FILM REVIEW
THE SENIOR
Rated PG
99 Minutes
Released September 19th
The Senior is a classic feel-good inspirational sports story, the kind that will have you believing in yourself again – that whatever somebody told you was impossible for you to attain, you can do it, you can prove them wrong. This is a true story that follows the journey of a man who, at the age of 59, went back to his old college to complete his senior year and regain his spot as a player on the school’s football team.
At the end, you will see the real person who lived this tale. The story is straightforward, and the film is well cast. The two main characters, “Mike Flynt,” and his wife, “Eileen,” are played by Michael Chiklis and Mary Stuart Masterson. Rob Corddry is memorable as “Coach Sam Weston.”
Mike Flynt had been on the first state championship team at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. This was the team that was the inspiration for the popular TV show Friday Night Lights (2006-2011). Flynt enrolled at Sul Ross State in 1969 and was a team captain, All-Conference linebacker, and a leading tackler as a junior. His flaw was a temper that was not under control, and he was prone to be involved in fights on campus.
He instigated one of those fights with a teammate and was expelled from school, prohibited from finishing his senior year in class or on the team. Flynt went on to have a successful career as a college football strength coach. However, he later told his old roommate that losing his senior year at Sul Ross was the greatest regret of his life.
His roommate challenged him to make a comeback and complete that senior year, in class and on the football field. So, at age 59, Flynt convinced the current coach to let him try out for the team and re-enroll in class. Due to his career as a strength coach, Flynt was in the exceptional shape necessary to succeed in this endeavor.
Director Rod Lurie has directed and written some acclaimed films, including The Contender (2000), Straw Dogs (2011), and The Outpost (2019). He graduated from West Point and served four years in the US Army as a combat officer. After his retirement from the army, he became a film critic and entertainment reporter, and later moved to Los Angeles, where he was the movie critic for KABC Radio up until he went into production on his first film, The Contender.
Aside from bearing an uncanny resemblance to his character, “Mike Flynt,” Michael Chiklis has had a career that reflects the same competitiveness and perseverance as does this role. After playing several guest star roles in TV series, Chiklis became “Tony Scali” in the long-running The Commish (1991-1996). That’s when I first saw him and realized he was one of the most fascinating and unusual actors on TV.
In 2000, he became a series regular again on Daddio, but the show was cancelled after 15 episodes, leaving him frustrated by the short run. His wife suggested he change his image by slimming down, so he lost over 40 pounds, worked out, and shaved his head.
He and his wife began to write a series pilot for him with his new look, but before they could finish, he was cast as “Detective Vic Mackey,” probably his most memorable role, in The Shield (2002-2008). Chiklis has worked steadily since then in both film and TV, most recently as “Ben Grimm” in The Fantastic Four films. He is a consummate actor who can play everyman, charmer, hero, and tough guy with ease, never afraid to show his vulnerability and humor.
The ensemble of actors surrounding Chiklis is made up of veterans and talented unknowns. Masterson as Flynt’s wife, “Eileen,” provides a strong, down-to-earth counterpoint to her husband’s single-minded focus on making the team. Masterson has been acting in film since 1975 and on TV since 1980, and her body of work includes a plethora of memorable characters.
Notable performances from Terayle Hill as “Jamal Johnson” and Chris Becerra as “Fernie Acosta” make the football team come alive with personality. Hill, who is also a director and producer, is known for his appearances on All American (2025) and Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).
The Senior was shot in 2021-2022 and was scheduled for release in 2023, but was shelved until now. It may be possible that the PR disaster surrounding Justin Baldoni and It Ends with Us (2024) affected the release, since he is one of the producers of The Senior.
If you don’t know football, you may miss some of the skillfully shot fine nuances of the plays in the game, but you will absolutely enjoy the movie. There are no huge twists, no explosions, no car chases. This heartfelt movie stands on its own merits, as the story has good life lessons, including the importance of forgiving rather than harboring anger and revenge. It’s a classic underdog story about one who once was top dog switching roles and learning humility. This is an excellent movie for teens, whether they’re into football or not.
Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
