GREATER | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"GREATER"
(2016) (Christopher Severio, Neal McDonough) (PG)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A man tries to come to grips with the untimely death of his younger brother who was just on the cusp of NFL stardom.

PLOT:

It's 1999 and Marty Burlsworth (NEAL McDONOUGH) is awaiting the funeral of his 22-year-old brother, Brandon (CHRISTOPHER SEVERIO). While others, including Marty's mother, Barbara (LESLIE EASTERBROOK), have accepted the loss and put their faith in God, Marty can't do that as he doesn't understand why God would take away his brother on the cusp of his stardom in the NFL. That doubt is shared by a stranger, The Farmer (NICK SEARCY), who does what he can to reinforce Marty's anger.

As preparations for the funeral begin, the story rewinds to when Brandon was a 12-years-old with big dreams of playing for the University of Arkansas, and then his days playing high school football for Coach Tice (PETER LEWIS). It's then that Marty and Brandon's long-estranged father, Leo (MICHAEL PARKS), an alcoholic former musician, tries to get back into their and Barbara's lives, but Marty does his best to protect his younger brother, what with being 17 years older than him and often mistaken for being his father.

When Brandon doesn't get a scholarship to become a Razorback as an offensive guard, he's determined to join the team as a walk-on, something offensive line coach Coach Bender (FREDRIC LEHNE) doesn't see happening, what with Brandon's excessive weight. The sight of him isn't lost on other players such as Nathan Ward (JOSH EMERSON), Anthony Lucas (TEXAS BATTLE) or Grant Garrett (GRANT COOK) -- the latter of whom is assigned as Brandon's roommate - and they make fun of him relentlessly.

But with hard work, Brandon drops the pounds and eventually proves himself on the field, turning around everyone's opinion of him. In doing so, he also inspires the team to near greatness in his senior year, all by working and practicing hard, and following instructions and advice from others in his life.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: They might if the football and/or religious angle sounds interesting to them.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For thematic elements, some language and smoking.

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