Unstoppable follows the true story of Anthony Robles, a college wrestler born without a right leg, who overcame enormous challenges to become a champion. It’s based on a inspiring real-life story that does much of the heavy lifting, but the performances and direction make it worth your time. Jharrel Jerome delivers a charismatic and powerful performance as Robles, convincing in both the emotional and physical demands of the role. Jennifer Lopez delivers yet another strong performance as Robles’ mother, bringing heart and nuance to the role with her convincing presence. However, the script sometimes undermines her efforts and makes the audience asks questions like why she doesn’t hide her bruises more effectively. Her performance is also affected by Bobby Cannavale’s portrayal of a stereotypical abusive figure that feels overplayed.
The fight scenes in Unstoppable are intense, with William Goldenberg’s direction ensuring that even those unfamiliar with wrestling feel the stakes and tension in every match. Goldenberg’s greatest accomplishment is his ability to convincingly portray Robles’ disadvantage while also showing why he is capable of winning. While the film effectively showcases Robles’ resilience and determination, it stumbles in some areas. There are heavy-handed scenes, mostly involving Bobby Cannavale’s character, including unnecessary flashbacks, that detract from the film’s impact. Additionally, the emotional development between Robles and his team feels undercooked, making a very emotional moment feel unearned. The repeated Rocky references are also a bit on-the-nose. Despite these flaws, Unstoppable delivers a heartfelt and inspiring narrative that will resonate with sports fans and beyond, though it doesn’t break new ground in the genre.
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- Where to watch
Prime Video- Where to watch
- Prime Video
Play trailer
- Original title
- Unstoppable
- Director
- William Goldenberg
- Cast
- Jharrel Jerome, Anthony Robles, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle, Bobby Cannavale, Mykelti Williamson, Shawn Hatosy
- Rated
- PG-13
- Screenwriter
- Eric Champnella, John Hindman, Alex Harris
- Composer
- Alexandre Desplat
- Cinematography
- Salvatore Totino, Jesse Green
- Editor
- Brett M. Reed
- Country
- Language
- English
- Distributor (CA)
- Prime Video