Forever Strong
Encyclopedia
Forever Strong is a sports film directed by Ryan Little
and written by David Pliler and released on September 26, 2008. The film stars Sean Faris
, Gary Cole
, Neal McDonough
, Sean Astin
, Penn Badgley
and Arielle Kebbel
. The film is about a troubled rugby union
player who must play against the team his father coaches at the national championships. Forever Strong is based on a compilation of individual true stories.
) loses his position as the star of an Arizona
rugby union team when he is sentenced to a boys' Juvenile Detention Center in Salt Lake City. Rick ends up playing for Salt Lake's notable Highland rugby team, coached by Larry Gelwix
(Gary Cole
), in the national championships—against his old team, who is coached by his father, Richard Penning (Neal McDonough
). Emily (Arielle Kebbel
) is Rick's love interest, and Marcus (Sean Astin
) is his guidance counselor.
and Brigham Young University
, played in the film. Some Highland Rugby alumni and current players also played roles in the film.
The name of the film is is based on a phrase the Gelwix often shares with his team members, "kia kaha" which in the Maori language means Forever strong. The longer version: "Be forever strong on the field, so that you will be forever strong off the field." The players call them "Gelwixims".
Forever Strong is based on an amalgam of true stories about the Highland Rugby high school team. The character Rick Penning is based on a real member of the rugby team who played in Flagstaff, Arizona and was sent to a group home in Salt Lake City. The story attracted the production company Go Films. "Forever Strong" was the first sports themed film Go Films had made. Producer Adam Abel and Director Ryan Little were attracted to the story because of Highland Rugby's tradition of winning both on and off the field. The film name "Forever Strong" is taken from the team motto of the Highland High School rugby team. "Forever Strong" was released in fall 2008 and distributed by Crane Movie Co.
(traditional Maori dance and song) "Ka Mate
". The iwi
(tribal grouping) Ngati Toa
chief Te Rauparaha
is credited with composing this particular haka. The film contains a scene in which one player translates the lyrics of "Ka Mate" for his teammate.
reported that 29% of critics rated the film positively based on 14 reviews. Metacritic
reported the film had an average score of 37 out of 100 based on 9 reviews — indicating generally negative reviews.
Ryan Little
Ryan Little is a movie director, cinematographer and producer. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Awards and nominations:*Won, 2006, Heartland Film Festival's Crystal Heart Award for independent filmmakers, for Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy*Won, 2003, Viewer's Choice...
and written by David Pliler and released on September 26, 2008. The film stars Sean Faris
Sean Faris
Sean Hardy Faris is an American model and actor. He is well known for his roles as Jake Tyler in Never Back Down, Kyo Kusanagi in The King of Fighters, and Rick Penning in Forever Strong.-Life and career:...
, Gary Cole
Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole is an American actor. Cole is known for his supporting roles in numerous film and television productions since the 1990s.-Early life:...
, Neal McDonough
Neal McDonough
Neal P. McDonough is an American film, television and voice actor.-Career:In 1991, McDonough won the Best Actor Dramalogue for "Away Alone". McDonough has made many television and film appearances since then, including Band of Brothers, Boomtown, Star Trek: First Contact, Minority Report and The...
, Sean Astin
Sean Astin
Sean Astin is an American film actor, director, voice artist, and producer better known for his film roles as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, the title character of Rudy, and Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In television, he appeared as Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24...
, Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley
Penn Dayton Badgley is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl. He has also starred in the movies John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, and Easy A....
and Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Caroline Kebbel is an American model and actress. Arielle is perhaps best known for her roles in films such as American Pie Presents: Band Camp, John Tucker Must Die, Vampires Suck, and Aquamarine, as well as TV series including The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and Life Unexpected, on...
. The film is about a troubled rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who must play against the team his father coaches at the national championships. Forever Strong is based on a compilation of individual true stories.
Plot
Talented but troubled high school rugby player Rick Penning (Sean FarisSean Faris
Sean Hardy Faris is an American model and actor. He is well known for his roles as Jake Tyler in Never Back Down, Kyo Kusanagi in The King of Fighters, and Rick Penning in Forever Strong.-Life and career:...
) loses his position as the star of an Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
rugby union team when he is sentenced to a boys' Juvenile Detention Center in Salt Lake City. Rick ends up playing for Salt Lake's notable Highland rugby team, coached by Larry Gelwix
Larry Gelwix
Larry Gelwix has been the coach of the Highland Rugby team since its founding in Salt Lake City in 1973. The movie Forever Strong was inspired by him and his team's history...
(Gary Cole
Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole is an American actor. Cole is known for his supporting roles in numerous film and television productions since the 1990s.-Early life:...
), in the national championships—against his old team, who is coached by his father, Richard Penning (Neal McDonough
Neal McDonough
Neal P. McDonough is an American film, television and voice actor.-Career:In 1991, McDonough won the Best Actor Dramalogue for "Away Alone". McDonough has made many television and film appearances since then, including Band of Brothers, Boomtown, Star Trek: First Contact, Minority Report and The...
). Emily (Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Caroline Kebbel is an American model and actress. Arielle is perhaps best known for her roles in films such as American Pie Presents: Band Camp, John Tucker Must Die, Vampires Suck, and Aquamarine, as well as TV series including The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and Life Unexpected, on...
