A feel-good underdog movie if ever there was one. “12 Mighty Orphans” tells the little-known (at least to me and I suspect others) fascinating true story of a rag tag high school football team formed out of the Masonic Home in Fort Worth, Texas during the Depression.
The Mighty Mites, made up of 12 teen boys who’d been abandoned mostly because their families could no longer afford to care for them, went on to win against better equipped, established high school Texas teams because of their dedicated coach Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson), a character tailor made for the movies. Russell, himself an orphan who’s haunted by fighting in World War I, not only instills work ethic and self-esteem in his players but he is credited with innovations to the game of football such as the “spread offense” which gave his smaller, scrappier players a chance against their better conditioned rivals. He’s a milder but no less passionate version of Gene Hackman’s basketball coach in “Hoosiers.” He’s even got his own Dennis Hopper in sidekick Martin Sheen, who provides the mellifluous narration, as the wise but hard drinking Doc Hall. Russell and his wife Juanita (Vinessa Shaw) bring sorely needed kindness and compassion to the Masonic Home. He coaches the team and teaches math and science; she provides English instruction and aides the girls at the home with building their own self-esteem although this is under-explored.
Wilson and Sheen’s integrity grounds the film against arch villain Frank Wynn played by Wayne Knight as Seinfeld’s Newman meets Snidely Whiplash. Wynn
physically abuses and exploits the vulnerable boys in his charge (no mention of how the orphaned girls must have fared under his reign of terror). His over the top nastiness is matched by Lane Garrison’s rival coach Luther whose dandyish flamboyance makes for a rather unconvincing 1930s Texas high school football coach.
The film credits a crusty sportswriter (Rooster McConaughey) and suave editor (Treat Williams) with propelling the feel-good saga of the Mighty Mites to a hope-starved country. Even President Roosevelt (Larry Pine) finds time to lend his support.
Director Ty Roberts, himself a Texan, stages the football practice sessions and games with skill even as they adhere to sports underdog film formula. Viewers should be riveted by the closing credits that reveal impressive outcomes for the Mighty Mites players, from World War II valor to professional success to even NFL careers.