Think playing a criminal onscreen is tough? Well, also consider trying to convince the audience that despite stabbing an old woman in the chest, you are still a good kid deep down inside. ""Gridiron Gang"" brings forth a group of young actors who master their roles as juvenile delinquents who are out to prove that they are not the low-life losers that society expects them to be.
""Gridiron Gang"" chronicles the efforts of Sean Porter (Dwayne ""The Rock"" Johnson), a probation officer at a juvenile detention center. Frustrated by the teenagers' lack of discipline and self-respect, Porter is compelled to give them what they need in the most unthinkable way: football.
Porter and fellow officer Malcolm Moore (Xzibit) are able to transform the young delinquents into a football team, but that does not come without adversity. The teenagers must work together as a team and put aside gang rivalries in order to earn themselves a second chance.
The film is bold and brash and doesn't dance around the fact that poor choices lead to grave consequences. In the opening sequence, viewers are hit with the painful realization that criminal involvement can not only land you in the can, but can leave you lying dead on the street.
The juveniles that get sent to camp are no sissies either, so it isn't hard to believe that shaping them into a team is a difficult task.
Initially, the Rock lacks fire in his delivery, coming off as bland and insincere despite a powerful script. But, as his character takes the football field, he reaches his full potential as an actor. On the practice field and during games, the Rock is heated with passion and convincing as a head coach.
Likewise, Xzibit proves that he is not only capable of pimpin' out rides, but also in portraying a man able to help delinquents turn their lives around.
The true stars of the movie, though, are the actors that play the inmates. Jade Yorker gives an especially exceptional performance as Willie, a young man whose involvement in a gang shatters his life. Playing the most dynamic of the inmates, Yorker has an endearing quality that shines in every subtle action. Whether Willie is getting pounded on the field, caught in a moment of joy or heated in a fit of rage, Yorker never fails to deliver strongly.
An honorable mention goes out to Trever O'Brien. He successfully pins down his character's meek and regretful nature and is able to establish him as a legitimate part of the story rather than letting him fall into the role of obligatory, token white guy.
The raw talent is evident not only in individual performances, but in the collaborative effort as a team.
A poignant moment in the film is when rival gang member Calvin (David Thomas) takes a hit for Willie on the field, enabling Willie to run the ball to the end zone. After the miraculous play, the two shake hands for the first time and let go of the hatred brought on by gang loyalty.
The Rock and Xzibit solidify themselves as actors and the young hopefuls look promising as well, showing that there are no losers in the ""Gridiron Gang.""
