A film lacking Herzog's USP -- an ironic and regressive sense of the irreducible power of images -- 'Invincible' feels as though it has been devised by a scholar steeped in Herzog lore, but who at some crucial early stage mistook him for Istvan Szabo.

There's a sugar coating to the way Papale's story unfolds, but not so much that you'll spoil your dinner.

Even Papale's most famous play, recovering a fumble to set up a touchdown, is embellished, as if Disney can't bear to stick with the facts.

By the time Papale does make it the big game, it's as if the air goes out of the movie and all Core can do is punt.