History Film / Rudy

A 1993 Sports Film BasedOnATrueStory. Creator/SeanAstin plays the title character Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, a kid with little academic credentials or athletic prowess. He wants to go to The University of Notre Dame but has next to no chance of getting there. When a close friend dies in an accident (the only one who didn't criticize his dream), he decides that he is going to play for the Fighting Irish, no matter the obstacles. The only thing Rudy can offer anyone is his exemplary effort, which is his most valuable asset for the few people who recognize it.

* ArtisticLicenseSports: In real life, it was all Dan Devine's decision to let Rudy play in Notre Dame's final game of the year. But it was also the real life Devine's suggestion that his fictional counterpart be the one holding Rudy back in the movie and instead make the other players stand up for him.
* BoringButPractical: Rudy's college education that he receives while fixating on football. It has to be pointed out to him that a college degree will certainly do wonders for keeping him out of the steel mill and improving his life.
* CharacterTitle
* TheDeterminator: One of the few movies that doesn't shy away from the fact that heart and effort doesn't always override physical power and skill. Still, seeing Rudy make that sack in the few minutes he got to play is thrilling.
* DownToTheLastPlay: Averted. Everyone goes all out specifically to create a lead large enough that Rudy can play without potentially costing the game, with the last play seeing the Fighting Irish winning 30-3. The only thing Rudy actually does is sack the quarterback of the opposing team to run out the clock.
* HardWorkFallacy: Zigzagged. The eponymous character works really hard in spite of having no athletic talent or societal advantages and achieves his goal of playing for the Notre Dame football team. However, it's never even presented as a possibility that Rudy will ever become a good football player. His teammates have to insist on allowing him to suit up for a game simply because his hard work was an inspiration for the truly successful members of the team. However, when he's actually given the opportunity to play in a real game for two whole downs, he actually does get a sack.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Dan Devine in RealLife was floored by Rudy's hard work and suggested he suit up and play in the final game. In the movie, Dan Devine refuses to let Rudy play until ''the entire team'' offers up their spot just so Rudy can play. In fact, Devine is such a nice guy he let the film makers "play the heavy" with his character because he considered Rudy a friend and wanted to help. That said, he didn't expect the movie to play him the villain in the final act.
* HistoryMarchesOn: The closing text states that Rudy is the only Notre Dame player to be carried off the field. Marc Edwards became the second two years after the film's release.
* MagicalNegro: Charles Dutton's janitor character.

* PragmaticAdaptation: The Janitor Rudy worked with actually lived at the basketball arena, but since it was a football movie they changed it to the stadium.

* DownToTheLastPlay: Subverted, everyone goes all out specifically to create a lead large enough that Rudy can play without potentially costing the game.

* StrawCharacter: It's not an exaggeration that Rudy's friend is the only one who supports him. His family, other friends, teachers, ministers and just about everyone else Rudy knows don't just "not support" him, but instead actively discourage him from following his dream, with none of them even making a token gesture of playing along to humor the guy.

* HistoryMarchesOn: The closing text states that Rudy is the only Norte Dame player to be carried off the field. Marc Edwards became the second two years after the film's release.

* StrawCharacter: It's not an exaggeration that Rudy's friend is the only one who supports him. His family, other friends, teachers, ministers and just about everyone else Rudy knows don't just "not support" him, but instead actively discourage him from following his dream, with none of them even making a token gesture of playing along to humor the guy.
* PragmaticAdaptation: The Janitor Rudy worked with actually lived at the basketball arena, but since it was a football movie they changed it to the stadium.

* StrawCharacter: It's not an exaggeration that Rudy's friend is the only one who supports him. His family, friends, teachers, ministers and just about everyone else Rudy knows don't just "not support" him, but instead actively discourage him from following his dream, with none of them even making a token gesture of playing along to humor him.
* PragmaticAdaptation: The Janitor Rudy worked with actually lived at the basketball arena, but since it was a football movie they changed it to the stadium.

* HardWorkFallacy: Zig-zagged. The eponymous character works really hard in spite of having no athletic talent or societal advantages and achieves his goal of playing for the Notre Dame football team. However, it's never even presented as a possibility that Rudy will ever become a good football player. His teammates have to insist on allowing him to suit up for a game simply because his hard work was an inspiration for the truly successful members of the team. However, when he's actually given the opportunity to play in a real game for two whole downs, he actually does get a sack.

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Dan Devine in RealLife was floored by Rudy's hard work and suggested he suit up and play in the final game. In the movie, Dan Devine refuses to let Rudy play until ''the entire team'' offers up their spot just so Rudy can play. In fact, Devine is such a nice guy let the makers "play the heavy" with his character because he considered Rudy a friend and wanted to help. That said, he didn't expect the movie to play him the villain in the final act.

* HardWorkFallacy: The titular character makes the football team at Notre Dame because of his hard work and determination.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Dan Devine in RealLife was floored by Rudy's hard work and suggested he suit up and play in the final game. In the movie, Dan Devine refuses to let Rudy play until ''the entire team'' offers up their spot just so Rudy can play.
** In fact, Devine is such a nice guy let the makers "play the heavy" with his character because he considered Rudy a friend and wanted to help. That said, he didn't expect the movie to play him the villain in the final act.

* TakeThat: The movie has taken some heat lately from football legend Joe Montana, who was a freshman during Rudy's senior year. The main issue seems to be downplaying the effort of other Irish players - Rudy worked his butt off, but he didn't work harder than anyone else. The movie's portrayal of the team's coach as something of a villain has not sat well either.
** Interestingly enough, the real Dan Devine didn't mind the HistoricalVillainUpgrade and felt that it added to the film, though he said he wouldn't have gone THAT far with how much of a JerkAss his character came off as.

A 1993 Sports Film BasedOnATrueStory. Sean Astin plays the title character Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, a kid with little academic credentials or athletic prowess. He wants to go to The University of Notre Dame but has next to no chance of getting there. When a close friend dies in an accident (the only one who didn't criticize his dream), he decides that he is going to play for the Fighting Irish, no matter the obstacles. The only thing Rudy can offer anyone is his exemplary effort, which is his most valuable asset for the few people who recognize it.

** In fact, Devine is such a nice guy that he deliberately let them portray him as an asshole because he considered Rudy a friend and wanted to help.

** In fact, Devine is such a nice guy that he deliberately let Them portray him as an asshole because he considered Rudy a friend and wanted to help.

* HeyItsThatGuy!: [[TheLordofTheRings Samwise Gamgee]] is Rudy, his dad is [[SupermanTheMovie Otis]] and D-bob is [[IronMan Happy Hogan]].

** Interestingly enough, the real Dan Devine didn't mind the HistoricalVillainUpgrade and felt that it added to the film.