Wednesday, January 28, 2015

The 5th Quarter (2010)

The 5th Quarter (2010)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Rick Bieber
Starring: Ryan Merriman, Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell
Running time: 101 minutes

 


Honestly, I have rarely seen a movie so boring and cringe-worthy in my life. The 5th Quarter is based on the true story of the Abbate family, who lost a son in a tragic car crash, and how it inspired the Wake Forest football team in its 2006 season.

The whole beginning, with the accident and the aftermath, gives us acting so overly dramatic and poorly delivered that it all comes off like a public service announcement or an infomercial for organ donation and the power of prayers. And it’s not as if we have all unknown actors here. Aidan Quinn and Andie MacDowell were, at that point, already seasoned veterans of the acting world. Yet, they were so campy in their portrayal of the heads of the Abbate clan, it was sad to witness. I blame the director, because, in many other films, these two have done good work.

On a side note, the director has Bieber for last name. Quelle surprise!

After the initial part of the movie is done with, and we move along to the story about the eldest son in the Abbate clan and his football team, business does pick up a bit. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pick up quite enough to make this movie any good.

I was watching this on a snow day, and the wife and dog both fell asleep on the couch while watching with me. Feeling a little more dedicated, I made it through. I envied my wife and dog afterwards. It is unfortunate, since similar stories have been told with more success in the past and it made for good times in front of the screen. This particular story offered much promise, but, on the delivery, the filmmakers stumbled the ball and stunk up the joint.

Rating: «

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