4/4  One of the most moving sports films ever.
One of the most wonderful things a film can do is be so moving and triumphant that it makes you cry. You aren't crying because Bambi mother's was killed, instead you are identifying with the power of the human spirit. Rudy is an ordinary m... (read full)

4/4  #21 has crowd screaming Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
Sean Astin stars as Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger in an inspiring true story about an undersized football player who will do anything to live out his lifelong dream- to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Astin plays the role perfectly and i... (read full)

3/4  Rudy Quick Review
It's certainly one of the most inspirational movies I've ever seen. Watch for Vince Vaughn's small role in it too.

3/4  Rudy Quick Review
If I didn't know it was based on a true story, I would have considered it too unrealistic. An amazing story that ranks among the best of the feel-good sports movies.

2/4  Rudy Quick Review
Lame, is all I can say about this film. It hardly held my attention. Sean Astin just needs to stick to Goonies and Hobits.

3.5/4  Rudy Quick Review
Probably my favorite out of the large trend of "feel-good sports films" - Rudy pulls at the heartstrings, but never gets that sappy feeling so many other films do. Uplifting, inspirational and truly entertaining.

3.5/4  Rudy Quick Review
One of the best sport films of all time. Inspiring and enjoyable to watch. Rudy is a true underdog story that shows that you can do anything.

5/5 Absolutely Wonderful - My Favorite Sports Movie
  by T. Wheatley
I have to admit that for as long as this movie has been out, I hadn't seen it until recently. I was throughly impressed. Yes, a movie script is going to be different from reality because they have to fit years of actual experience into something under two hours; however, I thought it was done very, very well.

The special interviews were fantastic to watch after viewing the movie and realizing that many of the elements that I wondered were true or not actually were true. If you haven't seen it, I won't give it away, but watch the special features and you may be surprised.

You can search YouTube to watch the actual footage of the last few minutes of the game in which Rudy played.

This is by far my favorite sports movie (and there are some good ones out there). I love how the movie depicts years and years of hard work leading up to his dream whereas other sports movies, the team or player become whipped into shape during one short season.

Great movie.

4/5 Formulaic, but very good.
  by Jason Kirkfield (Rocky Mountain High)
Predictable but moving nonetheless. Jerry Goldsmith's score helps, and Sean Astin puts in a 5-star performance. Not as dark--nor as great, ultimately--as Hoosiers (also by director David Anspaugh).

The weakest part of the movie to me was the romantic interest (the booster club girl).

Might as well get this "Special Edition" (2000) over the later "Deluxe Edition" (2003).

On a personal note, I met Ara Parseghian at a charity dinner. I always thought that Jason Miller (who plays Ara in the movie) looked a lot more like Joe Paterno!

My favorite line from the movie?
"...It' ain't gonna never happen!" (Charles S. Dutton)

2/5 Completey Marred by Wack Pacing and Annoying Plotline
  by Untitled (nowhere)
Look, my low rating does not account for any lame reasons such as the main character is from Notre Dame, or the fact that I am not a Notre Dame fan, though I'm not (Side Note: Go Trojans!). Rather, while this film is somewhat entertaining (hardly), the moral is pedestrian and tacked onto something as trivial as Football, and the pacing throws off whatever power the movie has.

The acting is aqequte, but the somewhat good acting and okay setting is marred by the WACK pacing. THe problem is that it just seems rushed. It doesn't feel like a journey. Maybe that's because you cannot make a road to this "dream" condensed into less than two hours (with credits, from birth as well, no less), but each scene feels tacked on. It's just throw away, and it feels like a hastily thrown together script and a series of skteches. Take for example, the diner scene with his best friend. He gets into a fight, then he's dead 2 minutes later. What's with that? I think if there were more screen time of him, I think it would be a lot better. Heck, the only way to even make the death feel like it has impact would to show just how much time they spend together.

Also, I hate the notion of this whole dream and the fact that they even try to pass it off as inspiratoin. Look, Rudy, I realize all your life you were weak and were undersized. But to me, is it really worth it? No! I don't have the skills to be an actor, do you think I'm going to waste my time trying to get some 3 second rule in a dinky movie? I'm not going to waste my life. Big deal, you recorded one sack. The fact is, the dream of doing something that is out of your reach seems a waste, especially when it's something like Football.

Rudy is really a movie worth skipping. And forget the fact it's accurate, the coach, who is considered an atagonist, actually insisted putting Rudy in. So really, this is not edgy or realistic, it's still HOllywood moralizing. The only inspiration I felt was the inspiration to smash the DVD into the wall.

D+

5/5 Rudy
  by PAJ (wisconsin)
This is one of my favorite movies. GREAT that it is a true story. The real Rudy is behind the dad in the bleachers at the end of the movie.

4/5 A formula movie done extremely well
  by Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL))
On the one hand, this is a formula movie. Poor boy has challenges; poor boy works hard; poor boy ends up successful. The movies pulls all the strings just right, so that the person viewing this movie is pulled along by sentiment and a well crafted script and sound track.

The sound track needs to be mentioned. It works quite well. The movie shows Notre Dame football practice and games during the change of seasons. Rudy, played by Sean Astin, is undersized and undertalented, but he has great desire to play for the Fighting Irish. He becomes a practice team fixture, hanging on by his fingernails because of his desire and hustle. The movie shows him desperate to attend Notre Dame and having to gain access to the University. His family is working class and can't really help him. There is an element of Horatio Alger here, as "poor boy makes good," although the "good" is not the massing of wealth.

The ending is wonderfully manipulative--but very effective. The emotions wash over the viewer. This is an engaging movie, with many fine performances by the actors. If you like sports movies, this is worth looking at.