Every good sports movie needs an underdog that audiences can root for. The new film from director Rod Lurie (The Last Castle, The Outpost) has a real-life character who would have seemed too impossible to believe if a screenwriter had made him up. That's Mike Flynt, who at the age of 59 returned to play for his college alma mater after 37 years, becoming one of the oldest men to ever play the sport.
Superbly played by Michael Chiklis, he's the real-life hero of The Senior, which recently received its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. When its inevitable theatrical release comes, this blockbuster should be a potent box-office draw, especially in non-urban areas. Lines are probably already forming at Texas theaters.
Director: Rod Lurie
Writer: Robert Eisele
Stars: Mary Stuart Masterson, Michael Chiklis, Brandon Flynn
The story begins in 1970, when Flynt was a star linebacker at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Unfortunately, he also had a violent temper, which, as we see in harrowing flashbacks, was instilled in him by his equally combative father (James Badge Dale). After getting into one too many violent altercations, Flynt was expelled from college before he could finish his degree.
Cut to 37 years later, in 2007, when it's quickly established that Flynt, now working in the construction industry, hasn't mellowed out and gets into a fistfight on a construction site. It's clear that, despite his happy marriage to the lovely Eileen (Mary Stuart Masterson, who hasn't lost any of her onscreen radiance), Flynt has some unfinished business. So when he meets up with his former teammates at a reunion and one of them jokingly suggests he go back to school, finish his degree and get back on the court, Flynt impulsively decides to do just that.
This is where the hilarious fish-out-of-water sequences come in as Flynt, who is still in excellent physical condition, tries out a skeptical coach (Rob Corddry, playing it cool), who eventually agrees to give him a chance, and meets his incredulous teammates, all of whom are nearly 40 years his junior. Despite their good-natured taunts, especially over his choice of motivational music (Rubberband Man by The Spinners, among other old songs), most of them treat Flynt with respect, calling him “Sir” or “Mr. Flynt,” much to his dismay. However, Flynt, who is AARP-eligible, gives as good as he gets: After making a particularly impressive play, he informs a teammate, “Fred Flintstone taught me that, son.”
Unfortunately, not all of Flynt’s fellow players appreciate his presence, including one who injures him with a low blow that results in a serious neck injury. Now Flynt not only has to prove to his coach and teammates that he can keep playing despite his age, but he also has to prove to his doctor that he won’t suffer irreversible damage.
Robert Eisele’s (The Great Debaters) script cleverly mixes the story’s inherent humor with strong emotional touches, including Flynt’s conflicted relationship with his adult son (Brandon Flynn), which reflects his past issues with his father; and his loving relationship with his wife, who makes it clear that she expects to be consulted on important decisions. The latter results in one of the film’s best scenes, when Eileen lays down the law to her timid husband, something Masterson pulls off perfectly. The film also features religious elements that should resonate with its target audience without being as heavy-handed as those in many faith-based films.
The Senior, ably directed by Lurie, follows the standard sports movie template, including the impassioned motivational speech (which the coach conveniently, for dramatic reasons, allows Flynt to deliver instead) and the big game at the end, which provides a suitably inspirational climax. But the familiar beats are so skillfully hammered home that you don’t mind the manipulation. And while you might be surprised — shocked — to learn that the movie takes some liberties with the truth, they’re not so outrageous as to diminish its overall impact.
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