Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome Shine in ‘Unstoppable’: The Inspiring True Story of Anthony Robles

Jharrel Jerome in 'Unstoppable' / Amazon MGM Studios

Wrestler Anthony Robles won the 2011 national championship, representing Arizona State University. American college wrestling is so competitive that the student athletes’ level is higher than that of many countries that have made appearances in the Olympic Games, and it is broadcast by ESPN. Robles conquered this scenario while having only one leg and facing non-disabled competitors. Robles’ story won hearts, led to the impressive memoir book Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion (2012), and it was certain to be adapted to the silver screen.

Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Unstoppable’ is a competent sports drama that finds its strength in the acting prowess of Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight) as Anthony Robles and Jennifer Lopez (Maid in Manhattan) as his mother, Judy Robles. The pair are surrounded by high-level veterans Michael Peña, Don Cheadle, Mykelti Williamson, and Bobby Cannavale, while Robles’ younger siblings and teammates are convincing in their roles.
Through his deeds, Robles became a hero to many who could follow his career. This helps us understand the more conventional directing approach of William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor who collaborated with directors Ben Affleck, Michael Mann, and Kathryn Bigelow. The pace of the images, together with lighting and other technical elements, furthers the experience.

Goldenberg’s competence gives Jerome and Lopez room to present their layered performances. Jerome brings a determined and conflicted Anthony Robles, who goes from finding his place in the world to the determination to see in very committed professionals. ‘Unstoppable’ is at the same time a sports drama and a coming-of-age story. Jerome’s down-to-earth performance makes the screen wrestler a full-fledged human, not an unwavering superhero nor a character that brings pity from the viewers. This role positions Jerome as one of the best performers in his age group and led him to 2025 Bafta’s “EE Rising Star Award” nomination adding to a career that has powerful showcases in ‘Moonlight’ (2016) and the series ‘When They See Us’ (2019), not to forget that the actor played an amateur wrestler before in ‘First Match’ (2018).

Jennifer Lopez finds in Judy Robles a vessel to display a motherly persona with a vulnerable spot. The Robles are a big family, and Judy has to juggle work and keeping peace in the household. Lopez knows how to portray true happiness or when the character is faking it; playing a struggling woman shows a different side of a worldwide entertainer who comes to the stage as one of its brightest stars. Lopez’s acting in ‘Unstoppable’ is pretty different from ‘Maid in Manhattan’ and ‘Hustlers,’ as out is the endearing Latina help who dazzles with Ralph Fiennes and the sex bomb stripper Ramona, who, with her crew of dancers, scams Gordon Gekko wannabes while looking for the best interest of her daughter. Judy is the mother of many and the wife of a psycho. The stress of daily life can be seen in her eyes and facial expression and heard in the tiredness of her voice.

Hollywood, in particular the critics, try to pigeonhole Lopez. Still, looking at her career, it is noticeable how she has grown over time. It is not a stretch to position that she has learned a lot from past cast members. World cinema legend Sônia Braga portrayed Jennifer Lopez’s mom in two opportunities. There are shades of the notorious Brazilian acting in Lopez’s performances.

The narrative of ‘Unstoppable’ has an edge by portraying the abusive household that was made into a living hell by Rick Robles. Cannavale interprets an antagonist who is worse than any wrestler he has faced. ‘Unstoppable’ depicts a triggering toxic environment and portrays how seducing and psychotic abusers can be and also how the environment an athlete hails from can affect their performance. As seen in Anthony’s match to join the Arizona University State team, the audience will remember Rick Robles with his treats and machismo-fueled speech more than the opponent competing with Anthony for the spot. Cannavale has the threatening appeal of a wild horse 70s star, a profile lost in the current landscape.

The matches are another asset to the picture. Audiences are used to seeing boxing bouts in movies, and it is easier to understand the sweet science movement when compared to wrestling. Thus, fewer movies focus on wrestling as this combat sport is less popular. Nevertheless, ‘Unstoppable’ translates how gruelling and relentless high-calibre wrestling encounters are with attention-grabbing action that holds the attention due to its choreography, camera work, and editing, but the main component here is the stunt team. The real Anthony Robles worked as Jerome’s stunt double.

This film crosses from the sports drama genre to the mainstream, including staying above those depicting wrestling, which, although an ancient combat art with high cultural and historical relevance and an Olympic Games staple, is a niche sport in the modern era commonly mistaken with the choreographed pro-wrestling. ‘Unstoppable’ deserves a longer tenure in movie theatres. This picture is more enjoyable when watched with family members on a large screen because it can unite people considering that we dwell in polarized societies. There is a need to bond with others; cinema is a way to connect people with a collective emotional experience, and ‘Unstoppable’ does this.

Posted by Gabriel Leão

Gabriel Leão (He/Him) works as a journalist and is based in São Paulo, Brazil. He has written for outlets in Brazil, the UK, Canada and the USA such as Vice, Ozy Media, Remezcla, Al Jazeera, Women’s Media Center, Clash Music, Dicebreaker, Yahoo! Brasil, Scarleteen, Anime Herald, Anime Feminist and Brazil’s ESPN Magazine. He also holds a Master’s degree in Communications and a post-grad degree in Foreign Relations.