The Longest Yard

2005 Comedy Drama

One of the toughest and best-remembered sports movies of the 1970s gets a humorous makeover in this comedy. Paul "Wrecking" Crewe (Adam Sandler) was once a famous professional football player, but after several years out of the limelight and an alcohol problem have taken their toll, Crewe is arrested for a serious traffic accident aggravated by the fact he was drunk. Crewe is sentenced to Allenville Penitentiary, where Warden Hazen (James Cromwell) is something of a football fan. Hazen had organized his guards into an impressive football team, and clears a healthy profit by taking bets on their games. Looking to make the competition more interesting, Hazen suggests that Crewe put together a team from the inmate population to play his guards. With the help of fellow prisoner Caretaker (Chris Rock), Crewe recruits the heaviest hitters from the cell block for the team, but the guys don't play like a unit until Crewe and Caretaker get some help from Nate Scarborough (Burt Reynolds), a former college and NFL coach doing hard time. Adapted from Robert Aldrich's 1974 box-office smash of the same name, The Longest Yard also features rap star Nelly and Nicholas Turturro; the film has previously been loosely remade in 2001 as Mean Machine, with the action moved to England and the game changed to soccer. more..

Director: Peter Segal

Starring: Adam Sandler,Chris Rock,Burt Reynolds, James Cromwell, Walter Williamson

Reviews

  • The Longest Yard more or less achieves what most of the people attending it will expect. Most of its audiences will be satisfied enough when they leave the theater, although few will feel compelled to rent it on video to share with their friends. So, yes, it's a fair example of what it is.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • What links the two films in fun and ferocity is the big game, a ripsnorter that is irresistibly entertaining.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    27 April 2013

  • The new version has the zip of a 96-yard punt return and all the ingredients to inspire the celebratory crushing of empty beer cans.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    27 April 2013

  • This agreeable remake still manages to go the distance.

    Michael Rechtshaffen - The Hollywood Reporter

    27 April 2013

  • That's what is missing from The Longest Yard most egregiously. Charm has been kept on the bench.

    Joe Morgenstern - The Wall Street Journal

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Theatrical Film

    BET Comedy Awards (2005)

  • Best Breakthrough Performance

    MTV Movie Awards (2006)

     
  • Favorite Movie Comedy

    People's Choice Awards (2006)

     
  • Worst Supporting Actor

    Razzie Awards (2006)

     
  • Choice Rap Artist in a Movie

    Teen Choice Awards (2005)