) is Rick's love interest, and Marcus (Sean Astin
Sean Astin
Sean Astin is an American film actor, director, voice artist, and producer better known for his film roles as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, the title character of Rudy, and Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In television, he appeared as Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24...
) is his guidance counselor.
Production
The movie was filmed in Salt Lake City beginning in July 2006 at three local high schools. Sean Faris ran six miles twice a day to get in shape for the film. During filming, Faris sprained his ankle, but had the ankle taped, and continued filming. Several All-American rugby players, predominantly from the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, played in the film. Some Highland Rugby alumni and current players also played roles in the film.
The name of the film is is based on a phrase the Gelwix often shares with his team members, "kia kaha" which in the Maori language means Forever strong. The longer version: "Be forever strong on the field, so that you will be forever strong off the field." The players call them "Gelwixims".
Forever Strong is based on an amalgam of true stories about the Highland Rugby high school team. The character Rick Penning is based on a real member of the rugby team who played in Flagstaff, Arizona and was sent to a group home in Salt Lake City. The story attracted the production company Go Films. "Forever Strong" was the first sports themed film Go Films had made. Producer Adam Abel and Director Ryan Little were attracted to the story because of Highland Rugby's tradition of winning both on and off the field. The film name "Forever Strong" is taken from the team motto of the Highland High School rugby team. "Forever Strong" was released in fall 2008 and distributed by Crane Movie Co.
Cast
- Gary ColeGary ColeGary Michael Cole is an American actor. Cole is known for his supporting roles in numerous film and television productions since the 1990s.-Early life:...
as Coach Larry Gelwix - Sean AstinSean AstinSean Astin is an American film actor, director, voice artist, and producer better known for his film roles as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, the title character of Rudy, and Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In television, he appeared as Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24...
as Marcus Tate - Neal McDonoughNeal McDonoughNeal P. McDonough is an American film, television and voice actor.-Career:In 1991, McDonough won the Best Actor Dramalogue for "Away Alone". McDonough has made many television and film appearances since then, including Band of Brothers, Boomtown, Star Trek: First Contact, Minority Report and The...
as Coach Richard Penning - Sean FarisSean FarisSean Hardy Faris is an American model and actor. He is well known for his roles as Jake Tyler in Never Back Down, Kyo Kusanagi in The King of Fighters, and Rick Penning in Forever Strong.-Life and career:...
as Richard 'Rick' Seymour Penning, Jr. - Penn BadgleyPenn BadgleyPenn Dayton Badgley is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl. He has also starred in the movies John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, and Easy A....
as Lars - Michael J. PaganMichael J. PaganMichael Jamon Pagan is an American actor and screenwriter.-Biography:Pagan attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach and West Los Angeles College in Los Angeles. He has received training at the Tasha Smith Acting Studio and the Ivanna Chubbuck Studio...
as Kurt Addison - Nathan WestNathan WestNathan Luke West is an American actor.He married actress Chyler Leigh on July 20, 2002.-Filmography:*D2: The Mighty Ducks as Iceland Goalie*The Adventures of A.R.K. as Sam...
as Quentin 'Q' Owens - Max KaschMax KaschJoseph Maxwell "Max" Kasch is an American film and television actor. He is the brother to fellow actors Cody Kasch and Dylan Kasch. Max appeared in the 2003 film, Holes as Zig-zag...
as Griggs - Julie WarnerJulie WarnerJuliet Mia "Julie" Warner is an American actress.-Early life:Warner was born in Manhattan, New York. Her mother, Naomi, is a literary agent, an independent marketing consultant, and a licensing director. Her father, Neil Warner, is a jingle composer, a pianist, and an arranger...
as Natalie Penning - Arielle KebbelArielle KebbelArielle Caroline Kebbel is an American model and actress. Arielle is perhaps best known for her roles in films such as American Pie Presents: Band Camp, John Tucker Must Die, Vampires Suck, and Aquamarine, as well as TV series including The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and Life Unexpected, on...
as Emily Owens - Tyler KainTyler KainTyler Kain is an American actress who plays Julia Capshaw on the MyNetworkTV limited-run serial Saints & Sinners.Her previous acting credits include guest appearances on My Name Is Earl, Cold Case, CSI: Miami and NCIS.-External links:...
as Tami - Larry BagbyLarry BagbyLarry Bagby is an American actor and a musician.Bagby was born Lawrence Bagby III in Marysville, California. His father was a member of a dance band. Bagby's most notable roles include:...
as Coach Cal
Maori culture
Forever Strong contains use of the hakaHaka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
(traditional Maori dance and song) "Ka Mate
Ka Mate
"Ka Mate" is a Māori haka composed by Te Rauparaha, war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe of the North Island of New Zealand.-The creation and composition of Ka Mate:...
". The iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
(tribal grouping) Ngati Toa
Ngati Toa
Ngāti Toa , an iwi , traces its descent from the eponymous ancestor Toarangatira. The Ngāti Toa region extends from Miria-te-kakara at Rangitikei to Wellington, and across Cook Strait to Wairau and Nelson....
chief Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
is credited with composing this particular haka. The film contains a scene in which one player translates the lyrics of "Ka Mate" for his teammate.
Critical reception
As of October 10, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 29% of critics rated the film positively based on 14 reviews. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported the film had an average score of 37 out of 100 based on 9 reviews — indicating generally negative reviews.