I am going to first openly admit that I had apprehensions about Safety coming to Disney Plus. When I saw the trailer for Safety, I immediately thought of Remember The Titans and Gridiron Gang. This is not the first “based on a true story” football film to ever be created, and I was worried about how “Disney” the story would end up being since Disney Plus definitely caters to an audience of a specific age. Nonetheless, the trailer had me intrigued (and emotional) so I of course, was going to give this movie a watch. I ended up loving the movie. Before I get into my review, check out the official trailer for Safety on Disney Plus.
About Safety on Disney Plus
“Safety” is a drama inspired by the empowering story of former Clemson University football safety Ray McElrathbey (Jay Reeves), a young man facing a series of challenging circumstances, whose dedication and persistence help him to triumph over repeated adversities. Aided by his teammates and the Clemson community, he succeeds on the field while simultaneously raising and caring for his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr (Thaddeus J. Mixson).
Why Safety is Worth the Watch (Even if You’re Clueless About Football)
When I initially saw the run time for this movie I let out a LONG sigh. 2 hours in movie time is a lot and I was definitely worried about how long Safety was going to keep my attention. In the first hour of the movie, it definitely has it’s moments where it seemed to drag. I found myself checking to see how much movie was left a few times in the first hour because the story felt slow.
But when it picks up, Safety takes you through the emotional journey of Ray and Fahmarr and tells a story of not just one, but two families. I found myself talking to the screen, crying, laughing and rooting for the team on more than one occasion. I became fully invested in this story that I had no idea about prior to watching the movie. Safety is truly a story about family, community, love and support. Football just happens to be going on in the background.
Four Things I REALLY Loved About Safety on Disney Plus
- The southern college experience. From the opening drumline, I knew they were about to take this seriously. I probably got way more excited than I should have.
- The music. I literally said “come on Trick Daddy!” out loud. I was 16 in 2006 and these songs were everything. Safety was really made FOR US. I’m glad they kept the music relevant to the time of the story.
- The care in storytelling. Safety tells a very real story. And one that hits home for so many black, at-risk youth. While I’m sure a lot wasn’t said or shown, I felt every bit of Ray and Fahmarr’s story.
- The messaging. Like I previously said, Safety is really a story about everything BUT football. There are so many lessons about family, community, kindness and love packed into these 2 hours.
Will My Kids Enjoy Watching Safety?
This is going to highly depend on your child and the types of movies they can handle. This is definitely a movie for the older kiddos (tweens and up). While the language is MUCH milder than most sports movies in comparison (thanks to the PG rating), there are references to drug addiction. Sensitive children and children that are empaths may also find this movie hard to watch. There were some scenes that broke me, even as an adult. There is also the above mentioned LONG run time. At just over 2 hours, Safety is a lot to take in. I would definitely give it a watch alone first and then make the call.
Safety is now available for streaming on the Disney Plus platform. More info on how to subscribe to Disney+ can be found here.
