We live in a cynical era of "feel-bad" movies, where revenge fantasies and Iraq dramas are more likely to bring in the cash than anything approaching the dreaded word - cheesy. We Are Marshall is an undeniably cheesy movie, an old-fashioned yarn about how a small school and the community that supported it survived a horrific tragedy. With strong performances by Matthew Fox (Lost) and Matthew McConaughey (Sahara), We Are Marshall is far from a perfect film, but it's the kind of flick that would have made more than the ripple it did last Christmas season if it had been released just a few years ago. Movies are barometers of the time and we're not in the mood for heartwarming tales of recovery with the current state of the world. We're far more interested in dark fantasies like Pan's Labyrinth and Children of Men or intense dramas like Babel and The Departed. That's not to imply that We Are Marshall is anywhere near as good as those flicks, but it's more worth your time than the lack of press it received in its theatrical run would have you believe. Heartwarming, well-made, and inspirational, We Are Marshall isn't the kind of movie that's going to change your life, but it is the kind they just don't make that often any more.

The title of We Are Marshall refers to the school, Marshall University, one whose entire football program was decimated in a horrible plane crash. Almost the entire "Thundering Herd" of Marshall was killed in the crash and it nearly shut down the athletic program altogether. The next year, Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) was tasked with bringing the program back to life with inexperienced players and a town still wallowing in grief. McConaughey proves he can still do good work when he's given an actual character to play instead of a romantic comedy cliche, but it's the strength of the entire ensemble that lifts We Are Marshall above other recent inspirational sports movies like Glory Road or Invincible. Deadwood's Ian McShane, Oscar nominee David Straithairn, newcomer Anthony Mackie, Kate Mara, and particularly Matthew Fox all do strong work.

We Are Marshall runs too long at over-two hours and hits way too many of the same inspirational notes over and over again, but the cast keeps it entertaining the entire time and director McG proves he can do more than TV pilots or Charlie's Angels movies. If you're a movie goer who can't stand the inspirational sports movie genre, We Are Marshall definitely doesn't transcend it enough to entertain you, but if you can be forgiving of a type of movie that you don't see that often any more, it's worth your time.

The DVD, on the other hand, couldn't be more disappointing. There's nothing wrong with the transfer, but how can a project with this kind of budget and this kind of production value have nothing to include as a special feature? We know they did interviews and behind-the-scenes EPK footage, but it's not included. All fans who buy We Are Marshall will find is the film's trailer and a featurette called "Legendary Coaches: How Coaches Overcome Adversity." That's pathetic. Both the film and the people it memorializes deserve better and probably will get more on a future special edition. If you're a true fan of We Are Marshall, wait for that DVD, but if you missed the film under the weight of more serious movies last Christmas, check it out. It might surprise you.