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Movies / On DVD / Rudy
Rudy

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Rudy (1993)

80%
75%
86%
N/A
N/A
N/A
80 %
Reviews Counted: 35 Fresh: 28  Rotten:7 Average Rating: 6.8/10
 
Consensus: Though undeniably sentimental and predictable, Rudy succeeds with an uplifting spirit and determination.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins

Synopsis: One of the most heartwarming tales ever committed to film, the true story of Daniel E. "Rudy" Ruettinger (Sean Astin, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) is an underdog drama that escapes--for the most part--the pitfalls of sentimentality. Set in 1960s Joliet, Illinois, Rudy lives in a staunchly... One of the most heartwarming tales ever committed to film, the true story of Daniel E. "Rudy" Ruettinger (Sean Astin, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) is an underdog drama that escapes--for the most part--the pitfalls of sentimentality. Set in 1960s Joliet, Illinois, Rudy lives in a staunchly blue-collar steelworkers' community. Despite his obsession with Notre Dame and college football, Rudy goes to work in the mill alongside his father and brothers directly after his high school graduation. It takes the accidental death of his best friend to inspire Rudy to pursue his dream of playing for Notre Dame. As everyone in his life is quick to point out, Rudy lacks the brains, brawn, and financial means to ever achieve his goal, but he sets out for South Bend just the same, enrolling in a junior college and trying out for the team as a walk-on. Eventually Rudy becomes a member of the practice team, where he displays such a strength of heart and fierceness of will that he touches and inspires all those around him, including the groundskeeper, Fortune (Charles Dutton), the tough-talking coach (Jason Miller), and even his nay saying father (Ned Beatty). Director David Anspaugh, who scored a previous hit with 1986's HOOSIERS, delivers an earnest sports film that concentrates on character and detail, with Sean Astin turning in a remarkably understated, subtle performance. [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, Charles S. Dutton, Lili Taylor, Jon Favreau

Director: David Anspaugh

DVD Info

Release:

Sep 9, 2008

[DVD Details]
  • All his life, people have told Rudy he's not good enough, not smart enough, not big enough. But nothing can stop his impossible dream of playing football for Notre Dame. From the time he's a young boy, Rudy (Sean Astin) is determined to join the Fighting Irish. But his blue collar family only laughs at his ambitions - they know Rudy will follow his father and brothers to the local steel mill. And, for four long years after high school, he does just that. But some dreams won't die, as Rudy proves when he goes to heroic, occasionally hilarious, lengths to win admission to Notre Dame. Once there, he becomes a walk-on player, serving as little more than a human tackling dummy against the starting players. Bloodied but unbeaten, Rudy wins the respect of legendary coach Ara Parseghian and the other Irish players, who give him one shot at gridiron glory. An incredible true story from the creators of Hoosiers, RUDY is an unforgettable testament to the power of dreams and the triumph of the common man.
  • Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

    • Reviews

     
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    1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Sean Astin is utterly winning...

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/29/08
    Stephen Farber
    Movieline
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/01/08
    David Kaplan
    Kaplan vs. Kaplan
    Ratings Image
    2.5/4

    An inconsequential, if moving, contribution to the sports-movie genre.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    03/26/07
    TV Guide's Movie Guide
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    [A] well-crafted piece of middle-American uplift.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    03/26/07
    J. R. Jones
    Chicago Reader
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Directed with composure, but no great fervour, the film's conspicuously uninterested in American football, and much concerned with testing the limits and the resilience of the American dream.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Geoff Andrew
    Time Out
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/08/05
    Chuck O'Leary
    Fantastica Daily
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    Shamelessly manipulative, but who cares when it's so damn uplifting?

    comment Comment
    09/21/05
    Gabe Leibowitz
    eCinemaCenter.com
    Ratings Image
    2/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/21/05
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    An uplifting and inspiring battle-against-the-odds movie

    comment Comment
    03/31/05
    Clint Morris
    Moviehole
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    seriously heartwarming

    comment Comment
    09/19/04
    Rich Cline
    Shadows on the Wall
    Ratings Image
    5/5

    Perhaps the greatest sports movie in film history.

    comment Comment
    06/30/04
    Audrey Rock-Richardson
    Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    02/08/04
    Nell Minow
    Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    01/05/04
    Greg Maki
    Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Sentiment trumps politics.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    12/02/03
    David Leonard
    PopMatters
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/10/03
    Rebecca Murray
    About.com
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/22/03
    Carol Cling
    Las Vegas Review-Journal
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    A salute to a pint-sized football player with heart

    Full Review | comment Comment
    07/20/03
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    For all its patness, the movie also has a gritty realism that is not found in many higher-priced versions of the same thing, and its happy ending is not the typical Hollywood leap into fantasy.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Stephen Holden
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    4/4

    One of those inspirational films that you can't help but like.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    03/23/03
    Robert Roten
    Laramie Movie Scope
    Ratings Image
    1/5

    Tired "against all odds" picture.

    comment Comment
    03/04/03
    Alex Sandell
    Juicy Cerebellum
    1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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    Related Forums

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