"Gridiron Gang": The Rock nails his role

The Rock is a surprisingly strong and aptly named anchor in this inspirational genre movie about incarcerated kids working to break free of the gang lifestyle by getting a more wholesome view of gang mentality through the team spirit of football.

With more practice at this kind of solid work, the former pro-wrestling superstar could end up a serious action hero with real acting chops, thanks to a soulful yearning in his eyes to match the rippling muscle on his biceps.

"Gridiron Gang" is loosely based on a TV documentary about a real program started by a detention officer named Sean Porter (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) at a Los Angeles juvenile facility that's mostly home for itinerant gang bangers. His idea was to teach young offenders — many already hardened criminals and killers — about a different way of living than surviving on the street as gang members.

Movie review

Showtimes and trailer

"Gridiron Gang," with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Xzibit, Leon Rippy, Kevin Dunn, Jade Yorker, David V. Thomas, Setu Taase, Mo, James Earl, Trever O'Brien, Brandon Mychal Smith, Michael J. Pagan. Directed by Phil Joanou, from a screenplay by Jeff Maguire. 120 minutes. Rated PG-13 for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language. Several theaters.

The movie sets it all up quite briskly, starting at the youth camp, then taking us back into the real world of South Central Los Angeles as one of the newly released boys (Michael J. Pagan) is gunned down in a scary, well-staged street shooting. Sean had taken a shine to the kid, and sees a glimmer of opportunity when a revenge plot for the drive-by takes a different twist and lands the dead boy's cousin (Jade Yorker) under his charge.

Sean's frustration sparks him into action on the football-team notion, and his bosses reluctantly accept the idea that what these kids need is a new attitude.

The various rivalries, training scenes and inspirational words The Rock brays as though the lives of his charges depended on them (and the movie sometimes makes you believe they do) come off as mostly routine stuff. There's a little too much mundane football action in practice sessions as the team comes together, then predictably loses or wins as the season unfolds. There's also too much slow-motion hugging and fist-pumping after wins and pep talks as the team achieves at least some of Coach Porter's goals.

Inspiration is the key word, and the movie is often slyly sentimental amongst some startling bursts of violence. A bit much are scenes between the coach and his dying mother/confessor about what this all means to him and his own troubled youth.

But most of the performances are great, starting with The Rock, who has a new kind of twinkle in his eye that shows heart, humor and genuine compassion. Many of the young actors are also quite good in a large ensemble that doesn't become the jumbled mess it could have.

Ted Fry: tedfry@hotmail.com