Rudy
1993 · 114 min · Drama, History
Directed by David Anspaugh
“It's not the size of the dog in the fight, It's the size of the fight in the dog.”
Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team.
Why it's worth watching
Rudy is a heartwarming and inspiring story that celebrates perseverance, dedication, and the pursuit of one's dreams. It showcases how hard work and unwavering spirit can overcome significant obstacles.
What it praises
The film holds up virtues such as determination, selflessness, and the importance of family support in achieving one’s goals. It also emphasizes the value of education and personal growth.
For discernment
Rudy is a legitimately stirring underdog story, and unusually for a sports film its faith is treated with respect—Notre Dame, prayer, and an honest priest are woven in without mockery, and the picture of dogged perseverance and hard-won character is the real thing. The one substantive flag is language heavier than its wholesome reputation suggests: multiple uses of 's***,' 'a**,' and 'b*******,' and notably around eleven uses of 'g******' along with other misuses of God's name, much of it in the locker-room and coaching scenes. There's also social drinking in bars, one scene of Rudy visibly drunk, and an early steel-mill death that's brief but intense. The inspirational core and reverent handling of faith make this worthwhile family viewing, but the recurring blasphemy in particular is worth knowing about before you put it on for younger kids.
- LanguageModerate profanity including multiple 's***,' 'a**,' and 'b*******,' plus about eleven uses of 'g******' and other misuses of God's name.
- SubstancesSeveral bar scenes with beer, one where Rudy is clearly drunk, and a character smoking a cigar.
- NoteA worker is killed in a fiery steel-mill blast early on, a brief but intense scene followed by grief at the funeral.
Cast
Sean Astin
Daniel E. 'Rudy' Ruettiger
Jon Favreau
D-Bob
Ned Beatty
Daniel Ruettiger
Lili Taylor
Sherry
Charles S. Dutton
Fortune
Vince Vaughn
Jamie O'Hara
Greta Lind
Mary
Christopher Reed
Pete
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