The World in Film
Invincible: Portrait of Philadelphia’s real-life Rocky

-- Leah Otto Johnson

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
— Alexander Graham Bell

His is a story of bravery, spirit and determination. He is a man who chose not to focus on closed doors or allow them to deter him from his greatest dream—a chance to play professional football with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rather, in a period after Watergate and Vietnam, Vince Papale, then a 30-year-old schoolteacher and bartender, rose up and walked through an open door to become Philadelphia’s real-life Rocky Balboa—an ordinary everyday-man turned sports hero.

"For a guy who’s usually sitting up in the stands to come down and play with his beloved team is a fantasy that millions can relate to," said Producer Mark Ciardi. "And it really happened."

Invincible reveals the raw side of Papale’s life, both before and after he became the Eagles’ wide receiver. Just like every ordinary everyday-man, Papale had his life turned upside down: He lost his teaching job due to downsizing and had his first wife abandon him shortly after.

"It [Invincible] is about anybody out there who faces adversity," said Papale. "[About anybody] who is up against the toughest of odds and decides to make their dreams come true anyway."

And in 1976, with an 11-season losing streak behind them, the Eagles were just that—against the toughest of odds.

Debut NFL Eagles Coach Dick Vermeil, who previously coached college football at UCLA, held open tryouts. He felt the Eagles needed something — if not more heart and more courage, some inspiration.

"Dick had a real sense that he was trying to build something," said Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine), who portrayed Vermeil in Invincible. "If that meant calling in all the bartenders and would-be football players from around town, he was willing to try that."

If for nothing other than to stand on the very field that belonged to his beloved team, Papale was up to the challenge. "I was just pursuing my dream," he said.

"You think about it," Kinnear explained in an interview with Hollywood Movies. "Thousands showed up and he [Vermeil] ended up taking one. It wasn’t like he took three or four—he took one."

Portraying Papale, the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL without college football experience, was an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime, said Mark Wahlberg (The Departed).

"He [Papale] is a guy who never really had a lot of luck, but for him it was all about heart — he had that rare willingness to sacrifice everything for something he loves," said Wahlberg. "It was an amazing experience."

Papale played with the Eagles for four seasons. His bravery, spirit and determination earned him the admiration of his teammates, who voted him their Special Teams Captain and nominated him for the Byron "Whizzer" White Award — the NFLPA’s highest honor.

"When I go to the movies," said Wahlberg, "I want to see characters who weren’t born into success and who didn’t get all the lucky breaks, but who made it because they have more heart and determination. That’s who Vince Papale is."

This film has a PG - rating for sports action and some mild language. Available on DVD Dec. 19, 2006. To learn more about Papale, visit http://www.vincepapale.com. For further information about the film, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/invincible.

Send film comments and suggestions to ottole@go.metrostate.edu.