Run the Race

Name: Run the Race
Genre: Drama, Sport
Released: February 22, 2019
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 35
Cast: Caleb Castille, Eddie George, Evan Hofer, Frances Fisher, Kelsey Reinhardt

2019

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Roadside Attractions | Release Date: February 22, 2019 | PG

Starring: Caleb Castille, Eddie George, Evan Hofer, Frances Fisher, Kelsey Reinhardt, Kristoffer Polaha, Mario Van Peebles, Mykelti Williamson, Tanner Stine, Tim Tebow

Summary: Two desperate brothers sacrifice today for a better tomorrow. Reeling from his mother’s death and his father’s abandonment, Zach, an All-State athlete, finds glory on the football field, working to earn a college scholarship and the brothers’ ticket out of town. When a devastating injury puts Zach—and his dreams—on the sidelines, DavidTwo desperate brothers sacrifice today for a better tomorrow. Reeling from his mother’s death and his father’s abandonment, Zach, an All-State athlete, finds glory on the football field, working to earn a college scholarship and the brothers’ ticket out of town. When a devastating injury puts Zach—and his dreams—on the sidelines, David laces up his track cleats to salvage their future and point Zach toward hope.… Expand

Director: Chris Dowling

Genre(s): Drama, Sport

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 min

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Critic Reviews

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Feb 26, 2019

It’s competent on several levels, generally well-acted and no more unpleasant than it is challenging. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Christy Lemire

Feb 22, 2019

Director/co-writer Chris Dowling infuses his sports drama with a grungy sense of place, making Run the Race feel a bit like a Christian version of “Friday Night Lights.” Read full review

Kimber Myers

Feb 22, 2019

Beyond its theme of the power of God’s love, Run the Race centers on the importance of forgiveness. Viewers who can overlook its flaws will find value in its message, but those outside its target demo will be unable to see beyond its cinematic sins. Read full review

Carlos Aguilar

Feb 22, 2019

As if eager to self-sabotage its chances at being a somewhat palatable, not grossly preachy example for future projects, the final minutes of Run the Race do away with any measure of moderation the film had previously exhibited. Read full review

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User Reviews

GreatMartin

Feb 22, 2019

"Run the Race" is a faith-based movie about brothers, young love, family and beliefs. Brothers Dave (Evan Hofer) and Zach (Tanner Stine) are the brothers who lost their mother to cancer two years ago and their father Michael (Kristoffer Polaha), unable to handle the death, walked out leaving"Run the Race" is a faith-based movie about brothers, young love, family and beliefs. Brothers Dave (Evan Hofer) and Zach (Tanner Stine) are the brothers who lost their mother to cancer two years ago and their father Michael (Kristoffer Polaha), unable to handle the death, walked out leaving the boys to fend for themselves while he sought solace in alcohol. Their godmother, Nanny (Frances Fisher) supports them by having the boys work in her store while football Coach Haily (Mykelti Williamson) has their backs, believing in them and helping them to reach their goals.

The brothers have an unbreakable bond, with Dave being religious and Zach losing his faith both, wanting to succeed and leave their small Alabama town when Zach wins a football scholarship. When Zach hurts his leg he meets a nurse intern, Ginger, (Kelsey Reinhardt), in what becomes a delightful cat and mouse chase where religion enters the pictures with both a negative and positive force.

While religion adds heft to the drama of the story a little less would have allowed for expanding for more about the main characters, such as the father and Zach and Ginger's relationship, but since the writers Jake McEntire, Jason Baumgardner and Chris Dowling, basically, follow the cliches of religion and relationships some people may roll their eyes but more will just go with where it leads.

Chris Dowling also directed the film which strays now and then while the soundtrack has a few winning songs.

All the actors do a first-rate job. Hofer and Stine are quite believable as brothers, athletes, older teenagers who have that unbreakable bond. The romance between Stine and Reinhardt has the needed chemistry with his charisma and her beauty adding to a predictable story with one exception.

It was good seeing the familiar face of Frances Fisher who truly loves the boys as if they were her own and all boys should have a coach supporting them as Mykelti Williamson. It would have been nice if Kristoffer Polaha had more screen time but what he does is impressive.

"Run the Race" was an unexpected film that I found much better than I thought it would be having both laughs and tears along with a story, for the most part, will hold your attention.

PS I am a sucker for a love story and a father/son story!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TheQuietGamer

Mar 8, 2019

I was fully prepared to give this a positive review. There were the typical issues that almost always seem to plague faith-based films such as low production values, amateurish acting, and awkward writing/pacing, but the bond of brotherly love that kept the endearing protagonists going inI was fully prepared to give this a positive review. There were the typical issues that almost always seem to plague faith-based films such as low production values, amateurish acting, and awkward writing/pacing, but the bond of brotherly love that kept the endearing protagonists going in the face of adversity was uplifting and warm. I was genuinely having a good time at the theater. Then the ending happened...

The final act is capped off by a sad event that was just exploitative and unnecessary. What bothered me wasn't so much that it happened, but rather how it was handled. The scene is montaged in with the film's emotional crescendo eliminating any sort of big payoff. Then to make matters worse the writers immediately tried to gloss over the act as if it never even happened by moving right along to the happy ending, robbing the moment of any sort of meaning. The whole thing was nothing more than a tasteless and even offensive attempt to manipulate tears out of the audience. It added nothing to the movie and only served to diminish my enjoyment of it.

I now better understand the whole Mass Effect 3 ending debacle. I was also disappointed with the game's conclusion, but at the same time I just couldn't understand how so many people found those last 10 minutes or so able to overwrite all the previous hours of enjoyment that were had before hand. I think I get it now.

It's not even like Run the Race is the first movie to try and use that trick to pull an emotional reaction the audience. Far from it. It's actually a fairly common development in sports dramas. However, what has saved these other movies from the same rebuttal is that they at least allowed the moment to carry weight in the story by bolstering the overall theme of perseverance. Here it's just cheap shock value.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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