Following an emotional premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year Unstoppable starring Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, Don Cheadle and Michael Peña is now available to watch on Prime Video. Directed by William Goldenberg, with producers including Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Unstoppable is a about famed American wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg but went on to be champion in the sport.
Prime Video
At the film’s Toronto premiere in September, the cast was seen getting emotional as they watched the movie with the audience. Speaking to the crowd after the film’s screening, Lopez spoke about the “inspiring” story, in which she plays Anthony’s mother, Judy Robles.
“When I read the script I felt like so many women, including myself, could relate to the struggles that she had gone through in her life,” Lopez said in Toronto. “The story, being a Latino story, being so inspiring, it was just something that just grabbed me.
“Just talking to [Judy] I realized that we are almost the same person, in a weird way, even though we are so different and we had such different lives. That at the core and the heart of who we were, at first we were moms and beyond that we had similar struggles. I think it was my job really to help her feel safe. I think both of them, Anthony and Judy, to feel safe and kind of put this in our hands and trust us with all the information that they could give us, and know that we wouldn’t misuse it in any way, but only use it to tell their story in the best and most beautiful was that they deserved.”
Jharrel Jerome and Jennifer Lopez in Unstoppable on Prime Video (ANA CARBALLOSA)
What is ‘Unstoppable’ about
Anthony Robles (played by Jharrel Jerome) was born with one leg, but had the drive and dedication to become a decorated wrestler.
In Unstoppable we follow Anthony’s journey to become a highly ranked member of the Arizona State Wrestling team and NCAA Champion.
Anthony’s high school coach, Bobby Williams (Michael Peña), tries to lead him on the right path to success, including trying to entice him to consider a scholarship offer from Drexel University, but Arizona State’s wrestling program was Anthony’s goal. While the college’s coach, Shawn Charles (Don Cheadle), is initially hesitant about Anthony’s skill, we see how hard the athlete trains and improves to impress his coach.
Off the mat, Anthony has a difficult time at home, particularly with his abusive stepfather Rick (Bobby Cannavale), who works as a prison guard, while Anthony maintains a special and close bond with his mother Judy (Jennifer Lopez).
“It’s been messy. I made a lot of mistakes and I [have] owned up to my mistakes that I’ve made in life, but I am proud of the fact that I raised a son that has grown up to inspire so many people and has accepted the challenges that life has given him,” Judy Robles told the crowd at TIFF.
Anthony Robles (Anthony Robles) in UNSTOPPABLE (Ana Carballosa/Prime Video)
Unique and inspirational story stuck in a predictable structure
Unstoppable is certainly a film that’s crafted to be a tearjerker, and hits every single beat in the sports drama handbook. What that means is some moments in the film feel dulled, compared to their potential, because it does feel like a formulaic execution of this story.
Much of what makes the film compelling comes down to Anthony Robles’ journey, which does feel exceptional and inspirational, paired with the skilled actors in every role.
Jerome is a force on screen, captivating the audience right away, in just his first scenes in the film. From the electric to the more pensive moments, it all feel particularly affecting.
Lopez gives one of the most intense and robust performances of her career. You really feel her character’s love for her son and her despair about the realities of their home life. That being said, it did feel like there should have been more time given to explore Judy’s journey in this story. Yes, the focus is on her son’s life and career, but we’re left feel like there were more layers to her than we were afforded.
A less interesting story may need to lean on predictable beat and the well-trodden roadmap of sports dramas to peak interest, but that’s not the case for Robles’ story. It has colour and excitement and heart, but instead of focusing on its characters, particularly this beautiful relationship between Robles and his mother, Unstoppable sits in a more pedestrian structure, that doesn’t feel necessary.
While the film will likely still capture the heart of many, we can’t help but think this story and these actors had the potential to create a more memorable film, if Unstoppable moved further beyond overused tropes.