View source for Invincible (2006 film)

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2011}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox film
|name           = Invincible
|image          = Invincible_movie.jpg
|caption        = Promotional poster
|director       = Ericson Core
|writer         = Brad Gann
|starring       = [[Mark Wahlberg]]<br />[[Greg Kinnear]]<br />[[Elizabeth Banks]]
|producer       = Gordon Gray<br />Mark Ciardi
|editing        = [[Gerald B. Greenberg]]
|composer       = [[Mark Isham]]
|distributor    = [[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|budget         = $40&nbsp;million
|gross          = $58,480,828
|released       = {{Film date|2006|8|25}}
|runtime        = 104 minutes
|country        = United States
|language       = English
}}
'''''Invincible''''' is a 2006 [[sports film]] directed by Ericson Core set in 1976. It is based on the true story of [[Vince Papale]], who played for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] from [[1976 NFL season|1976]]–[[1978 NFL season|78]]. [[Mark Wahlberg]] portrays Papale and [[Greg Kinnear]] plays Papale's coach, [[Dick Vermeil]]. The movie was released in the US on August 25, 2006.

==Plot==
During the 1970s, the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] endure a string of losing seasons and irate fans. To spice things up for his organization, newly hired Eagles head coach [[Dick Vermeil]] decides to hold open tryouts in 1976 for a spot on the pro [[American football|football]] team's roster. [[Vince Papale]] is a 30-year-old bartender who has just lost his part-time teaching job. He had gone to [[Saint Joseph's University]] (then known as St. Joseph's College) on a track scholarship. Disgusted with his professional failure his wife, Sharon ([[Lola Glaudini]]), abruptly leaves him, taking all of their furniture with her and leaving a note saying that he never will be anything in the world.

With the support of all his friends from the neighborhood, Papale goes out for an open tryout practice; catching the attention of coach Vermeil, he is invited to come along to training camp. Papale eventually makes the team, and after a dismal display in the opening game of the season, he recovers a [[fumble]] and returns it for a [[touchdown]] in the second regular season game versus the [[New York Giants]], which leads to Vermeil's first victory with the Eagles.

==Differences from the true story==
In reality, Papale had been playing semi-professional and pro football for several years, first with the [[Semi-professional|semi-pro]] Aston Green Knights of the [[Seaboard Football League]] and then two seasons with the [[Philadelphia Bell]] of the [[World Football League]], one of the [[NFL]]'s rival leagues on the level of the [[American Football League|AFL]] and the [[USFL]]. Papale was a standout [[special teams]] star for the Bell, who played at Philadelphia's [[JFK Stadium]]. 

Papale did participate in an open tryout before earning his spot on the Bell roster, which the filmmakers used as a model for the tryout shown in the movie.  For the Eagles, Papale actually participated in a private workout that was by invitation only.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repertoiremag.com/Article.asp?Id=2887|title=Vince Papale: The Real Italian Stallion|work=Repertoire Magazine|accessdate=August 23, 2012}}</ref>

The opening scene of the movie features the Eagles' 31-0 loss to the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] on [[December 7]], [[1975]]. One of the fans makes a comment that the Eagles lost to a team worse than they were. In '75, the Bengals actually won 11 of 14 regular season games and were the [[Wild card (sports)|Wild Card]] team in the [[American Football Conference|AFC]].<ref>http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/1975.htm</ref>

The fumble recovery depicted in the climactic scene did take place, but Papale's touchdown did not count, as under NFL rules at the time, the ball could not be advanced.  It was still a key play in the victory for the Eagles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2006-08-25/sports/0608250072_1_papale-ravens-invincible|title=Perfectly familiar story|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date= August 25, 2006|author=Bill Ordine|accessdate=September 4, 2012}}</ref>  Papale never scored a regular-season touchdown in the NFL.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/vincepapale/2522709/careerstats
|title=Vince Papale: Career Stats|work=NFL.com|accessdate=September 4, 2012}}</ref>

On the film's DVD, Papale appears with the director in the Director Commentary portion.   Papale makes no mention of these differences in his commentary.

==Filming==
The preseason/tryout scenes were filmed at [[Franklin Field]] at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], and the [[Central High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)|Central High School]] Lancers field during the July/August months of 2005. (For 13 seasons, [[1958 NFL season|1958]]–[[1970 NFL season|70]], Franklin Field was the home field of the Eagles.) The crew used their locker room and field. The Lancers, who had a preseason, used [[Fairmount Park]] in [[West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|West Philadelphia]] during this time. The carnival scenes were filmed at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in [[South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|South Philadelphia]] at 2329 South Third Street. Some of the street scenes were filmed on location in the city. The remainder of the film was filmed in a former aircraft carrier parts warehouse on Langley Avenue in the Philadelphia Naval Business Center. The crew shared this facility with the floats for the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.

==Cast==
* [[Mark Wahlberg]] as [[Vince Papale]]
* [[Greg Kinnear]] as [[Dick Vermeil]]
* [[Elizabeth Banks]] as Janet Cantrell
* [[Kevin Conway (actor)|Kevin Conway]] as Frank Papale
* [[Michael Rispoli]] as Max Cantrell
* [[Kirk Acevedo]] as Tommy
* [[Dov Davidoff]] as Johnny
* [[Michael Kelly (American actor)|Michael Kelly]] as Pete
* Sal Darigo as Mick
* Nicoye Banks as TJ Banks
* Turron Kofi Alleyne as Ronnie Sampson
* Cosmo DeMatteo as Dean German
* [[Michael Mulheren]] as AC Craney
* [[Michael Nouri]] as [[Leonard Tose]]
* Anthony Masucci as Josh Barnes
* Mike Kerley as [[Tom Landry]]

==Box office==
In opening weekend the movie made approximately $17,031,122 domestically. As of November 16, 2006, the movie has generated an estimated $57,806,952 domestically.

==Reception==
The film received generally positive reviews from critics. It is certified "fresh" with a 71% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], and a "generally favorable" rating with a 63/100 on [[Metacritic]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Philadelphia}}
* {{Official website|http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/invincible/}}
* {{IMDb title|0445990|Invincible}}
* {{mojo title|invincible06|Invincible}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|invincible|Invincible}}
* [http://www.sportsinmovies.com/football/invincible.asp Invincible] at the Sports Movie Database

{{Philadelphia Eagles}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Invincible}}
[[Category:2006 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:American football films]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles]]
[[Category:Sports films based on actual events]]

[[ca:Invincible]]