Underdogs is a 2013 football sports drama film directed by Doug Dearth. The film is loosely based on true events which occurred in and around Canton, Ohio. [2][3] Bobby Burkett (Logan Huffman) is a promising quarterback for a struggling high-school football team. Vince DeAntonio (D. B. Sweeney) is a former college football offensive coordinator, who abruptly resigned five years earlier, and has now become coach at the high school. The coach realizes the team needs more depth, and recruits several unlikely new players. Over the course of the season, Bobby falls for Renee (Maddie Hasson) a cheerleader at a rival high school, who also is the love interest of the rival school's quarterback (Charlie Carver). Bobby's father (William Mapother), is an inventor who works for the rival quarterback's father (Richard Portnow). The inventor gets sued by his employer over the intellectual property rights to a new space heater design, and must struggle to keep his invention. The employer's company is also planning to move manufacturing to Mexico, eliminating jobs in the community. The story climaxes in a charity football game between the rival teams, which serves as a rallying point for the inventor's family, the school, and the community. [4][5] St. Thomas Aquinas High School Knights, the high school football team the film is loosely based on. ^ " 'Underdogs' movie to shoot in North Canton - Local - Ohio". ohio.com. Retrieved 2014-04-05. ^ "North Canton movie 'Underdogs' getting extended local run - News - Ohio". ohio.com. Retrieved 2014-04-05. ^ Kane, Dan.

Set in rural Ohio, the birthplace of football, a small-town high school football team rises to play their cross-town rival, a perennial powerhouse, while standing up for an entire community. Set in rural Ohio, the birthplace of football, a small-town high school football team rises from obscurity to play their cross-town rival, a perennial powerhouse, while standing up for an entire community. Bobby Burkett is the promising quarterback for the Knights, but his Division Four school has never made a playoff appearance until Coach Vince DeAntonio's arrival. Their gruff new coach recruits a talented but insecure receiver and gives a juvenile delinquent offensive lineman a second chance. When Bobby falls for rival cheerleader Renee Donohue, a battle for more than a championship begins with the Viking's "golden boy" quarterback John Hanford III. Meanwhile, Bobby's father is being sued by his former employer and town patriarch John Hanford II over the intellectual rights to a revolutionary new energy saving product. With their home at stake, things look grim for the Burketts (until rumors of Hanford Corp's move to Mexico surface). Now with hundreds of manufacturing jobs at stake and their honor to defend, the Knights represent the entire community as they face the Vikings in a "Game Of Champions" that becomes bigger than the state finals. — Anonymous Rated PG for some language. Ashleigh Morghan's debut. The rival high school is referred to as "Herbert Hoover High School" when in fact it was named after William Henry Hoover, founder of the Hoover Company. Player 88: Hey, Bobby. Set in rural Ohio, the birthplace of football, a small-town high school football team rises to play their cross-town rival, a perennial powerhouse, while standing up for an entire community.

Underdogs, an independent movie shot in Ohio, will premiere Friday in central Ohio. The film, directed and produced by Canton, Ohio native Doug Dearth and starring Logan Huffman, is the classic David-and-Goliath story centered around a small-town football team. The movie, with a budget around $1.3 million, was filmed in Stark County with Ohio actors and crew. It was given an Ohio Film Tax Credit of $425,650, and the estimated economic impact of the movie to the community was $1 million. The family film tells the story of Bobby Burkett (Huffman), the quarterback for Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, a small catholic high school. His school plays football in the shadow of North Canton Hoover, the high-profile Div. I program. Local football fans may remember that St. Thomas Aquinas won its only state football title in 1984 against Bishop Hartley. Coming off a losing season, a new hard-nosed coach (D.B. Sweeney) comes to town to reshape the way the team plays. The coach brings in a new attitude, and he slowly rebuilds the team from the bottom up. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Underdogs also tells the story of the Burkett family. Bobby's father becomes embattled in a struggle over the intellectual rights to the EdenPURE space heater. The film addresses the effect of job losses on Rust Belt Ohio communities like North Canton. The movie was financed by Benjamin Suarez, whose company produces the heater. The community rallies around a Game of Champions, which pits David (St. Thomas Aquinas) against Goliath (Hoover). "It's a fighting story, and football brings everybody together," Huffman said. Dearth, who went to Lake High School in Stark County, really liked the idea of making a movie in his hometown. Suarez pushed him toward the idea.

Fans of Friday Night Lights and Coach Carter cannot miss this uplifting high school football movie. In rural Ohio, the birthplace of American football, a small-town high school team rises to play their cross-town rival, a perennial powerhouse, while standing up for an entire community....more Fans of Friday Night Lights and Coach Carter cannot miss this uplifting high school football movie. In rural Ohio, the birthplace of American football, a small-town high school team rises to play their cross-town rival, a perennial powerhouse, while standing up for an entire community. Underdogs (2013) Genres: Drama © 2023 Shoreline Entertainment. Published under license. We secure AVOD rights for the rarest and most exciting movies to provide you with a 100% FREE full-length entertainment experience on YouTube! SUBSCRIBE HERE: http://bit.ly/FLMov SHARE - LIKE - FOLLOW Partner your channel with the #1 Movie-themed YouTube network: https://www.creators.greaterfool.tv 👕 Get cool merch from our online shop: http://bit.ly/FINSHOP 🎥 Watch more Great Full-Length Movies here: https://goo.gl/o12wZ3 🎁 Treat yourself to video greetings from our Top Creators: https://bit.ly/3k58iUe 😱 Watch the Scariest Flicks ever: https://bit.ly/3eunWHG … Fans of Friday Night Lights and Coach Carter cannot miss this uplifting high school football movie. In rural Ohio, the birthplace of American football, a sma...

