Rudy Rutiger (Sean Astin), a young man from Joliet Illinois, has always had the dream of going to Notre Dame and playing for the Irish, and wearing the jersey every Saturday and coming out of that tunnel in Southbend Indiana and “Playing Like A Champion”. The problem is Rudy isn’t the greatest at school, and is too short to play football. When his friend Pete (Christopher Reed) is killed, Rudy feels that he needs to make something out of his life, and take care of his girlfriend as well. Just money and living off quarters is a problem as well as academic test scores for Rudy. He seeks help from a priest, Father Cavanaugh ( Robert Prosky), for help, to get into the school of Notre Dame. Life just gets hard for Rudy when he finds out that working for good grades is hard, but it is rewarding. As Rudy gets to Notre Dame he has to now fight his way onto the team and dress for his dad and his family.
When I think of this film I honestly think that there is someone in everyone who always wants to make a name for themselves. But life is always too much in your face. Rudy makes all of that look not true, because how one kid from Joliet who wasn’t very good at school managed to play with one of the best football teams in college. That is amazing, and Sean Astin truly gives a good performance of an innocent kid that just wants what every kid wants, and that is to do the unthinkable, and how everyone in his family doesn’t think that he can do it. He truly makes you feel for him, and that this is not just a football movie, it is about life, it is about being a good student, and getting what you’re after if you work hard enough. I would have never thought, personally, that I would be a senior in high school because of my past choices in school by just being lazy and not caring. But when something major happens in everyone’s lives, something wakes up in you and that’s when you know you can do anything. At first you might not feel that way, but it takes time. I would whole heartedly recommend this film. It is a tear jerker because Sean Astin plays an innocent, trustworthy kid who you can connect to on a personal level, and the music will get to you as well along with the fact that it was filmed in Joliet. It is definitely worth a watch. Overall, I give this film an 8.5, I give the acting 5 gold bars, directing is decent in this film, the lighting and the way the angles are given are a very impressive 8.5 silver bars, and music is 3 gold bars. I will see you the next time you want to come back to the movies..