As Anthony Robles, Jerome transforms into a kid who finds solace in wrestling when his home isn’t welcoming, thanks to a piece of shit stepdad (Bobby Cannavale plays the one-dimensional deadbeat with precision), and strength in the audacity of believing he can, even when the world is telling him he can’t (including his coach, a measured Don Cheadle). The only person in his corner is his mom Judy (an underused but dynamic Jennifer Lopez) and with her support, he sets out to prove his doubters wrong through sheer talent and determination. And he does. Unstoppable is a by-the-numbers biopic with all the emotional beats you expect from an underdog-to-champion sports movie, but when the script veers into clichés and the directing is uninspired, Jerome elevates the material with a relentless and enthralling performance. Jerome plays Anthony as charming and tough, with an exterior built strong enough to withstand the injustices of being a disabled athlete, but also with a simmering vulnerability, holding his emotions on the surface, ready to bubble over at any moment. You’ll love rooting for Anthony in this story, but you’ll leave Unstoppable rooting even harder for Jerome.
