Like Coca-Cola, chocolate and heroin, underdog sports movies are successful for a reason: they rely on a proven, time-tested formula. Exploited successfully by Rocky, The Natural, Rudy and dozens of other films, the underdog sports movie formula is based on a dream, one that inspires countless delusional meatheads to spend innumerable hours in the gym, stubbornly clinging to childhood visions of athletic glory.

Mess with a proven formula and you get the New Coke – and nobody wants that.

Invincible, the latest underdog incarnation, doesn't blaze any new trails – and that's perfectly fine with me. It's based on the true story of Vince Papale, a part-time bartender who, at the age of 30, overcame overwhelming odds to make the roster of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Papale, who had never played college football, energized the Eagles with his charisma and became a fan favorite.

Portraying Papale in Invincible is Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights, The Departed). Wahlberg, himself the product of the means streets of working class South Boston, fits into the role of the everyman quite easily.

The taut, well-written story is faithful in its adherence to the underdog formula. Recently unemployed and abandoned by his wife, Papale works part-time tending bar at the neighborhood pub in south Philly, where he and his pals spend their evenings obsessing over their beloved Eagles.

When Eagles rookie head coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) hosts a rare open tryout, they athletically gifted Papale is presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve greatness on the gridiron.

Of course, nobody believes he can do it – not even Papale himself. At first he's painfully overmatched; opponents toss him around and scoff at his ineptitude. But with the help of grit, determination, and a supportive love interest (Elizabeth Banks), Papale defies the odds and makes the team. In the closing scene, he makes a key play that helps lead the Eagles to victory over their hated rivals, the New York Giants.

While it's certainly an inspiring story, Invincible feels strangely soulless. It doesn't tug furiously on the heartstrings like Rudy or The Rookie did so effectively. In some ways that's a good thing, as Invincible avoids the schmaltziness that so often taints other sports movies. But I feel that the film could have done more to up the stakes and connect with the audience. Papale comes across as basically a low-key guy who would be just as happy tending bar as he would be scoring touchdowns in the NFL. There doesn't seem to be any burning need for redemption or regret over dreams unfulfilled.

The movie also has problems with believability. It's hard to ignore the fact that Wahlberg is about 5'7" (the real-life Papale is 6'2"), and clever camera work can only do so much to make him look like an actual NFL player. He's in great shape, to be sure, but at times he bounces around like a muscle-bound Pop Warner tyke.

Though he may be a tad diminutive in size, Wahlberg turns in a strong performance. That, ultimately, is what elevates Invincible above the standard sports movie fare.

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What's on the disc:

Not a whole lot. Since this isn't a "special edition," extras are pretty sparse.

There are two commentary tracks. The first features Vince Papale, producer Mark Ciardi and writer Brad Gann; the second features director Ericson Core and editor Jerry Greenberg.

There's also a short documentary featurette entitled "Becoming Invincible: The Story of Vince Papale." Fans of the old-school NFL films (the ones narrated by the late John Facenda) will enjoy the classic footage.