Safety on Disney+ - Touching and Emotional True Story

Get ready to cry and cheer your way through Disney+ Safety. Inspired by a true story of courage, determination and the pursuit of excellence, Disney’s powerful and moving drama “Safety” explores one player’s college sports experience when put up against seemingly insurmountable odds, while ultimately redefining what it means to have community, family and friendship. This is a touching film that the whole family can enjoy together.

Safety is Based on a True Story

The movie tells the story of Clemson football player Ray Ray McElrathbey and his brother Fahmarr. Big brother Ray goes off to collage and begins freshman year only to find out his family is in trouble. Little brother Fahmarr is going to go into the foster system since their mother was arrested for drug possession. Family is everything and despite his own trials and aspirations, Ray sneaks his little brother into his dorm. Despite all of the challenges along the way, Ray makes an incredible role model and guardian to his little brother. His real life character is captured well on screen.

The filmmakers wanted the film to not only capture the hardships Ray had to endure at Clemson, but also the humor between Ray and Fay and Ray’s teammates. Director Reginald Hudlin explains, “Ray is a very serious guy, very aware of his responsibilities. Fay is the quintessential little brother, checking everything out, joking all the time. He’s so funny. They’re a perfect Batman and Robin team. And the interplay of Ray and his fellow teammates is hilarious because you have every kind of personality from guys who want to crunch bones all day to guys who just want to have fun out on the feld.” It was important to the filmmakers that the real Ray McELrathBey, whose story inspired the film’s screenplay, be involved in the making of the “Safety.” Over the nearly 13 years that it took for the project to get to the production stage, Ray had learned to temper his expectations.

Since the movie touches on some mature and possibly triggering themes, it is rated PG. There is also some mild language. I would recommend this for ages 12 and up. My 14 and 16 year olds enjoyed it a lot. Beware, it is a major tear jerker.

I do love that the movie shows a real story full of real life issues and still triumph occurs. The themes of family and determination are strong. I like that family is emphasised, but that doesn’t just mean biological or immediate. In this case, it was the team family. I have to end by sharing a few of my favorite inspirational quotes from the film.