maryoklah A wonderful, inspiring, compelling and provocative story with an excellent look at the beauty, intensity and thrilling excitement of rugby!The beauty of the Maori inspired Haka is thrilling to watch. The inspiration of its values and the Maori idea of Manna (honor) and staying strong (kia kaha) is well portrayed.

l_rawjalaurence Set in and around Arizona, FOREVER STRONG concentrates on the world of junior rugby union. Rick Penning (Sean Faris) plays for the Razorbacks, a competent side whose members spend their leisure hours drinking and enjoying themselves. Things take an unfortunate turn after a car accident where Rick was driving; he is sent to a juvenile detention center where he abruptly ostracized by his fellow-inmates.Rick is invited to play for Highland, the local rugby team. As in his first years in prison, he occupies the position of an outsider, believing himself to be superior in terms of ability to his teammates, and refusing to respect the words of coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole). Time passes; and Rick eventually undergoes a significant change of character, as he comes to understand the psychological advantages of playing for the team, not just for himself, and following Highland's mantra of never doing anything to embarrass himself, his team, or his family.The story is a familiar one, explored on a wider canvas by Clint Eastwood in INVICTUS (2009). Rugby union might be a violent sport, but it teaches players to respect themselves as well as others; to conduct themselves appropriately at all times, both on and off the field; and to understand the importance of listening to oneself as well as to others. The virtues of the game are summed up by the haka, commonly associated with the New Zealand All Blacks, but here practiced by the Highland team as a mark of tradition, a challenge and a recognition of the power of family past and present.The legendary All Black Syd Going makes a cameo appearance, but the film really belongs to Cole as coach Gelwix, who apparently does nothing except sit in a chair on the sidelines offering advice, but possesses a unique ability to judge individual characters. In the past Rick's rugby-playing father Richard (Neal McDonough) had issues with Gelwix, that he has never been able to deal with; but at the end of the film the two men are reconciled in a mutual understanding of rugby's socializing power.Competently filmed (by Ryan Little) with a fine sense of landscape, FOREVER STRONG is an uplifting piece, which only serves to increase confusion among rugby fans. If American high school rugby is so competitive and strong, why can't the country produce a stronger national team to compete at the World Cup?

SnoopyStyle Rick Penning (Sean Faris) is a arrogant rugby star player for his demanding father-coach (Neal McDonough). Lars (Penn Badgley) is his best friend. He gets into a drunken accident. It's his 2nd DUI and his girlfriend is seriously hurt. He is sent to juvenile detention until he's 18 when he would continue his sentence in jail or paroled. Marcus Tate (Sean Astin) runs the facility. Rick is entitled, rebellious, bitter, isolated and volatile. His father is avoiding him. He teaches the other kids rugby. Marcus convinces him to join the Highland Rugby Team. Coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole) struggles to teach him to be a man.This is trying to be an inspirational sports redemption movie. I have never liked Sean Faris who always gives off a narcissistic entitled vibe. I figure he would be great at playing the villain but he keeps playing the misunderstood charmer. He is so great at being unlikeable that his character really annoyed the hell out of me. He does have a redemption story but even that is undermined. He gets a new leading lady in Arielle Kebbel and leaves the injured girl behind. That girl ends up saving his bacon in an important moment. Talking about that moment. What happened to the drug charges? If Rick isn't charged, wouldn't Lars get charged? Did the cops just dropped the case? WTF. Penn Badgley is also good at being a douche. Actually he would have been a much better lead in this movie because he has another gear playing sensitive.

Rob Black Now before people start having a breakdown about this movie (those who play rugby anyway) this is a film! It's been given the Hollywood treatment to entertain people and therefore those who play rugby (myself included) are naturally gonna pick holes in the choreography of the game in the film. Althogether it is a decent film and bring to the attention the morals and ideas behind the game of rugby.The film is based on a real team, a real coach and his work helping guide kids in the right direction to be better people in the future, and also is based on real people who have played for the highland team. Its just a typical sports movie with a character who is misguided and eventually finds his way on the right track again through the rugby medium in this case. Is generally a feel good movie that is enjoyable but has flaws in terms of it's portrayal of the game. however, like i said it is a film under the Hollywood treatment.