Review: "American Underdog"

To say that Kurt Warner is a great football player is an understatement! As a twelve-season professional quarterback, mainly for the St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals, and a two-time winner of the MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award in the Super Bowl, his career has been amazing. That said, the story of how he got there is incredible! He worked tirelessly, enduring many disappointments along the way. It’s no wonder that Andrew and Jon Erwin believed that Warner’s story had movie potential. The Erwin Brothers’ latest film, American Underdog (2021), was released on Christmas Day, 2021. Here’s my review of “American Underdog.”

As a young boy, Kurt Warner wanted nothing more than to be a Super Bowl and an MVP Quarterback. As an adult (played in the movie by Zachary Levi), he became a slightly rebellious, though exceptional quarterback at the University of Northern Iowa. While he was desperate to be drafted by the NFL, he was initially rejected and found employment at a Hy-Vee grocery store stocking shelves. During that time, he began dating calendar model, Brenda (played by Oscar-Winner Anna Paquin), a single mom who has two kids that Warner bonds with and helps look after. Warner’s career ultimately gets back on track when he is asked to be the quarterback for the Iowa Barnstormers, and later the St. Louis Rams. However as a result, his relationship with Brenda becomes strained so Warner has a faith struggle: what does he value more, a career as a quarterback or his love-life?

“Underdog,” tells the story of Kurt Warner’s success as a quarterback, which didn’t happen overnight. It was due to rejection that Warner thought time and again that he would never be able to become an NFL Quarterback. He never stopped talking to God about how disappointing it was to be rejected. Though he did not give up his faith in God, it became confusing for him as he was also convinced that basically God gave him a dream that he wouldn’t be able to achieve. He was at the end of his rope.

However, he learns through his faith that disappointment is a big part of life and it’s important to know how to act when you face disappointment. What’s miraculous, though, is overcoming disappointments can lead to great successes! That’s an important lesson for everyone to learn, and it’s what inspired Kurt Warner to write the book (with Michael Silver) All Things Possible (2000), the basis for the movie. 

In addition to Zachary Levi and Anna Paquin, the supporting cast includes Dennis Quaid as St. Louis Rams Head Coach, Dick Vermeil and Bruce McGill as owner of the Iowa Barnstormers, Jim Foster. Co-directed and co-produced by the Erwin Brothers, Jon Erwin also co-wrote the screenplay for David Aaron Cohen and Jon Gunn while Andrew Erwin co-edited with Sean Albertson. Gunn also executive produced. The film’s cinematography was done by Kristopher Kimlin. Gunn and Kimlin previously collaborated on the Erwin’s previous film I Still Believe (2020). The film was scored by John Debney who also scored “I Still Believe.”

All in all, “American Underdog,” is a great movie. I had neither read All Things Possible, nor did I even know anything about Kurt Warner before I had seen this movie. Nonetheless, I appreciated it’s inspiring message. Besides overcoming disappointment, the film is about never giving up on pursuit of what you believe is God’s calling on your life, no matter what obstacles stand in your way. The journey is worth-it no matter how long it takes.