An inspirational drama comes up short

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NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Friday, September 19th.

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Good morning. I’m Nick Eicher.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: And I’m Myrna Brown.

Coming next on The World and Everything in It: Second chances.

It’s not too late to chase long-deferred dreams—or to face the baggage that holds you back. At least in the movies, it’s not. Angel Studios’ latest film titled The Senior follows the true story of Mike Flynt, who returned to college football at age 59! Here’s reviewer Joseph Holmes.

JOSEPH HOLMES: Faith-based films have occupied the “inspirational melodrama” space since the genre’s explosion in the early 2000s. At times, this has served the genre well, giving audiences hits like War Room and I Can Only Imagine. At other times, these types of films have opened faith-based studios to charges of dishonesty. For example, sometimes the pressure to have a feel-good story trumps the need to portray man’s sinfulness accurately. Angel Studios’ latest film The Senior has a foot in both camps. It’s got plenty of inspiration, but parts still feel a little dishonest.

NEWSCASTER #1: Mike Flynt, age 59, age is just a number.

NEWSCASTER #2: Texas grandfather who’s tearing up the competition, and it’s no pickup game. It’s an NCAA football ...

NEWSCASTER #3: Mike Flynt asked himself that question for 36 years and now he’s finally decided to do something about it.

The film very loosely follows the real-life story of Mike Flynt who, at age 59, reenrolls at his alma mater to finish his senior year of college football. This forces Mike to confront longstanding issues he has with his abusive father. And forces him to face the way those issues have damaged his relationship with his son and wife.

MIKE: Coach, you, uh, you wanted to see me?

COACH: Son, you’re not going to be captain of the team this year.

MIKE: Why not?

COACH: In fact you’ve been kicked out of school.

MIKE: Coach, please don’t kick me off the team–

COACH: –You’re not listening. Not just the team. The school. Saul Ross doesn’t want you here anymore. How many fights since you’ve been here, Michael? 10? 20? 30?

A strong premise and solid performances carry this film. The true story of an older man going back to college football is inspirational. It shows that it’s possible to defy the odds, correct mistakes, give back to the younger generation, and, yes, follow your dreams. Likewise, overcoming the toxic behaviors learned from parents and reconciling with family members you’ve hurt brings tears to the eyes. Where the film hits those beats well, it works.

MIKE: I never finished my senior year.

COACH: Darn right. Why not?

MIKE: I got thrown out for fighting. But I still have that year.

COACH: What do you mean? Eligible for what?

MIKE: To play?

Michael Chiklis—whom I still remember fondly from his role as Ben Grimm in 2005’s Fantastic Four—is both effortlessly charming and believably complex as Mike Flynt. Brandon Lynn plays the son Micah, and their portrayal of a broken father-son relationship is effectively uncomfortable. (Perhaps too effectively, as we’ll discuss in a moment.) Mary Stuart Masterson as Mike’s wife Eileen brings a warm and grounded presence to the film, and she and Chiklis click as a lovely but flawed married couple. Flynt’s relationship with his teammates is infectious, and I would have loved to see more of it.

MIKE: Hey, Jamal. Going pro is a long shot for anyone. But nobody knows if you’re going to get out on that field again but you. You work hard, you get out there again.

JAMAL: How do you know that?

MIKE: You ever met a linebacker my age? I’m back on the field. And when you get out of here, I expect you to be out there rooting for me, right? That first tackle? That’s going to be for you.

The main problem with The Senior is that its feel-good premise and execution too often clash with the difficult issues it brings up. The movie wants us to root for Mike as he tries to finish his last season of college football. But to keep the stakes high, the movie frequently has his wife, and especially his son, calling his dream selfish and irresponsible when the risk of injury is so high. Mom and son make strong arguments. Whenever he’s challenged with these things, Mike’s response is largely just, “I have to do this.” A pattern we are told he learned from his father.

MICAH: Dad, this is exactly what I’m talking about.

MIKE: Come on, Micah. Stop being such a worry wart. I’m following the doctor’s orders.

MICAH: Really? Since when do you follow anyone’s orders? Dad, it’s time to let it go. Just stop it already, please.

MIKE: I can’t.

MICAH: So what, me, Lily, Laine, Mom, we don’t matter? I hope you enjoy playing your game, dad.

Eileen’s defense of her husband and justification for supporting him feels weak. She argues that if he can fix this regret he’ll be able to fix all his others, like his failures as a husband and father. But most people with loved ones addicted to self-centered and irresponsible behavior find that having their choices validated merely encourages them to keep making the same kinds of choices. It doesn’t usually end with them finally apologizing and changing their ways. Likewise, Eileen’s logic strikes me as too close to the argument made in the wider culture that we should uncritically support loved ones in whatever lifestyle they choose.

SAUL: Mike, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.

MIKE: Go on.

SAUL: Well, you know it’s been 35 years and I shouldn’t have taken so long to tell you I’m sorry.

MIKE: You’re sorry?

SAUL: I was a juvenile, dumb as a rock. I got you kicked off the football team, out of school, I deserved a broken nose.

MIKE: No… I’ve been consumed… there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t thought about that day that I lost my mind.

SAUL: You’re sorry?

MIKE: Yeah.

[Both laugh]

You can see many such forced character beats throughout the film. When Mike discovers how his own father came to faith before he died, we’re told through Micah’s voiceover that this created a change in his dad. But we don’t see any significant change; we just have to take Micah’s word for it.

The cumulative result is that the emotional rush of inspiration you want in a movie like this falls relatively flat compared to others in the genre.

The Senior succeeds in enough ways that die-hard fans of inspirational dramas and faith-based films may rule this a touchdown. But those spoiled by better recent entries may find its fumbles are unrecoverable.

I’m Joseph Holmes.

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