‘Unstoppable’ is a schmaltzy sports drama with its heart in the right place

There is no shortage of truly inspirational stories from the world of sport, and Without stopping ready to step into the ring (by premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival).

He follows Anthony Robles (The light of the moon Jharrel Jerome), wrestler born with one leg. Robles, who excels in high school championships, has big dreams, including the hope of receiving a scholarship to wrestling powerhouse the University of Iowa. But Anthony faces stiff competition and a fair amount of prejudice about his disability. Still, he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal of becoming an NCAA national champion.

Iowa passes Anthony, and he has turned in a full-ride offer from Drexel to attend Arizona State University as a walk-on to be close to help his incredibly supportive mother, Judy (Jennifer Lopez), and four younger sisters in after her abusive partner. , Rick (Bobby Cannavale) abandons them. At Arizona, Anthony works with coach Shawn Charles (Don Cheadle) who gradually learns the full scope of his extraordinary character and commitment.

But as amazing and unique as Robles’ story, Without stopping it’s a rote play that consistently plays it too safe. Produced by Artists Equity, who also did last year’s hit air, Without stopping feels less like a major motion picture and more like a Disney Channel original from the early aughts (no knock on the movies; they’re great, but not exactly the kind of movie to premiere at a festival big fall).

Robles’ story is incredibly inspiring on its own merits, and Jerome is solid, especially nailing the physical demands of the role and the taxing sequences in which Anthony fights to prove himself. But the film focuses too much on his challenging situation at home to his own detriment.

There is no doubt that his mother was central to his success and that the two share a rare and special bond. But Lopez tends toward histrionics in the role (her legendary star power makes it hard to buy her as a working-class mother). She excels in many of her scenes, lacking the buoyant naturalism of her rom-com era as well as scintillating humor. Hustlers.

She often confronts Rick, who is a cookie-cutter male chauvinist pig, complete with speeches about what it really means to be a man and record-breaking claims about how he provides for his family (warning: it doesn’t). Cannavale could be playing this kind of role in his sleep by now, and he basically doesn’t, really, without giving the guy any nuance.

The film is at its liveliest and most engaging when it focuses on Anthony’s time with his team and coaches, both Coach Charles and his high school coach, Bobby Williams (Michael Peña). There the heart of the story is strongest. Peña is excellent as the warm father and Cheadle plays a reliable believer with a winning combination of charisma and intelligence. Watching Anthony win it, at one point even bringing Coach Charles to tears, is the place Without stopping really works.

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The film is well made and a beautiful celebration of a real life hero. But the whole thing feels very predictable, which equates to a general sense of mediocrity. There is a problem when most of a film is the end title cards, which bring the audience up to date on Anthony and Judy’s life (personally, I would like to see the film where Judy raises five children as single mother and eventually a university dean).

There’s not much here to write home about – viewers will probably remember Robles and his story, but the film itself is bland and forgettable. Grade: B-