12 Mighty Orphans

By: MJ Asuncion

Many of us are familiar with the tale of David and Goliath, at least when it comes to the theme used in countless stories throughout film and literature. It is the classic “underdog” situation where a smaller, weaker opponent faces a much larger, stronger adversary. These stories are immensely popular because they give us hope and faith that we can overcome anything, if we work hard and stay focused.

The film 12 Mighty Orphans is the true story of the Mighty Mites, a football team of the Masonic Home orphanage in Fort Worth, Texas led by coach Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson). With a group of boys that had very little education, almost no motivation and significant trust issues – and the added challenge of no shoes, football or field – the idea of a team that could compete with the district seemed hopeless and unrealistic. Despite these difficulties and the fact that the orphans were far smaller than most of the other football players they would play against, Russell was an optimist. He fought to inspire just enough of the boys to create a team, coached them through practice and drills and then used innovative offense strategies to help them take on the bigger, stronger teams. The Mites went from a disjointed band of orphans who had virtually nothing to competing in the Texas State Championships. They moved an entire nation to come together and gave them something to believe in at a time when they needed it most.

Aside from Wilson, the film has an amazing cast that includes Martin Sheen as Doc Hall, Vinessa Shaw as Russell’s wife Juanita, Robert Duvall as Mason Hawk and Wayne Knight as Frank Wynn. The film feels like Wilson’s comeback to great storytelling and positions him in a new type of role that will hit home with audiences. Sheen does a tremendous job as Russell’s sidekick whose compassion and pride for the boys outweighs his often-drunken demeanor. The cast that plays the Mites perfectly embody the spirit of hometown heroes with a standout performance by Jake Austin Walker who plays the loner turned team leader, Hardy Brown.

Ty Roberts has produced and directed a variety of documentaries, short films, music videos and branded content. 12 Mighty Orphans’ is his second feature, having previously directed the award-winning film The Iron Orchard. There is no shortage of feel-good underdog stories, but 12 Mighty Orphans hits all the marks to capture viewers’ hearts. After the pandemic swept the world, this heartwarming story of inspiration and courage is something we all need. There really isn’t much in the film that is difficult to predict in this type of story, but it still manages to be captivating and thoroughly entertaining. Ty Roberts does a spectacular job in seamlessly combining the action and thrill of the game with the quieter, heartfelt moments. He uses wide angle and close-up shots, smooth transitions and even pacing that allows the audience to be right in the heart of the story. It also emphasizes the fact that family isn’t defined or limited to who you are related to, but can be found in anyone who supports, encourages and is willing to fight for you.

Audiences will cheer for the Mighty Mites today, just as Texas and the nation rooted for them during the time of the Great Depression. 12 Mighty Orphans is worth a watch, especially if you are in need of a good uplifting story.