'Strong Enough' May Be the Most Honest Portrayal of Athletes Ever

The 2022 sports drama movie ‘Strong Enough’ is a quiet picture, selling well on streaming sites but otherwise has largely gone unnoticed. And that is a shame, as this picture about an athlete, Sam (Ashley Jerue), aiming to break 5 world records in intense functional fitness (CrossFit) just may be the most honest look at the mentality and emotion of athletes.

The film is simple enough: we are introduced to cross-training athlete Sam (Ashley Jerue), a young woman on the path to becoming a professional in the practice. The day is one she's been training for vigorously, an attempt to break 5 world-records in the sport within a half-hour. The loss of her father the year prior still weighs on her, and she wants to prove to herself that the belief he had in her - the same belief that her mother and her friends at the gym have in her - has not been in vain. Minutes before kicking off the challenge, though, she is derailed by divorce papers from her husband, Charlie (Noah Kerhisnik). Nevertheless, she pushes it aside with the help of her supportive friends and her "unofficial manager", Shane (Demetrius Grosse). One-by-one, Sam rises to the challenge of breaking the records for burpee pull-ups and more, successfully beating 4 of the 5.

Yet the film is much more than what it appears going in. The scenes where Sam is actively breaking records are wholly engaging: it's literally impossible not to be in awe of what she is doing, counting along with the record keeper as he keeps track. Her success is ours. The side plot of the divorce is infuriating, but in a good way. Charlie becomes the villain of the show, his pleas that he had no intention that papers would be served at this time and this place ringing hollow. That a partner would even consider throwing a wrench like this even in the ballpark of time is reprehensible, so for Sam to largely put it aside shows strength of character.

Where the film really comes through in its portrayal of athletes is the aftermath of (SPOILER) Sam's inability to complete the fifth and final challenge. Sam is shaken, emotional. The accomplishment of breaking four of the five doesn't matter to her. She didn't achieve her goal, and that is heartbreaking for her. The feeling that she's let everyone down in her life is an honest representation of the athlete in general. What's been accomplished is irrelevant, no matter how remarkable that achievement may be, if the end goal isn't met. In doing so, 'Strong Enough' dares to portray a reality that very few other sports films are willing to try (the original 'Rocky', offhand, is one, but after that the pickings are slim). The camera stays with Sam as she slowly comes to terms with what has happened, and then two things happen that show that even through the disappointment, Sam has grown exponentially. The first is allowing Charlie back in to the gym, having a heart-to-heart conversation about their relationship. She lets him in, but doesn't give him the reconciliation he wants. Sam has taken that power back. And then she goes back to try the final challenge again. No one is around, no one to capture if she breaks a record or not, but this is for her, to prove to herself that she can do it, and in doing so shatters her insecurities and setting her back on track.

The film does have its flaws, most notably the camera work to start the film off. It's shaky, likely more than intended, and takes our focus away from the film momentarily. The same flaw, however, becomes its strength, adding a visceral reality to what we are watching, and a more personal connection with Sam over and above the distance that a "steady" camera has difficulties overcoming. As far as the cast, Demetrius Grosse stands out as Shane, making his character the de facto father figure in Sam's life. His encouragement doesn't come across as empty: he truly cares for Sam, not just as an athlete but for her personally. Knowing that Sam's father has passed, it lends a whole new level to their relationship.

But make no mistake: this is Ashley Jerue's movie through and through, and the newcomer absolutely nails it. It is her that the camera is on from start to finish, and the camera absolutely loves her. Jerue is a natural, giving Sam a reality that seems effortless. I don't know if there's more acting roles in the future for Jerue, but I hope that she continues to perform. That's how impressive she is.

The one thing about 'Strong Enough' that hasn't been mentioned is how Sam is a strong female character in an industry that doesn't have enough of them. In a way it simply doesn't matter. Her story is true regardless of gender, of sport, or of age. But there is no denying that Sam, and Jerue by extension, is a great role model for young women, and 'Strong Enough' does her justice.