In small town America, high-school football is everything. For the players, it provides notoriety and a possible ticket to a bigger world. For the community, it's a source of pride. Filmed in Canton, Ohio, UNDERDOGS focuses on the Knights, a lousy team who've become an easy target for jokes. Just when they begin to give up hope, a new coach arrives, helping the lovable losers see their true potential. At the same time, quarterback Bobby Burkett falls in love with a cheerleader from a rival powerhouse, the Vikings. This enrages Vikings' star, John Handon, a bratty rich kid who has his eye on the same girl. Meanwhile, Bobby's father is waging his own war with Handonʼs dad, whose crooked corporation is suing him over an invention he patented. UNDERDOGS ventures deeper than most films in the sports genre. Using football as a backdrop, director Doug Dearth has crafted a heartwarming and rabble-rousing crowd pleaser, that's sure to have both young and old on their feet by its exhilarating ending. “Underdogs” is a must-see movie! It is a story of hope. You will believe in this rag-team team of underdogs, the St. Thomas Aquinas Knights football team, led by new coach Vince Deantonio. The film is based on true events and features an appearance by the inimitable Joe Namath. Coach Vince tells his new team that he has heard they stink but he doesn’t believe it. He believes their habits stink and they need to forge new ones along with the belief they can win. Along the way we are introduced to interesting characters such as Bobby Burkett, who falls for a cheerleader of a rival team, a Division One team. Bobby’s father works for a powerful employer named Handon, wonderfully played by Richard Portnow, who won’t give Bobby’s father, Bill, the chance to advance despite his inventive ideas. These underdog stories will have you cheering by film’s end as you see the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the little man can win one time. We are pleased to award this inspiring and remarkable movie our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for ages twelve plus. This one will make your spirit soar! None Some hard tackles in practice and football games. Kissing by a few couples; girl calls a young man a "perv" and he says he is not, "well, maybe a little" but he is joking. D-3; Dumba**-1; Crap-1; Holy Smoke-1; Sucks-1; Punk-1 Some hard tackles in practice and football games. Champagne and beer; drinking and a few bar scenes.

A new coach (D.B. Sweeney) inspires teenage football players to reach their full potential while the team's quarterback falls for a cheerleader from their main rivals. Rent Underdogs on Fandango at Home, or buy it on Fandango at Home. There's an element of magic here, and it's safe to say that a certain degree of disbelief needs to be suspended, but even children may suffer to get much out of this foreign signing. There's scarcely a moment that doesn't feel hackneyed; at its best, it's like Friday Night Lights (movie or series) drained of everything remotely distinctive. Page 1 of 2, 4 total items. Blind side meets Twilight meets Pursuit of Happiness. Even with severe ADHD, the story lines lacked true organic mesh. Everything about this movie felt forced as if the feel good story confused the writers. The acting came across as if it were a horrible adlib SNL skit. It seems like there's a good story hidden within the mediocre filmmaking and forced-feeling performances that drown this movie. There were some good moments and scenes. I finished watching it. So at least I didn't feel like giving up on it. Really nice little movie about Canton Ohio, Hoover and High School football A true story with lots of local celebratys including Sam Bourquin and Judge Elum! Page 1 of 4, 7 total items. Page 1 of 6, 11 total items. A new coach (D.B. Sweeney) inspires teenage football players to reach their full potential while the team's quarterback falls for a cheerleader from their main rivals.

