing story. Excellent message. Great for family!

This film tells an amazing story about De La Salle High School's legacy and the coach behind it all. It has plenty of action and emotions. The message is about commitment, honor, faith and love. It is refreshing to see a film like this instead of the usual garbage that Hollywood aspires to shove down teens and adolescent throats.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Dan G.
Dan G. Parent
September 12, 2014
age 13+

Teen movie that is actually OK for teens to see

The movie provides positive messages on mature behavior; being fair, being part of a team, and acting responsibly. There is minor violence and there are references to teenage sexuality, but in this case, the characters are being responsible by abstaining from reproductive behavior.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL is based on the true story of Coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel), the head coach of the De La Salle Spartans, the high school football team with the longest-running winning streak (151 games) in the history of the sport. Instead of following the team's winning years, the movie chronicles Coach Lad's tumultuous season guiding the troubled team that ultimately broke the streak. Once the team loses, they also lose their way, while at the same time dealing with a tragedy that strikes one of their most promising recent alums. And at home, Coach Lad must consider the personal cost of committing so much to a team, possibly at the expense of his wife (Laura Dern) and growing kids.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (7):

There are occasional touching or powerful moments, like when Coach Lad has a serious stroke or when the most charming player on the team is brutally shot. The acting is fine, too. So then why is this such a boring and predictable movie? Attempts to elevate ideas about faith and adversity are stymied by the weak plot, which -- with the exception of the side story about two former star players -- is really formulaic. The actual football scenes are engaging enough, but the off-the-field drama veers into maudlin territory and has very little humor. If you've exhausted better football flicks, this one will do, but unlike its subjects, this isn't the winningest sports tale.

Even people who don't care about sports usually love sports movies, because there's something viscerally appealing about rooting for an underdog or celebrating the first integrated team or just watching an exceptional athlete beat exceptional odds. But When the Game Stands Tall is a movie about a team that finally loses two games in a row after a 151-game winning streak, which doesn't exactly inspire much investment. There isn't a sports-movie cliche the filmmakers leave unexplored. Soft-spoken but intense coach? Check. Diverse team that includes down-and-out kids hoping for a better life? Check. Long-suffering coach's wife who would love to see more of her husband? Check. Emotionally abusive father who cares about his son's records more than the team? Check? And so on. Of course, without having read the book on which the movie was based, it's not possible to know whether these predictable elements are true to life.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why so many sports movies are inspiring. Why do you think there are so many football movies? What are some of your other favorites in the genre?

  • What do you think about Coach Lad's lessons about learning from adversity, putting the team above yourself, and learning to become men, not players?

  • Do you agree that the team made the right call at the end of the movie? Why was what they did a tribute to their coach?

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