A purebred underdog with a dream rises from supermarket stock boy to the heights of fame and fortune in this inspirational sports biopic. Before entering the theatre, I couldn’t tell the difference between NFL hurler Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi) and legendary college football Pop Warner. Imagine my delight when the coaches of the future Hall of Fame quarterback took to calling him Pop. What came as no surprise was Anna Pacquin’s powerhouse performance as Brenda, Kurt’s lifemate. And it’s hard to resist Levi’s soulful romanticism or admire the role he plays in raising his sightless stepson Zack (Hayden Zaller). (For a film that has the love of God embroidered on its sleeve, what’s with Kurt and Brenda living in sin?) In order for it to work, directors directed by Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin needed to pay more attention to the action that takes place off the field than on. Why waste so much time on reenacting a game, the victory of which is established at the outset? Cut to the final touchdown and return to the romance. The supporting cast boasts a pair of favorites: Dennis Quaid and Bruce McGill, the man with the slippery smile. (2021) — Scott Marks