12 Mighty Orphans Review

12 Mighty Orphans the movie is based on 12 Mighty Orphans the book which itself is based on the real-life story of the Mighty Mites football team of depression-era Fort Worth, Texas. However, the movie could’ve easily been based on any number of other similar underdog sports movies from Rudy to Rocky to the Bad News Bears to the Mighty Ducks. Just about everything you see in 12 Mighty Orphans you’ve seen before and you’ve seen done better.The film is a corny crowd pleaser to be sure and as such checks all the boxes, let’s run them down: Ragtag group of plucky outcasts, check. Down on his luck coach, check. Sports-as-life metaphors, check. Homespun wisdom, check. The film plays out exactly like you think it will about the unlikely triumph over adversity against all odds. It may provide some measure of comfort, giving football and sports movies fans the kind of easy to watch film about easy to cheer for underdogs but most people will be better off watching any number of the previously mentioned films.

The cast features some remarkable talent who deliver their lines with a sincerity and earnestness that is usually reserved for what used to be called “after-school” specials. There’s Luke Wilson who plays the coach, who used to be – wait for it – an orphan too. There’s Wayne Knight, the near mustache-twirling print shop manager who only sees the boys as cheap labor and football as a waste of time. There’s Martin Sheen as the kindly sage physician who is both ham and cheese. There’s even Robert Duvall in a small role, seemingly there just so the movie can be an answer to the future trivia question of “what’s the second film, after Apocalypse Now to star Sheen and Duvall?”

The real-life Mighty Mites captured the hearts of a nation during one of its darkest hours. They we’re an inspiration, unfortunately this movie is not.