Synopsis
Pro football star Jake Walker is living the dream… or so he thinks. The veteran tight end is a fan favorite and on pace to set the all-time receiving yards record that will guarantee him a spot in the Hall of Fame. While working out at training camp, Jake receives an unexpected call from his brother Dean – their father Frank has suffered a major heart attack. Jake immediately leaves practice and returns to Riverton, North Carolina, the small hometown he’s avoided for nearly 15 years. Memories of glory and regret flood his mind as he returns to the family and friends he abandoned in pursuit of his career. Jake dutifully visits with Frank and Dean, but hurt and misunderstanding from the past begins to resurface, leaving him counting the days until he can return to his team.
A second unexpected call, this time from his agent, delivers Jake another crushing blow. His contract is not being renewed amid concerns about his surgically repaired knee. Suddenly, the life Jake knows is over. To avoid the media circus around this news, Jake reluctantly decides to extend his stay in Riverton. Attempting to make the best of the situation, he begins reconnecting with the community that once revered him. Jake is reintroduced to Sarah, his high school sweetheart, and helps Dean take over their father’s high school coaching job.
Surprisingly impacted by the people around him, the real Jake begins to emerge from behind his armor to see that life is much more than the accumulation of personal stats. But when Jake’s offered a lucrative new contract to play for another team, he is forced to decide whether to go back to the career he thought he loved, or stay in Riverton and embrace the people who always believed in him.
We are big fans of Family Movie Night in this house. We recently saw the “Who is Simon Miller” movie and my son especially loved the intrigue.
My son is also a huge sports fan and enjoyed that aspect of this movie. My aspect is always lessons to be learned: I was happy as the parent to explain the message of the movie to my son in the hopes that he grows up to have more humility and less selfishness in his own life.
The father/son aspect of the film was also poignant for me. I have a great relationship with my dad, I even named my son after him. But this was not always a comfortable relationship. Watching other families go through this is helpful.
And I recommend Game Time: Tackling the Past because Family Movie Night has again accomplished bringing a wholesome family movie to the small screen. I have an 8 year old son and that is important to me.
The premiere of Game Time: Tackling the Past is on Saturday, September 3 on NBC at 8pm ET/7pm CT.
For more info on the movie click here.
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And isn’t it great that I just happen to have a paparazzi pic with Ryan McPartlin, the star of the movie!
Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Dad Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate
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