Every once in a while, a reference to the movie Rudy comes up in our collective culture. In the realm of feel-good underdog stories in sports, it ranks right alongside Hoosiers. Both are based on true stories. Both take place in Indiana. Both were written by Angelo Pizzo and were directed by David Anspaugh. And in approaching both, we already understand that the underdogs will somehow prevail, even though the odds are clearly against them. What is fascinating in the retelling is exactly HOW these folks will come out ahead. And this is what keeps us watching.

Dan "Rudy" Ruettiger (Sean Astin) has been a fan of Notre Dame football since he was a kid. He constantly insists to friends and family that someday, somehow, he will play for the Fighting Irish. In spite of the fact that his grades at Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Illinois, are not good enough for admission. In spite of the fact that he's shorter than most football players. And in spite of the fact that just about everyone around him -- including his priests and his teachers, his brothers and his father Daniel (Ned Beatty) -- makes fun of his dream and tells him he'll never succeed. Only one long-time friend named Pete (Christopher Reed) supports and believes in Rudy and his goal.

Rudy's father has worked at a steel mill for many years. Rudy starts working here as well after graduating from high school, and he saves his extra money for college. A sudden tragedy prompts him FINALLY at age 22 to actively pursue his Notre Dame dream. Soon he's boarding a bus to South Bend, without too much of a plan.

He spends the next several years figuring out work-arounds and how to do better with his studies. He gets personal support from Father John Cavanaugh (Robert Prosky), who encourages him to enter nearby Holy Cross College first. Stadium groundskeeper Fortune (Charles S. Dutton) is reluctant at first to encourage this focused young man, but he ends up being one of Rudy's quiet champions. Teaching assistant D-Bob (Jon Favreau) helps Rudy to become a more diligent student. Eventually, through his hard work both mentally and physically, Rudy is admitted to the university. He makes the ND practice squad. Is it enough, though? Is it enough to work behind the scenes and to help make the starting players perform even better? Or will Rudy actually be able to run through the tunnel and out onto that grassy field, on some Saturday afternoon?

Jason Miller is convincing in his role as Coach Ara Parseghian, even though (in the eyes of this Pennsylvania native) he carries more than a passing resemblance instead to long-time Penn State coach Joe Paterno. It took me a while to realize that Chelcie Ross is the actor who takes on the role of Coach Dan Devine, Parseghian's successor. I recognized him as the baseball pitcher Eddie Harris from the Major League comedies. And he was in Hoosiers, too. Ned Beatty plays the doubting and down-playing father so well that it is quite easy to dislike him. Intensely. For most of the movie. Of course, it's Sean Astin and his stunt man who do all of the heavy lifting. Their believable work on the screen keeps us rooting for Rudy at every turn.

Veteran film composer Jerry Goldsmith provides memorable musical character themes, along with sweeping and majestic orchestrations as needed. It turns out that he supplied the music for Hoosiers, too.

At the time of this review (2026), the real Rudy Ruettiger still works as a motivational speaker. His example continues to inspire people. If you are a diehard football fan of any ilk, or if you are in need of a boost to your own self-esteem, then maybe it's time to sit down and watch Rudy. Again, or for the first time. (Even if you are an avid ND hater.) Yes, the tears will probably come. The warm feelings and grateful satisfactions will most likely surface, too. It's nice to catch a story that helps us to remember that there can be Good in the World.