HEART OF CHAMPIONS

HEART OF CHAMPIONS is a feel-good sports drama about a struggling Ivy League rowing team that enlists an Army vet, Jack Murphy, to be the new coach, after they come in last place at the championship race. Coach Murphy has unorthodox methods to promote leadership, strength of character, conviction, and the central importance of teamwork. The movie takes viewers on a gripping ride which accents victory over loss and community over isolation. There is some sexual content which includes partial nudity, foul language (including one “f” word and one Jesus profanity), along with a few fight scenes, drunkenness, and an accidental drowning, so extreme caution is advised.

The movie opens with heart-racing rowing competition between top Ivy League schools. When the team that could have taken it, all takes last place, the team leaders fight publicly about who’s to blame.

Flash forward four months. The college hires a new coach, Army Vet Jack Murphy, to help the failing team make it to the next championship. The team leaders, John and Alex, have major disagreements and motives. John is the All-American guy who holds the respect and esteem of his teammates. Alex, who’s cruelly pushed and bullied by his overbearing father, a leading figure at the school, is in the game for himself. He wants to win at all costs and make it to the United States Olympic team. It doesn’t help that the two team leaders are caught up in a love triangle with John’s girlfriend, Sarah.

At the first practice of the season, Coach Murphy asks each player to write down why they are there. When no one can give a correct answer, Murphy incorporates unorthodox and grueling exercises to help unify the team. A new crew member and John’s new roommate, Chris, is introduced a bit late into the movie. Chris has no interest in rowing other than his scholarship, which allows him to attend the college. The more John tries to connect Chris with the team, the more he realizes Chris is haunted by memories of his past. Coach notices Chris’ aversion to rely on anyone. He works with him in a convincing manner to teach him to “work together to achieve the impossible as a team.”

Meanwhile Alex’s lust for center stage begins to rip the team apart. Coach Murphy changes things and puts John at center stage. Alex is downgraded, which will make it impossible to be selected for the Olympics. Can Alex handle John’s success and leadership? Will Alex’s controlling, abusive father retaliate and ruin the entire team’s chance at the championship?

HEART OF CHAMPIONS pulls hard on the heart strings with beautiful relationships that highlight the need for love, friendship and teamwork. The movie’s moral worldview also stresses the importance of healing, doing the right thing under pressure, kindness and consideration toward others, and victory over loss. It has some great acting and intense rowing competitions. The cinematography on the water is outstanding. However, there is a complicated subplot that makes the story drag a bit. Also, two unmarried characters engage in some implied premarital, “pre-love” fornication, which ultimately evolves into a loving relationship. This relationship in HEART OF CHAMPIONS, along with some fighting scenes, partial nudity, a drowning, some drunkenness, and some strong foul language warrant extreme caution.