‘The Senior’ is a sports drama film directed by Rod Lurie, written by Robert Eisele, and starring Michael Chiklis, Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale, and Rob Corddry. It is based on the true story of Mike Flynt, who, at age 59, returned to compete in football.
In the past, I have been critical of Angel Films, mainly regarding their marketing methods rather than the quality of their films. For instance, Angel compared this movie to ‘Him’, which is currently in theaters. I reviewed and enjoyed that film. In their comparison, it seemed as if Angel was suggesting that ‘The Senior’ is a much more wholesome movie and that it would be a better choice for audiences.
I have seldom, if ever, seen a movie production company criticize another film during their marketing campaign. As someone who has been involved in marketing in the past, I found this approach unappreciated. This prompted me to see ‘The Senior’ in what I suspect will be the last two to three weeks it is showing in theaters. I expressed my concerns to Angel on their Facebook page, and many others have done the same. So, what did I think of this movie?
As a note, I played college football, and there was much in this movie that I could relate to. For example, I left college after getting into a fight, and the lead character, Michael Flynt, experienced a similar situation. Later, at a football reunion, he discovered he had a year of eligibility left. Always committed to staying in shape, he had several things he wanted to make right, so he decided to try out for the football team at a Division III NCAA school at the age of 59. Despite warnings from his family regarding his age, he knew he had to take this opportunity for himself. As any athlete who has quit for any reason knows, there is an ongoing contemplation of the “what if?” scenario.
I have always admired Michael Chiklis, dating back to his television days. In ‘The Senior’, he delivers a fantastic performance. In many of the football and training scenes, it’s actually him performing the stunts, not a stand-in. The film is well-shot, well-directed, and features an excellent story—largely true—since the real Michael Flynt has been publicly discussing the film’s authenticity.
As an emotional person, I found a lot to relate to and appreciate in this movie. As the story unfolds, Flynt discovers his father’s transformation and change in life before he passed away. While dealing with family issues, he finds scrapbooks filled with newspaper clippings of his son’s career and a worn-out Bible he never knew his father had. Through this reflection on both his father’s life and his own shortcomings as a father, he realizes that his role as a football player is about more than just himself. It serves as a reminder that what each of us does has meaning and purpose. Like Flynt, we can find purpose and, in that purpose, discover our worth. The film touches on themes of faith and the significance of teamwork as well.
While I have been critical of Angel in the past—and likely will be again if their marketing strategies don’t change—I must say this is a genuinely good feel-good, quality sports drama. Even those who relate more to high school sports will likely enjoy this movie and may be moved as I was. Chiklis truly delivers in his performance. The post-movie clips and discussions with Chiklis and the real Michael Flynt are also enjoyable.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I found this movie to be very enjoyable. I’m leaving a much higher score than I initially expected before entering the theater. I’m giving it a solid 8.
