Safety, Disney’s new and inspiring football movie, released on Disney plus.
Safety is based on the true story of Clemson freshman Ray McElrathbe. During the 2006 season, Ray was forced to hide his brother in his room and take care of him due to his mother battling drug addiction. The inspiring story follows how he balanced football, school, and taking care of his little brother Fahmarr with the help of his teammates and friends.
The first thing I noticed is that the gameplay in the movie is the most realistic TV or movie football I’ve ever seen. The plays and hits look real, the summer camp, their team meetings, and their daily schedules all felt like what life would be like for a college football player. The coolest thing Disney did to make it feel realistic was film the game scenes during the halftime of the 2019 Clemson vs. Charlotte game in front of a packed Death Valley. My favorite thing about this scene is that they at times switch to the first-person view through the players eyes, putting you right into the action.
Another thing that stood out is how great the soundtrack is in Safety. Outkast; Whitney Houston; Earth, Wind & Fire; and Lauryn Hill are just some of the artists that make up one of Disney’s best soundtracks since Guardians of the Galaxy.
There are moments in the movie that remind you that it is from Disney. One being the feud between an upperclassman linebacker and Ray. It feels a little forced and cliché, but it’s not the only thing they created to spice things up. The love interest in the movie is also fictional, but since it is a movie, that’s forgivable. One thing that is annoying is that they credit a fictional character for writing an article that gets Ray’s story national attention, not the actual sports reporter Larry Williams of The Charleston Post and Courier newspaper.
With those being my only complaints, I did really enjoy watching Safety. The movie is filled with many heartwarming and inspiring moments and is a must-watch for any football or Disney movie lover. I give it an 8.7/10
