Wondering if 12 Mighty Orphans is ok for kids? 12 Mighty Orphans is rated PG-13 for language and some violence, but it may not have enough action for the younger crowd. Sentimental and sweet, add it to the inspirational sports film genre. 12 Mighty Orphans is kid friendly enough for teenagers, some scenes may be too emotional for some kids. Here’s what parents need to know in this 12 Mighty Orphans Parents Guide.
12 Mighty Orphans Parents Guide
12 Mighty Orphans is based on the true story of the Mighty Mites, the football team of a Fort Worth orphanage who, during the Great Depression, went from playing without shoes to playing for the Texas state championships. It seems like a spoiler alert, but the film opens with that scene.
Faced with many obstacles, including coaches who didn’t want the Mighty Mites playing in the district, their resilience caught the attention of locals and the nation, including the President of the United States. Head coach Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson), surprised everyone by giving up a more elite coaching position so he could teach and coach at the orphanage. However, what people didn’t know was that Rusty was also an orphan and needed to find a way to give back. Russell has been credited with changing the game of football.
Why is 12 Mighty Orphans rated PG-13? Mostly for language and some flashbacks of war, as well as some emotional scenes at the orphanage.
Language
There are a lot of uses of a**, sh*t, and damn.
Mature Content
Some flashbacks of war scenes are shown where people die.
There are some emotional scenes in the orphanage where kids have to deal with the emotional fallout of parents who have died or abandoned them. One scene shows a boy covered in blood.
One boy makes a comment about a woman who “has a set on her.” Another boy is seen spying on girls. Some crude comments are made.
An adult paddles and beats kids in the orphanage.
There is some underage drinking.
One of the characters drinks a lot.
Some kids are bullied and one is called a “stuttering sasquatch.”
Is 12 Mighty Orphans Appropriate for Kids Under 13?
If you have kids who are fans of Remember the Titans or The Blind Side, then they’ll probably enjoy 12 Mighty Orphans. However, 12 Mighty Orphans lacks some of the humor and lightheartedness that those films brought to the screen. Martin Sheen as Doc Hall helped fill that role, but the wit was understated and some kids may not catch it.
Wayne Knight as one of the villains of the film was typical Wayne Knight. So very Newman. Taking advantage of the orphans for profit and also trying to get rid of Rusty as coach were some of his specialities.
Listen, I’m a sucker for an inspirational sports drama, especially ones based on true stories. While football may not be my sport of choice, it’s the storytelling for me. And 12 Mighty Orphans tells a good story.
The film may not be flashy or bright, but it took place during The Great Depression in Texas. And Texans do love their football. During that time people were looking for anything to give them hope, and a group of orphans beating the odds is just what some people needed.
Did we need another David and Goliath story? Because those Mighty Mites were much smaller in comparison to other teams. Why not? As we’ve seen kids go through a pandemic and having their own hard times, why not be inspired by other kids going through a hard time? Resilience never goes out of style.
Although 12 Mighty Orphans may not be groundbreaking sports cinema, it does remind of us of good humans like Rusty Russell and that lives are influenced by the heroes who make hard choices. This one’s for the underdogs. And the cornballs. <Raises hand>.