Parents need to know that Underdogs is a formulaic 2013 drama that culminates in the Big Game between the winning football team of a wealthy and powerful Ohio high school and the small, slow, losing team that is just starting to win under the guidance of a new coach. Expect the usual game-time football… Why Age 10+? Football players bang into each other. Teenagers kiss. "Damn." Any Positive Content? Believe in yourself and accomplish your goals. The Underdog QB also has a brainy but underspoken father who tries to get ahead but gets threatened by his boss. The rival football team is of a wealthier school, ultimately sponsored by the boss. Has a positive ending for all the good guys, it's a teaching moment to explain to kids it doesn't always work out that way. The girlfriend is from the wealthy side, their relationship is very sweet. At the beginning she's caught in a changing room, there are a couple of pool/beach scenes - everyone is dressed in bathing suits but no one oozing out of them, it's actually more tame than the public beach. The picture ends with a rather slobbery kiss between them - too bad it wasn't a hug. It's a football movie - there's contact but no gratuitous violence. A nice story overall, lots of underdogs, very inspiring so long as kids can handle the basic girl-boy stuff going on. Classic story with a feel-good vibe! This is an excellent movie about a small town Ohio football team that has gotten used to having poor seasons and finally realize that it’s time for a change. A new, well-known and respectable head coach is brought in to help bring the team together at the initial dismay of the priest of the Catholic high school (who happens to be played by my actual high school English teacher!). Needless to say, things turn around for the family of the main character, for the team, and for the community. Great story, family-friendly, no foul language, and teaches a great life lesson. Well worth watching with the whole family! What's the Story? The Knights, a losing high school football team, are small, slow, and unmotivated to win. New coach Vince, whose father coached in the NFL, is tough and fair, and, through the usual movie-world techniques of unvarnished judgment and sensitive support, he coaxes the undersized underachievers to their first spot in the state playoffs in 20 years. Quarterback Bobby's dad, Bill, is having trouble at work. He offers his new invention to his wealthy and powerful boss, Mr. Handon, the area's biggest local employer. When it's turned down and Bill finds another buyer, Handon fires Bill and sues him, financially threatening Bobby's family. As payback, Handon sets his son, quarterback of the state champions, in a charity match-up against Bobby's team, the much improved Knights, for a battle seemingly pitting good against evil. Is It Any Good? As yet another in a long line of movies about bad (fill-in-the-blank) sports teams finding the inspiration to finally win, UNDERDOGS gets the job done without much flair. Still, the filmmakers do a satisfying job of presenting the clichéd movie about losers who gain self-respect and drive when a tough but compassionate coach lifts them up to full potential. Although it's inspired by true events, its real inspiration comes from same-old, same-old formulas used in dozens of earlier movies.

Underdogs is a low key, slow burn underwhelming drama that just about sustains your interest. D B Sweeney is a veteran football coach newly arrived at a struggling High School in Ohio. Logan Huffman is the team's quarterback who is drawn to the cheerleader of the rival high school football team which leads to rivalry with her boyfriend who is the quarterback for that High School. The interesting part of the film and this is based on true facts is that the Huffman's father is the inventor of the EdenPURE space heater and has to defend his invention from his former employer. The former employer is also the dad of the rival high school's quarterback. The film is rather contrived and low key, there is enough spin put on it to make it viewable but it never rises above than just being average thanks to the space heater side plot because it never passes muster as a sports movie. 2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. 2 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. This is the usual American sport production in which the « good » little beats the « bad » big. To be accurate, here, this thematic is multiplied three times : football, girlfriend, father's job. So it's full of values, maybe too much of them. However, this genre is interesting because it shows that American education (so poorly rated in my hypocritical country) offers a path for teens. In France, sports are totally rejected from schools but every one laments over teens violence ! The movie offers also a (soft) critic of wild capitalism and money, which is rather unusual ! At the end, the movie fails a bit because it's too much about winning ! In love, business or sports, the point is not to be a winner but to give everything, whatever the outcome may be !

D.B. Sweeney plays the coach with a plan in Doug Dearth's "Underdogs." (One In A Row Films) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you're going to make a football movie, where better than a football-crazed state like Ohio? Doug Dearth and crew set up in Greater Canton last summer to make "Underdogs," a family-friendly drama about a hapless high school team that takes off with a new coach (played by D.B. Sweeney) and determined quarterback (Logan Huffman). The indie film screens as part of a red carpet event at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Cinemark Tinseltown USA in North Canton and then begins a regular run there and a few theaters in Columbus on Friday. It may land in Cleveland in the coming weeks. Dearth, a Canton native, and Huffman will be on hand Thursday for a Q & A following the screening. in April and won the Local Heroes Award for the best movie about or by Ohioans. "It was refreshing to film in Ohio," said Dearth. "The community was excited about it. People came out and filled the stands and stayed until four in the morning and just really had a nice time. People take football very seriously here. One of our taglines is, 'In Ohio, it's God, family and football. But not necessarily in that order.' The story is based, he said, "very loosely on St. Thomas Aquinas, a very small division four high school that was always losing, turned around and won the championship in 1984. Everything else is fictionalized. Then there's a story about another character, an entrepreneur and his invention." Dearth's previous film was the documentary "9000 Needles" about his brother Devin, a stroke victim who traveled to China for some special recovery techniques. His next project is the feature film "Three Dog Night." "It's not about the band," said Dearth. The film, a psychological thriller based on a Peter Goldsworthy novel, is in pre-production and he hopes to shoot it next summer. When I spoke with him and Huffman Tuesday, they were making the rounds in Canton handing out fliers, engaging in some old-fashioned shoe-leather marketing. "I really like this style of promoting it," said Huffman. "I'm from Indiana. It would be really awesome if we could build a movie through grass-roots and build outward to the West Coast and East Coast." Huffman plays quarterback and heartthrob Bobby Burkett. "I pretty much had to learn how to play football, and there's no better place in the world to learn how to throw a football than here in Canton," said Huffman, who played Tyler Evans on the TV series "V" for two seasons. "I loved doing a cool football movie with a heart.

Welcome to Ohio, where football is everything. When a high school coach attempts to change the direction of his team, he’s met with resistance. All rights reserved. Welcome to Ohio, where football is everything. When a high school coach attempts to change the direction of his team, he’s met with resistance.