Saint Ralph
 | Directed by Michael McGowan Starring: Adam Butcher, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Tilly, Gordon Pinsent, Shauna MacDonald Sony Pictures, 2004, DVD Customer Rating: 52 reviews Recommend |
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An inspiring story about the unlikely story of Ralph Walker, a ninth grader who outran everyone's expectations except his own in his bold quest of trying to win the 1954 Boston Marathon. Ralph is a fatherless 14-year-old with a seriously ill mother, who knows he's a time bomb waiting to explode into greatness, except that he has no idea where that greatness will manifest itself. An unfortunate incident of self-abuse in the community pool inadvertently sets him on this road when, as penance, Ralph is conscripted to the cross-country team. Desperate to believe a miracle will bring his mother out of a coma, Ralph becomes a convert to the church of running, and determines to win the Boston Marathon.
A sweet and silly story that becomes increasingly poignant as the minutes tick by, Saint Ralph is the fictional tale of a wayward 9th grader, Ralph (Adam Butcher), who is secretly living on his own while his widowed, hospitalized mother remains immersed in a coma. Frequently in trouble with Father Fitzpatrick (Gordon Pinsent), the principal of his all-boys, Catholic school, Ralph is considered something of a joke among peers until he decides to pull off the miracle that could save his mother, i.e., winning the Boston Marathon. Coached by a younger priest and former runner, Father Hibbert (Campbell Scott), whose cynicism has been lifted by the boy's pure hope, Ralph applies himself to his unlikely mission, fending off naysayers and getting help along a very challenging path from sundry allies and friends. A touching movie featuring a startlingly knowing performance from the young lead. Jennifer Tilly and Tamara Hope co-star, and the film was written and directed by Michael McGowan (My Dog Vincent). — Tom Keogh
Title: Saint Ralph
Sales Rank: 12093 in DVD
Actor: Adam Butcher, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Tilly, Gordon Pinsent, Shauna MacDonald
Director: Michael McGowan
Studio: Sony Pictures, 2005-12-13, Theatrical Release: 2004
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.85:1
Languages: English (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region Code: 99
Running Time: 98 minutes
Item Dimensions: 0.2 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches, 0.1 pounds
- marathon
- I run marathons, along with my others in my marathon running club. Most of us attempt to arrive at our destination city for the marathon at least two days in days so we are acclimated. We have taken to all of gathering in one room for the two nights before (since we cannot drink and party - saving energy for the marathon), and have found viewing movies related… More reviews
- Run! Ralph! Run!
- I once asked a young man (in his twenties) why, according to the Bible, it took God four days to create the earth and it's contents but took him only moments to create the entire, complete, whole, expansive universe. He just stared at me dumbfounded without answering. I suggested that it was "guts", that God had to take time to perfect guts or we could… More reviews
- Excellent
- There are no skips on the tape and nothing wrong with even the case. Everything about this purchase was perfect. More reviews
- Little Known Flick - EVERYBODY Loves it!
- This is a very uplifting movie ... everyone I've shared it with loved it. This includes friends from their teens to their eighties. Many giggles; some guffaws; a few times you feel choked up with sadness. But my oh my, at the end, the good beats the crap out of the bad and you feel that there is hope for all… More reviews
- A refreshing firm about love and determination.
- Because the "Saintly" Ralph antics made me look back on my own Catholic upbringing, I appreciated the film more because of it. I don't quite remember having the guts to hand it out to the priests like Ralph, but there were certainly times I resented priestly authority enough to wish I had. Ralph tells it like it is, and won't let anyone, including the… More reviews
