
Jennifer Lopez is a proud and sentimental mother in Unstoppable
The film on Prime Video tells the true story of athlete Anthony Robles and is produced by Ben Affleck
January 16th, 2025
One certainty repeats itself every year: the release of a new movie starring Jennifer Lopez. She’s a bit like the female counterpart of Dwayne The Rock Johnson—come rain or shine (or even if Los Angeles mansions burn down), we’ll see her in theaters, streaming platforms, series, or music videos at least once in the course of 365 days. Confirming this theory, the actress and singer will star on Prime Video starting January 16 in Unstoppable, the true story of athlete Anthony Robles. Born with only one leg and determined to win the NCAA wrestling championship, Anthony has trained his entire life to reach his goal, overcoming not only his physical disability but also a hostile family environment.
Unstoppable: Plot and Cast on Prime Video
Supporting him in every decision is his mother, Judy, played by Lopez, while he clashes multiple times with his stepfather Ricky Robles, portrayed by Bobby Cannavale, a rough and violent man. In this film directed by William Goldenberg and based on the biographical book Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion, we see Jharrel Jerome’s Anthony constantly navigating the struggles on the wrestling mat and within his household, growing up with a singular goal and an unwavering desire that seems unattainable to everyone except him and his mother.
Nothing New
It’s a story of perseverance, requiring the same from viewers to make it to the end. Not because Unstoppable is a bad film, but because it adds nothing new to the genre of sports dramas to which it belongs, and it doesn’t always maintain a good pace. Jharrel Jerome respectfully embodies the champion, who actively collaborated on the film’s production and trained alongside the actor for months to achieve the required physical form. Additionally, the real Robles not only provided intensive training sessions on wrestling techniques to ensure Jerome’s authenticity but also served as a stunt double during the fight scenes for added realism.
The film is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Nuyorican Productions by Jennifer Lopez and Benny Medina, and Artists Equity, founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. This artistic synergy is unlikely to be repeated following the actress’s divorce from the Hollywood star. Nonetheless, the investment aligns with Affleck and Damon’s production vision, given that the first film released by Artists Equity was Air in 2023, a story about Michael Jordan’s partnership with Nike as a spokesperson, made possible by manager Sonny Vaccaro. Incidentally, the editor of that movie was William Goldenberg, who makes his directorial debut with Unstoppable after a career spent cutting and assembling films (from Heat to Zero Dark Thirty and the recent The Instigators).
Jennifer Lopez Takes on the Emotional Weight
Unstoppable is yet another example of believing in one’s abilities and maintaining unwavering determination. As for the emotional aspect, Jennifer Lopez takes charge—or at least tries to. In one of her signature emotive performances, the actress pours herself into the role of a mother who, despite past mistakes, seeks redemption for the sake of her children. Tears flow, anguished expressions abound, and dramatic head shakes are plenty. Yet, Lopez manages, in her typically theatrical style, to deliver a performance that contributes to the success of a simple film, one where the real-life events and individuals involved are far more inspiring than their cinematic depiction.