Unstoppable (2024)

Based on the book written by Robles himself, Unstoppable, From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion, and adapted by Alex Harris, John Hindman and Eric Champnella, it shows us a struggling Robles on the mat, but also in his personal life, living with his four siblings and his mother in a situation of domestic violence, in addition to difficulties encountered.

From the beginning, the film presents a scenario of resilience and struggle, introducing us to a young protagonist determined to excel beyond his circumstances.

His sporting life, a metaphor for all the implications of his existence, is marked by a constant battle: not only in the athletic arena, but also in the family, where affective scarcity and emotional crises leave a deep mark.

Although it attempts to be a biographical representation, the film resorts to the classic archetypes of the “poor fighter”, economic precariousness and intra-family conflicts, overexploiting them to sustain the narrative volume.

This results in an experience that oscillates between entertaining moments, predictable moments and insipid passages.

The highlight is the message of self-improvement, although it is marred by the cliché that “anything can be overcome with a good attitude”.

Some dramatic twists and turns are resolved almost magically, conveniently accommodating themselves so that the narrative reaches its climax.

On the other hand, there is a lack of greater introspection in the protagonist, whose emotional development often tries to be resolved through dialogues with secondary characters, remaining on the surface.

“Unstoppable” is a film to watch once and be left with a positive message, but without expecting to find something that transcends the conventional formula of motivational stories.