Synopsis
Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team.
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Cast
- Sean AstinDaniel E. 'Rudy' Ruettiger
- Jon FavreauD-Bob
- Ned BeattyDaniel Ruettiger
- Lili TaylorSherry
- Charles S. DuttonFortune
- Vince VaughnJamie O'Hara
- Greta LindMary
- Christopher ReedPete
- Deborah WittenbergYoung Sherry
- Kevin Duda9-Year-Old Bernie
Recommendations
- 90
Variety
Rudy is one of those beating-the-odds tales that no one does better than Hollywood. A film that hits all the right emotional buttons, it's an intelligent , sentimental drama that lifts an audience to its feet cheering. In the current filmgoing climate, this is an easy winning touchdown that should score big returns. - 90
Rolling Stone
Sean Astin is a winner as Rudy Ruettiger, who earns the grades, a place on the scout team and, in 1975, a chance to play... There’s little Rocky-like rah-rah. It’s Ruettiger’s persistence that his teammates and the film celebrate. For that, Rudy earns a rousing cheer. - 88
Chicago Sun-Times
Astin's performance is so self-effacing, so focused and low-key, that we lose sight of the underdog formula and begin to focus on this dogged kid who won't quit. And the last big scene is an emotional powerhouse, just the way it's supposed to be. - 80
Chicago Reader
[A] well-crafted piece of middle-American uplift...For once it really does matter most how you play the game. - 75
Chicago Tribune
Anspaugh, whose "Hoosiers" showed he knows from feel-good movies, directs this story as if he were conducting "Bolero," carefully building climax upon climax as the story spirals to an underdog triumph every bit as tearful as that of "Rocky." - 70
Los Angeles Times
Sweet-natured and unsurprising, about as hard to resist (and as intellectually demanding) as an affectionate puppy, this is one of those Never Say Die, I Gotta Be Me, Somebody Up There Likes Me sports movies that no amount of cynicism can make much of a dent in. - 70
The New York Times
Rudy shamelessly manipulates the heartstrings and pumps the adrenaline. There are many moments in which it seems like nothing more than a promotional film for Notre Dame...For all its patness, the movie also has a gritty realism that is not found in many higher-priced versions of the same thing, and its happy ending is not the typical Hollywood leap into fantasy...Most important, it has a tough, persuasive performance by Mr. Astin that keeps the role firmly in perspective. - 60
IGN
Based on a true story, the whole thing is a sloppy mess of football wishes and caveat dreams that will forever be remembered, but never watched in just one sitting.
