When the Game Stands Tall 2014

Kyle Smith, New York Post: 'When the Game Stands Tall" is nearly as good as the average episode of TV's "Friday Nights Lights," which makes it better than most movies and one of the better sports films of recent years. Read more

Erik Lundegaard, Seattle Times: The movie raises religious and philosophical questions about whether what we put out in the world is returned to us, but it sticks with the ultimate American answer: There is no problem so great that winning a football game won't solve it. Read more

Scott Foundas, Variety: Goes long on rectitudinous sermonizing but comes up short on gridiron thrills or genuine love for the game. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, AV Club: It's easier to appreciate what When The Games Stands Tall doesn't do than it is to admire what it does. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: The game footage is outstanding, very realistic. Even when the outcome of games is never in question - which is often - it's still exciting to watch. Read more

Tom Russo, Boston Globe: It's as if the filmmakers somehow think they've got the relaxed narrative confines of "Friday Night Lights" the TV series to play with, rather than "Friday Night Lights" the movie. The game plan is flawed. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: [The film] makes a commendable effort to invest the inspirational sports movie with some deeper meaning but simultaneously labors to keep all the genre cliches firmly in place. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: A true tale of high school football achievement becomes a strained, by-the-numbers grab bag of uplift in the Christian sports drama "When the Game Stands Tall." Read more

Tony Hicks, San Jose Mercury News: I walked out of the theater feeling like I'd seen an extremely glossy docudrama. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: Overall, "When the Game Stands Tall" feels like a post-loss locker-room speech: meaningful, but less than inspirational. Read more

Jordan Hoffman, New York Daily News: Undeserving of a victory dance Read more

Anita Gates, New York Times: In the end, the only real impact is limited to a few scenes ... Read more

David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer: When the Game Stands Tall is more manipulative than a hulking chiropractor. It's so busy beatifying its protagonist that it makes him into a grave idol rather than a man. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: When the Game Stands Tall is one of those cliche-riddled feel good movies that, by trying too hard to be inspirational, ends up as cloying and overly sentimental. Read more

Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: The greater narrative always remains on track, often leading to unexpected places. Read more

Cliff Lee, Globe and Mail: Why must an extraordinary story beget such an ordinary film? Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: High school football can be described as a religion in many parts of America. Sappily melodramatic When the Game Stands Tall skips the middle man and blends both in a weak-willed, cliched biopic of California coach Bob Ladouceur. Read more

Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice: When the Game Stands Tall feels as if it will connect with the audiences at which it's aimed. Read more

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture: The real-life story behind When the Game Stands Tall sounds amazing. But for all its exciting sports scenes, the movie version falls flat as drama. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: When it comes down to fourth and goal, the movie is more about moving the pigskin than moving the audience. Read more