Glory Road

What this film lacks in gritty realism, it makes up for in audience-pleasing competence | Andrew Coffin

There's a reason that clichés are clichés, particularly in the language of film. In short, they often work. It's the screenwriter's way of going to the well, and that's not always a bad thing.

Glory Road (rated PG for racial issues including violence and epithets, and momentary language) goes to the well, but it goes there with skill and aplomb, reaching for if not quite equaling other recent Disney sports fables like The Rookie, Miracle, and Remember the Titans in inspirational underdog entertainment.

The film is not without its problems, particularly in the "minor" details of fidelity to the historical record. But this is a Jerry Bruckheimer/Disney collaboration. One shouldn't attend the film expecting a history lesson.