Fresh
[A] well-crafted piece of middle-American uplift.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Rudy
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, It's the size of the fight in the dog.
1993 · 1h 54m · PG
Drama, History
Directed by
David Anspaugh
Overview
Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team.
Director and cast
- David Anspaugh Director
- Sean Astin as Daniel E. 'Rudy' Ruettiger
- Jon Favreau as D-Bob
- Ned Beatty as Daniel Ruettiger
- Lili Taylor as Sherry
- Charles S. Dutton as Fortune
- Vince Vaughn as Jamie O'Hara
- Greta Lind as Mary
- Christopher Reed as Pete
- Deborah Wittenberg as Young Sherry
- Kevin Duda as 9-Year-Old Bernie
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
80%
Tomatometer
Rotten
Directed with composure, but no great fervour, the film's conspicuously uninterested in American football, and much concerned with testing the limits and the resilience of the American dream.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh
For all its patness, the movie also has a gritty realism that is not found in many higher-priced versions of the same thing, and its happy ending is not the typical Hollywood leap into fantasy.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
Fresh
It's Ruettiger's persistence that his teammates and the film celebrate. For that, Rudy earns a rousing cheer.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Fresh
Astin's performance is so self-effacing, so focused and low-key, that we lose sight of the underdog formula and begin to focus on this dogged kid who won't quit. And the last big scene is an emotional powerhouse, just the way it's supposed to be.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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