Unstoppable Review: Dramatic But Eye-Catching

Dreaming of becoming a wrestler but born without a leg, Unstoppable follows Anthony Robles who fights against all odds to overcome his obstacles and become a NCAA Division I wrestling champion. The movie has a runtime of 123 minutes.

Unstoppable Review

Anthony Robles’s story is nothing but inspiring. Showcasing the struggles that he had to go through, both personally and professionally, might move most people to tears and bring out the inspiration necessary to push through. Thus, William Goldenberg’s Unstoppable had a part of its work already done and dusted – with a great story to tell, all they had to do was, well, tell it well. Releasing on Prime Video this January, the film is a moving and endearing watch that somehow falls short in many ways.

The film does get you to root for Anthony, his young siblings and his struggling mother. The film is one that will make you pity him from start to finish, first because of his disability and then because of his circumstances. I am not sure whether that’s something we want to feel when it comes to a heroic and capable athlete, but that’s what we get. It’s oddly preachy and sometimes gets on your nerves as well, leaving you to wonder where we are going with all this.

Unstoppable is more of a drama film than a sports biography. It follows Anthony’s footsteps but with the most dramatic flair possible, squeezing everything out of a situation. I am not going to comment on whether or not everything that we see is factual, but, if nothing else, it does get you in the feels, more so when we are shown his home life. The chemistry and tension in his house is palpable in every scene and very effective in eliciting emotions.

The relationship between Anthony, his stepfather and his mother as well as the tender emotions between him and his mother is one of the best things about this film. Of course, his journey as a successful wrestler is inspiring and the actor’s performances in Anthony’s house are nothing short of amazing and make you want to root for his success. Credit must be given to Bobby Cannavale and Jennifer Lopez, who are both dazzling on-screen. While Cannavale has a threatening aura around him and will make you fear him, Lopez is as warm and tender as Anthony’s mother who is stuck in an abusive relationship. His relationship with his young siblings also adds to the warmth as well as the tension.

Final Thoughts

I think Unstoppable is quite inspirational and somewhat entertaining although it does have the tendency to get on your nerves sometimes. The movie is a bit too long in my opinion, but it’s the solid performances, especially from a phenomenal Jharrel Jerome, that keep you hooked.

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