Invincible

A film lacking Herzog's USP -- an ironic and regressive sense of the irreducible power of images -- 'Invincible' feels as though it has been devised by a scholar steeped in Herzog lore, but who at some crucial early stage mistook him for Istvan Szabo.

There's a sugar coating to the way Papale's story unfolds, but not so much that you'll spoil your dinner.

Even Papale's most famous play, recovering a fumble to set up a touchdown, is embellished, as if Disney can't bear to stick with the facts.

When it's good it's very good. When it's bad -- well, it's still pretty good.

Invincible is a working-class jock Cinderella fantasy with the sincerity of a beer commercial, the soul of a Republican incumbent, and the designer-flannel esthetics of an old Bruce Springsteen video.

It may not break new ground, but Invincible is an entertaining film, awash in clichs but leavened by the charismatic performance of Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale.

By the time Papale does make it the big game, it's as if the air goes out of the movie and all Core can do is punt.

Even through the sepia-toned sanitization of the Disney production, you can't help but like and root for Vince Papale. His story gives the economically struggling city of Philadelphia and their Eagles what they needed at the right time: Hope.

An entertaining underdog sports story

INVINCIBLE should prove invincible at the box office. With football season around the corner this is the perfect pre-season game. Touchdown!!