This true-life sports drama starring Jim Caviezel recounts* the winning streak* of a California high school football team.

    This film has gridiron* action to please fans, but the script by Scott Marshall Smith is rather formulaic*.

    It tells the true story of the De La Salle Spartans, a team that had broken records by winning 151 straight games by the end of its 2003 season.

    But the story begins when some setbacks* threaten their 2004 season. First, team coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) suffers a heart attack. Then an African-American team member (Stephan James) is murdered in a fight before he is about to go to college. The team loses its first two games of the new season before their spirit of brotherhood gets them back on track*.

    The big problem with the film is that it’s short of drama* off the football field. Coach Ladouceur gets well again and continues his coaching duties fairly soon. There are a few conflicts* among the teammates, but these are all mild*. The team quarterback* (Alexander Ludwig) faces pressure from an overbearing* father (Clancy Brown), but that’s about the only bit of drama in the film.

    Characterizations are also very thin. It’s always good to see Laura Dern, but she is wasted in the role of Ladouceur’s wife, who pushes him to take a college coaching job, but does little else.

    Sports fans will enjoy the action in two games that are well filmed and edited, but there’s little to keep people interested through the rest of the running time.

    Caviezel hasn’t had a major screen role for a decade*. His acting in this film, however, is not very memorable. Michael Chiklis does a solid job as Ladouceur’s assistant coach. The young actors who play the team members are appealing*, but no one really jumps out. (SD-Agencies)