VAN NOVACK:

When considering the new Disney release “Invincible,” my first thought is that formulaic is not always a bad thing. Sports movies have long been a Hollywood staple, and three films in the genre have even won the Academy Award for Best Picture (“Rocky,” “Chariots of Fire” and “Million Dollar Baby”).

While it is very unlikely “Invincible” will garner any Oscars, it is a film in the tradition of “Rocky” in that it tells the story of a seemingly hopeless underdog. Unlike “Rocky,” “Invincible” is based on a true story. Mark Wahlberg stars as Vince Papale, an unemployed schoolteacher and part-time bartender from South Philly.

Like everyone else in his blue-collar neighborhood, Vince is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan. Unfortunately, the fans haven’t had much to cheer about lately as the once-proud Eagles have become a team that can’t even win half of its games. In an effort to turn things around in 1976, team owner Leonard Tose (Michael Nouri) hires successful college coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear). Partly as a publicity stunt and partly out of desperation, Vermeil takes the outlandish step of holding public tryouts.

Vince, despite only playing one year of high school football and having no college-level experience, is encouraged by his friends to try out for the Eagles. Vince is the star of their violent full-tackle games played on a vacant lot, but it’s beyond imagination that he has the skills to play professionally. In addition to his lack of experience, Vince is 30 years old. Despite the doubts of several people, including his own father, Vince shows up for the tryouts.

The tryouts are a complete circus, with anyone who ever played showing up for their chance. Even Vermeil’s coaches are infuriated by the farce, as every candidate is too small, old, slow or similarly lacking in the basic skills needed to play in the NFL. After the tryouts, only Vince is invited to training camp, and he soon finds out his ordeal has just begun.

The other players, all products of elite college programs, resent Vince and are determined to see him fail. Nonetheless, Vince’s determination surprises everyone, perhaps even himself. Vince doggedly pursues his dream and eventually earns the grudging respect of Vermeil and his teammates. Wahlberg and Kinnear play off each other well, as both Papale and Vermeil are out to prove themselves despite the skepticism of the so-called experts.

Vince’s struggle is played against the backdrop of poverty and despair caused by the failing economy of South Philly. Most of Vince’s friends are out of work or on strike. Vince carries the hopes of his community on his shoulders as his efforts to make the team become more than one man’s dream. Vince survives cut after cut and eventually makes the roster.

There has been some mild controversy regarding this film, as the real Vince Papale was not quite the football neophyte depicted. While it is true Papale never played college football, he did compete as a track athlete on a scholarship. Also, Papale played two seasons for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League, which folded in 1975. Nonetheless, his achievement is still remarkable and probably could not be duplicated in this age of football specialization.

“Invincible” is rated PG due to sports action and some mild language. It is, therefore, suitable for a wide audience, including children old enough to grasp the story. “Invincible” is an inspiring story, even more so because it’s true.

‘Inside Man’ an intelligent cops and robbers yarn

“Pay strict attention to what I say,” Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) tells the audience in “Inside Man.”

“What you will see,” he explains, “is the perfect bank robbery.” Denzel Washington and Clive Owen butt heads as cops and robbers in this bank heist that’s equal to “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “Heat.” Jodie Foster steps between them with her own agenda. The thief is intelligent and the detective is capable of stopping him. Adding Foster’s character, a mediator for the rich and powerful, however, changes the playing rules for the cops and robbers.

The nonstop action heightens the tension and thrill of the ride for audiences by revealing clues that pull them into the story. There comes a point, for example, when the story gets ahead of itself involving Detective Frazier and the hostages. Eventually, you realize the truth is staring you in the face, not just about Frazier but Russell as well. Why is the bank being robbed? How is it robbed? Who is the inside man? Will Frazier and Dalton accept Madeline’s offer? What happens if they don’t? What happens if they do?

‘The Sentinel’ follows

the Secret Service

Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland face off against each other in the Secret Service thriller “The Sentinel.” Douglas plays Pete Garrison, a respected veteran agent on assignment protecting the First Lady. His former friend and colleague David Breckinridge (Sutherland) is the lead investigator on the countless assassination plots made against the President. When a fellow agent is murdered, Garrison is accused but escapes to find the real killer. It’s up to Breckinridge to find, capture and bring Garrison back to jail, even though he may be innocent.

In addition to the plot being played out by Douglas and Sutherland, “The Sentinel” takes a behind-the-scenes peek at the personal and professional lives of the people protecting the president and his wife.

Pete Perkins (Jones) is a weather-beaten ranch hand who turns outlaw to do right by his friend’s untimely death. The unreported facts of his friend’s killing and the indifference of the police in questioning the suspect is disrespectful to Pete. The police and killer are content to bury the truth along with the body, but not Pete. He fulfills a promise he made to his friend and takes the man who did the killing along for a ride.