REEL TALK: ’12 Mighty Orphans’ a unique underdog story

Taking place back in 1938, Rusty Russell arrives in a barren and impoverished area near Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife and daughter begrudgingly in tow.

Sony’s “12 Mighty Orphans” begins with what feels like a stereotypical Disney touch.

Initially, Russell seems too good to be true; he’s kind, compassionate and understanding to an exponential degree.

The story takes us through the football season of 1938, when the team is shoeless, lacking equipment and getting pummeled in its first game.

Win after win, they become a formidable team, but there’s always someone looking to take them down.

There are trials and tribulations, but in the end good triumphs over evil.

Co-writers Dent and Kevin Meyer also take the time and care to give each of the characters a story and backstory with unique personalities.

Sheen also finds the right path as he, too, could have gone too far in one direction or another to give Doc Hall a more comedic and less credible performance, but he doesn’t.

“12 Mighty Orphans” is a familiar story with its own unique elements reminding us of the definition of family in its truest form.

Pamela Powell is a film critic located in Bourbonnais and a member of the CFCA, the CCA and is a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic.

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