|
Starring |
Campbell Scott
,
Adam Butcher
,
Jennifer Tilly
,
Gordon Pinsent
|
|
|
Directed By |
Michael McGowan
|
|
|
Audio
|
Dolby Digital 2.0
|
|
Visuals
|
16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen
|
|
Running Time |
94 mins
|
|
UK Release Date |
May 31, 2010
|
|
Genre |
Drama
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
User Rating |
|
Made in 2004, this Canadian film (also known simply as Saint Ralph) aims to be tearjerking and heartwarming and just about pulls it off. In 1959, 14 year-old troublemaking schoolboy Ralph (Adam Butcher), whose mother is seriously ill and falls into a coma, is told that it will take a miracle for her to recover. Forced by his headmaster to join the school cross-country team as a punishment for misbehaviour, Ralph intends to make a miracle happen himself, by winning the Boston Marathon.
It's worth looking past that soul-sappingly twee front cover, as The Miracle of Saint Ralph isn't totally sickly sweet. There's a healthy amount of gently edgy content, including masturbation jokes; and while the standard sentimentality is very much present and correct, the lightly comic touch displayed throughout counterpoints it nicely. Meanwhile, as smart-alecky Ralph, Butcher remains just the right side of annoying and generally manages to be engaging.
It's a very minor work; a simple story that’s simply told. There are countless generic ‘inspirational’ films out there, and The Miracle of Saint Ralph doesn't transcend that status, but it doesn't aim to. It gets by on the strength of its good humour and solid performances.
The director's commentary and behind-the-scenes featurette on the DVD are both perfectly serviceable but won't blow your mind. A bit like the film.
Overall Verdict: Mostly follows a formula and does the job pretty well.
Special Features:
Featurette - Behind the Scenes
Director's Commentary
Trailer
Reviewer: Tom René
