Triumph movie review 2021

MOVIE TITLE: Triumph (2021) not to be confused with all of the other films of the same name!

This coming-of-age movie is available in some theaters and on VOD

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 40 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

Inspired by a true story, the movie begins in 1975 with a young boy who tries to wrestle in elementary school. As a senior, he’s determined to be a wrestler one last time despite having cerebral palsy. He goes to extreme lengths, crushing obstacles and inspiring others along his journey to prove his abilities.

The lovely film was written by Michael D. Coffey and directed by Brett Leonard. Film critics have rated the movie poorly, but audiences are enjoying it. Fans of wrestling will especially love it.

THINGS I LIKED:

RJ Mitte is fantastic and actually has cerebral palsy in real life. I hadn’t seen him before even though he has been in a lot of popular TV shows. I’m now a fan and can’t wait to see him in more productions. My brother’s name is RJ too!
I had never seen Colton Haynes in anything before and looked him up. It turns out he’s a model in addition to being an actor. No surprise there. What a cute guy and I loved that his character was sharp to recognize that Mike needed an instant friend the day they met. I’ve never understood bullies.
Oscar nominee Terrence Howard is a very good actor and does a good job in this film, but his personal life is extremely problematic. He’s a hothead accused of abusing women. In my book, that makes him an incredible jerk and scumbag. While he’s talented, casting him in this movie may have hurt the marketing for the film, as it flew under the radar of most viewers.
You’ll learn a little bit about cerebral palsy and be reminded of how blessed you are to have a healthy body. When I was in elementary school, I raced through all of my assignments, so my insightful teacher paired me up to help a boy in my class who had cerebral palsy. I had no idea what cerebral palsy was and had never been around anyone with any kind of handicap before. My task was to walk around the schoolyard with him and remind him to push his arm down to his side. I don’t know how much I actually helped that little boy, but it taught me a lot about compassion and kindness!
Fun 80s soundtrack to take you back in time.
There’s a twist and I like that not everything is tied up perfectly in a bow in the end.
I really liked that there was a message of building your brain as well as your muscles.
Cheers to all of the adults who give kids with extra challenges a chance to succeed.
Hats off to all the parents who show patience and support every day to their children with special needs.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The bully on the high school wrestling team looks like he’s 35 years old!
There are plenty of cliches that you find in all of the other films just like this one.
Another teen becomes paralyzed after an accident and recovers in an unbelievably fast time.
It’s very predictable and formulaic.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Bullying. Some people call Mike a “retard” and “gimp.”
You see a bare-chested teenage boy.
A girl comments on a boy’s booty
Someone slaps a teen in the face. Later, the slapper apologizes and changes his attitude.
Some “light” profanity.
A jerk teen flips the bird

THEMES:

Determination, tenacity, perseverance
Parenting
Belief in yourself
Friendship
Kindness
Supporting others to reach their dreams.

FUNNY LINES:

“Be careful. Gravity sucks.” – Mike (RJ Mitte)
“My grandma can walk faster than you and she only has one leg.” – Mike (RJ Mitte)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Don’t underestimate me.” – Coach Cutting (RJ Mitte)
“Power comes with control.” – Coach Cutting (Terrence Howard)
“Just give me one chance.” – Mike (RJ Mitte)
“Let’s see what other superpowers you got.” – Coach Cutting (Terrence Howard)
“Feeling sorry for yourself isn’t going to change anything.” – Doug (Johnathon Schaech)
“Whatever God’s got planned for Mike, only God knows.” – Coach Cutting (Terrence Howard)
“I want to see if I can do it. I just want to believe in myself.” – Mike (RJ Mitte)
“If you won every match you were in and you didn’t like yourself in the end, what was the point?” – Coach Cutting (Terrence Howard)
“Never judge another person by what they can’t do because what they can do will blow you away.” – Mike (RJ Mitte)
“Win from within.” – Coach Cutting (Terrence Howard)