Zachary Levi looks like Kurt Warner, he’s athletic enough to play an NFL quarterback, and he’s youthful enough that we’ll give the movie a free pass when he’s playing a collegian despite being 41. Likewise, with her short hair, Anna Paquin passes as Warner’s wife Brenda.
And the football action is solid. The difficult things are accomplished. So it’s unfortunate that “American Underdog” (2021), directed by brothers Andrew and Jon Erwin, whiffs on so many comparatively easy things.
Is this Texas? No, it’s Iowa
First, I was subconsciously thrown off by early scenes in a country bar. My brain said “Texas.” Supporting actors have Southern accents. But this is supposed to be Cedar Falls, Iowa, home of the University of Northern Iowa, where Warner is a fifth-year senior in 1993. More unnecessary drifting from reality comes later.
“American Underdog” (2021)
Directors: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin
Writers: Jon Erwin, David Aaron Cohen, Jon Gunn (screenplay); Kurt Warner, Michael Silver (book)
Stars: Zachary Levi, Anna Paquin, Hayden Zaller
“American Underdog” will play better for people who don’t know much – or anything – about Warner’s career. Based on Warner’s autobiography “All Things Possible,” it’s an accurate portrayal of the spirit of his journey, if not the details.
Levi (“Shazam!”) gives his usual turn wherein we like him because he’s a good-hearted guy and any imperfections are forgivable or even adorable. Warner struggles to have a football career, doing his time as a Hy-Vee grocery stocker and then as a QB for the Arena League’s Iowa Barnstormers before the Rams give him a shot in 1998.
Paquin fans will be thrilled that Brenda has comparable presence in the story as she attends medical school. Yes, she’s the supportive woman behind the man, but she’s also a fully realized character. Indeed, the relationship struggles come from Brenda’s approach and choices; she waffles on her initial agreement that they may struggle, but they’ll struggle together. Kurt is all-in from the moment he meets her in that Texas – erm, Iowa – bar.
Even before their marriage, Brenda relies on Kurt for a lot of the rearing of her two kids. Kurt’s relationship with legally blind but good-spirited Zack (an excellent Hayden Zaller) is particularly lovable. Brenda’s folks are also very present – in the same house, in fact – as is Kurt’s mom in a nearby town.
No bad guys
What about the presence of God in “American Underdog”? I felt it was portioned out nicely. Some viewers believe any film where characters believe in God belongs in the religion genre – it’s only for religious people. But this is a biography of the Warners’ lives, and they are religious. This stuff has to be in the film.
That said, God doesn’t outshine Kurt and Brenda – at least for an atheist viewer like me. On the flip side, a religious viewer will find God in every frame, because they want to. “American Underdog” serves both masters the same way as “Soul Surfer” (2011), the comeback story of Bethany Hamilton.
Dennis Quaid is another common thread between the two films. Here he plays Dick Vermeil and we get an excellent picture of why the 1999 St. Louis Rams were so good. Vermeil is the players’ coach while offensive coordinator Mike Martz (Chance Kelly, thinner but a lookalike) is the brash, brainy general.
Almost every character is a good person — except Brenda’s first husband, but he’s entirely off-screen. Martz rides Warner hard, but it’s to toughen him up. Wide receiver Isaac Bruce is the quintessential supportive teammate, as in fact is every Rams player we see.
Notorious Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is a trash talker, but even he congratulates Warner after the film’s climactic game, when Warner proves he can lead the Greatest Show on Turf in place of injured Trent Green. “American Underdog” doesn’t want any character to look bad. I’m OK with that – it’s a feel-good movie.
Punting on the details
The behind-the-scenes folks do look bad, though. The Rams uniforms have distractingly small numbers on the front and back, something made more obvious when the film cuts to actual 1999 game footage. I think every viewer will notice this.
Serious football fans – who are a good chunk of the audience – will notice Northern Iowa plays outdoors in the film. In reality, the Panthers are one of the longest-running indoor teams in college football; the UNI-Dome opened in 1976.
When a detail like that is wrong – and for no reason other than laziness or cheapness – it can take a viewer out of the film, or make them wonder what else is inaccurate.
Generally, the writing and acting overcome the faults. And I adore the decision to permanently switch from the actors to clips of the real-life people with a few minutes left in the film. It reminds us this is a real story with real emotions.
But while Warner is a Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer, “American Underdog” doesn’t quite reach elite status.