A Warrior's Heart

Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene in "A Warrior's Heart" Credits: A Xenon Pictures discharge of a Xenon and California Pictures presentation in colaboration with Camelot Entertainment of the Family Prods. production. Created by Erectile dysfunction Richardson, Bob Bassett, Tommy Manley, Martin Dugard, Steven Istock, Marc Spizzirri. Executive producers, James Patterson, James Yount, Robert P. Atwell, Jamie R. Thompson. Directed by Mike Sears. Script, Martin Dugard, from the story by Dugard, Marc Spizzirri, James Yount.With: Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Adam Beach, Gabrielle Anwar, Aaron Hill, William Mapother, Chris Potter, Chord Overstreet.As the sheer novelty of the aspect of lacrosse might be enough to create some aud fascination with "A Warrior's Heart," this respectably crafted but completely foreseeable indie rarely deviates in the game plan then numerous other dramas about self-absorbed youthful hotheads who obtain a shot at redemption around the playing area. Still, fans from the "Twilight" franchise might be attracted through the marquee worth of attractive leads Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene in non-vampiric roles. Limited theatrical run began 12 ,. 2, however the pic is more prone to score as VOD and homevid fare. Senior high school lacrosse player Conor Sullivan (Lutz) results in being an egocentric showboater before his family moves from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., to Arlington, Veterans administration. But after his Marine-officer father (Chris Potter) is wiped out in Iraq, Conor rapidly devolves into something far worse: a sullen rageaholic whose unnecessary roughness off and on the area will get him began they at his new school and lands him, briefly, in jail. Enter Sgt. Major Duke Wayne (Adam Beach), an old comrade-in-arms of Conor's late father. A complete-blooded Iroquois, Wayne knows a great deal about lacrosse -- which, because the pic frequently stresses, is really a team sport of Native American origin -- and much more about harsh discipline. He bails the troubled teen from jail and whisks him off and away to a Six Nations work camping where at-risk youths undergo tough-love rehab. There, Conor is built to work off his anger by singlehandedly destroying a cabin having a sledgehammer, so when he attempts to go ballistic on Wayne, the Marine easily chokes him into unconsciousness. Which serves to create Conor a far more focused team player, before his Arlington high-school coach (William Mapother) to make use of him, unwillingly, inside a national title game. Better yet, Conor also will get an opportunity at romance with Brooklyn (Greene), an attractive student who just is actually the coach's daughter. Working from the script by Martin Dugard, who seems to possess viewed and carefully analyzed every pic about high-school sports available, helmer Mike Sears keeps "Warrior's Heart" moving in a reasonably brisk pace. He relies way too heavily on montages set to unremarkable pop tunes and from time to time outings within the many cliches that litter the excessively familiar scenario. But his well-cast gamers (including Gabrielle Anwar, who helps make the the majority of her small role as Conor's mother) assist the pic sustain interest. Special credit is going to Beach's very easily macho underplaying because the beer-swilling, aphorism-spouting taskmaster who helps Conor be everything he is able to be. Strangely enough, nobody ever remarks around the irony of the Native American being named Duke Wayne, however again, maybe the viewer should really think other people would take one understand this badass and know much better than to create snarky comments, as well as polite queries. Production values are sufficient.Camera (color), Thomas L. Calloway editor, Ellen Goldwasser music, Alec Puro production designer, John Livesay art director, Morgan Runyon set designers, Traci Kirshbaum, Lori Mazuer costume designer, Jayme Bone seem (Dolby), Theo Kerhulas assistant director, Chris Edmonds casting, Jesse Paul Pemrick, Dean E. Fronk. Examined on DVD, Houston, November. 28, 2011. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 95 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com