12 Mighty Orphans is the slightly saccharine but earnest true tale of the Mighty Mites, an American football team formed by a group of young men from the Masonic Widows and Orphans Home during the late 1930s. Under the guidance of their new coach Rusty Russell, they became local Texas heroes. Luke Wilson, with his benevolent presence and soothing voice, is perfectly cast as the beacon of hope for the ragtag team of orphans. Rusty is a firm, compassionate leader who truly believes his players can rise above their circumstances; he encourages them not only to excel in the physical sport of football but also to strive for academic success.
During this time period, there were deep stigmas against orphans; they were social pariahs who were treated like criminals. The ensemble cast gives strong performances as the broken young men left behind by their birth parents, illustrating the emotional fragility that lies beneath their tough exterior with a touching sincerity.
Rounding out the cast is Martin Sheen, who lends some humorous charm as Russell's sidekick Doc Hall, and Wayne Knight who takes a surprisingly dark turn as a tyrannical educator. There are other villainous characters such as a rival football coach (Lane Garrison) and an elected official eager to stop the team (Scott Haze), but the melodramatic screenwriting strips away their threatening power.
The script by Ty Roberts (who also directs), Lane Garrison, and Kevin Meyer adapted from Larry Dent's novel, has some cliché moments, but there is a heartfelt sweetness to it all that is undeniable. What stands out the most is In the cinematography. 12 Mighty Orphans is shot in colors reminiscent of a sepia tone that gives the film an old-fashioned quaintness and highlights the fine period details of its Great Depression setting. The mix of photographs and newspaper headlines interspersed throughout the film also gives this true story a more documentary-style feeling.
One might approach this film and think, “Really? Another inspirational movie about white Southern boys and football? Do these types of stories still fit within our current climate? Haven’t we seen this before time and time again?” This may be true, but the pleasant photography and affecting performances allow 12 Mighty Orphans to transcend its platitudes. It gives hope to all marginalized communities that they can overcome trying circumstances and achieve greatness.12 Mighty Orphans is a lovely homespun drama that wears its heart on its sleeve and motivates audiences to chase their dreams.