If there's something writer Angelo Pizzo is known for, it's inspiring sports movies. The director of Hoosiers and Rudy is back as writer and director, this time covering The University of Texas at Austin and the story of football player Freddie Steinmark.
Here is where I must admit my bias. Not only am I myself a graduate of UT Austin, but so are my parents. Not only that, I've worked at the university since I graduated. With that in mind, I have to say that I genuinely enjoyed My All American. The sight of those burnt orange jerseys on the big screen coupled with flyover shots of the campus and stadium certainly stirred up my emotions. However, I can also admit that outside of my personal connections to the university, this is a pretty average "inspiring sports story".
Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock) is small for his age but makes up for his size in pure grit and determination. Always upbeat, everyone seems to be magnetically drawn to Freddie's optimism and good attitude. After fighting to be seen as a viable player for college football, Freddie is finally admitted to UT to be coached under legendary coach Darrell Royal (Aaron Eckhart) in the late 1960s. Freddie then fights to become a starting member of the team and helps the Texas Longhorns clinch the 1969 National Championship. It's only after winning the championship that Freddie faces his most difficult test"”this time not on the field but in a hospital.
Most of the film focuses on getting to know Freddie through high school and college. We meet his girlfriend Linda (Sarah Bolger) and his best friend Tom (Richard Kohnke). His parents (Michael Reilly Burke and Robin Tunney) are clearly an important part of his life and have taught him to value his faith (a facet that the film touches on but does not center on). It's all very sweet"”too sweet really.
Perhaps Pizzo doesn't want to risk trashing anyone since many involved in the film are still alive. Often it feels like Pizzo is checking boxes for "movies set in the late '60". We see hippies and peace movements on campus, and the Vietnam War is referenced, but they feel inauthentic, like they were included simply because they couldn't be excluded. In a time where the country was going through major social changes, here's a movie that pushes all of that to the background in favor of football.
To be fair, Freddie's determination in the face of challenges is incredibly inspiring. It's devastating to watch him go through these trials and see that his life will be forever changed. Maybe I'm old and jaded, but it feels like the biggest moments of emotional depth are glazed over to preserve their PG rating. There's no cursing, no anger and no yelling. Linda and Freddie chastely hold each other while he tries to accept his fate. It's all just a little too Leave it to Beaver for my taste.
On top of that, the acting in this movie can be hard to swallow. While Wittrock, Eckhart, and Bolger handle their roles well enough, things start to get shaky in the supporting cast. For example, Juston Street plays his father James Street, the Longhorns' quarterback and Freddie's friend. While it's nice to have a son play his father, Juston looks like he's in his mid-thirties. It's a hard sell for a kid that's supposed to be 19 or 20. Many of the supporting cast try their best but unfortunately still have that obvious "I' m trying to act" air about them that breaks the illusion.
Above all, My All American is an inspiring film that highlights a man's fierce loyalty to his family and his team. It's a great watch for anyone that loves the Longhorns and sports movies. While it isn't executed to perfection, it's a great film to watch with parents or grandparents.
