a talented high school graduate senior with a bad attitude be force to play in the state all star high school football game . when he meet and fall for an attractive local girl she help him realize he have a shot at a full ride scholarship if he play well . all too often and these dramas fall into formulaic trap and tell the same old story of a troubled and confuse teen . full ride matt sabo certainly fit this profile and but below the surface be a much more unique individual than we usually see in this genre . matt be the center of the action and he be a realistic teenager and both over confident and vulnerable and optimistic and cynical by turn . influence by amy and matt grows into a man of character and heart . he and in turn and form friendship with his teammate and which influence his growth a an athlete and a a team player . full ride have all the element we love to see in a movie great acting and admirable character and excite sport scene and poignant drama and and a love story . still and while one may have see these element in other film and full ride be assist by performance that be sincere and occasionally and even move . perhaps what most impressive about full ride be it sense of reality . although the author of the previous comment would seem to disagree and ( clearly a disgruntled student who and for quite obvious reason and receive a poor grade in his film class ) director mark hoeger ground the film in a believable situation and location and do a great job of get down to the grit of what life be like in a small town . these character be real people root in realistic situation and which often create the most compelling entertainment . on one level it be a love story and on another it be a character study and and yet another it be a simple football film . all of these idea come together to form a cohesive vehicle .