- Content: “Spirited, Inspiring Sports Drama”
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What You Need To Know:
THE SENIOR is beautifully acted. Michael Chiklis delivers a wonderful performance in the title role. Mary Stuart Masterson is excellent as Mike’s wife, as is Brandon Flynn as Mike’s son. THE SENIOR tells an inspiring tale. The title character is inspired when he finds his late father’s Bible in a box full of memorabilia. The Bible gives Mike a message of forgiveness that leads to healing, self-control and reconciliation. Mike becomes an inspiration for his family and his teammates. THE SENIOR is well directed by Rod Lurie.
Content:
Very strong Christian, moral, pro-family worldview with a strong message of forgiveness, family reconciliation and overcoming feelings of personal regret and guilt;
Three obscenities (two a** words, one “d” word, and a reference to bast***) and one OMG profanity;
Football violence of practicing and playing college football, plus two men get into a fight in one scene, flashbacks to a father roughly teaching boxing to his 10-year-old son, and two football players get into tussles, and almost come to blows, even though the older man tries to defuse the situation (the younger man deliberately keeps antagonizing the older man);
No sex scenes or sexual immorality;
No nudity;
Some light beer drinking;
No smoking or drugs; and,
Two fathers shame their boys for not being tough enough, but one of the fathers and son take the chance to reconcile, and the title character has anger issues.
More Detail:
The movie opens with the 58-year-old owner of a construction company, Mike Flynt, reluctantly attending a 37-year reunion of his old Division III college football team from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. A flashback reveals that, at the beginning of his senior year, he got into a fight with another teammate. This wasn’t his only fight. So, the university expelled Mike from the university and the team.
At the reunion, Mike gingerly approaches the former teammate to apologize. Ironically, he discovers that the teammate wanted to apologize to him! The man reminds Mike that he still has eligibility to play on the university’s current team. At first, Mike dismisses the suggestion as silly, but the more he thinks about it, the more he wants to try it. Especially, since he’s kept himself in shape all these years.
Mike talks to his wife, Eileen, about his plan. She’s afraid Mike will hurt himself if he tries out for the team. However, Mike’s passion convinces her to let him go for it.
Of course, Mike must convince the current coach to let him try out for the team. The coach is reluctant, but he lets Mike practice with the team. Mike’s physical condition and toughness convince him to let Mike try out. The other players are skeptical, especially one player, who keeps giving Mike lots of guff. However, Mike ends up making the team.
A pinched nerve sidelines Mike, but he fights back. Can he return to the team and still make a difference?
Meanwhile, Mike’s eldest son, Micah, a college teacher, chastises his father for trying such a foolish thing. Like Mike’s own father, Mike often chided Michah when he was younger for not being tough enough. This has led to a growing emotional distance between them.
THE SENIOR is beautifully acted. Michael Chiklis of THE COMMISH and THE SHIELD delivers a wonderful performance in the title role. Mary Stuart Masterson is excellent as Mike’s wife, Eileen, as is Brandon Flynn as Mike’s son, Michah. Terayle Hill and Corey Knight give delightful, heartwarming support as two young players who befriend Mike. Director Rod Lurie is no stranger directing veteran performers and talented newcomers. Kudos to him for making sure THE SENIOR sustains a strong dramatic flow that touches moviegoers.
THE SENIOR tells an inspiring tale of second chances. The title character is inspired when he finds his late father’s Bible in a box full of memorabilia. The Bible gives him a message of forgiveness that helps him overcome his past regret and guilt. It also helps lead to reconciliation with his son and provides some self-control to combat his anger issues.
