Tim Tebow’s Production of “Run the Race” Exceeds All Expectations

“Run the Race” (Roadside Attractions)

When athletic superstar Tim Tebow announced he, along with his brother Robby, wanted to produce a movie many questioned the why of it. Some thought he had enough success in pursuing his dreams of a professional football and/or baseball career; plus what did he know about movies. Well it appears he knew exactly the kind of movie he wanted to make. “Run the Race” is a film that expresses love and hate, belief and disbelief, loss and achievement. It is about having goals and striving to achieve them. All of these factors have been shown in movies before, but “Run the Race” does it differently.

“Run the Race” is a story of two brothers who lost their mother to cancer and subsequently were abandoned by heir father. Zach and Dave Truett (Tanner Stine and Evan Hofer) are still in high school but they are making it on their own. Zach is the hero of the high school football team and dreams big about getting a scholarship to the University of Florida. Dave played football but suffered an injury that keeps him out of the game.

This is the bare bones of the plot. It is two brothers full of hope searching for a way to leave their hometown of Bessemer, Alabama behind them. Even though their father Michael (Kristoffer Polaha) left they still have the support of their godmother, Nanny (Frances Fisher), and of Coach Hailey (Mykelti Williamson), Zach’s football coach and ardent supporter.

What elevates this film above others like it, is the naturalness of the performances. Stine and Hofer make you believe they are brothers, and that they are hoping and believing their way through their struggles. It is shown in the way they physically move in their roles and the ease with which the dialogue passes between them. You will only be a few minutes into the film and you will readily accept them, and like them, and want to see more of them.

Williamson, Fisher and Polaha give solid supporting performances but that is to be expected of them. It is the lesser known actors who are startlingly good and that not only applies to the two lead actors but also to Kelsey Reinhardt, who plays Ginger, the love interest for Zach. Reinhardt is such a naturally gifted young actress you wish her role in the film had been bigger because you sense she could handle anything the moviemakers might have thrown her way.

Then there is the story by Jake McEntire. His plot delves into a variety of emotions and situations. Each segment of the story provides an emotional punch, and each one adds to the next one and the next one. By the end of the film audiences will find themselves on the ropes trying to absorb all that has happened.

The film is rated PG for mild violence and a sequence of teen partying.

When the film is over you will be so pleased that the brothers Tebow had the foresight to make this movie. It will make you laugh then cry, then laugh and cry again. It is such a magnificent faith based film that I think a broad audience will appreciate. Last year it was “I Can Only Imagine.” This year it is “Run the Race”.

I scored “Run the Race” a winning 8 out of 10.

Jackie K Cooper

www.jackiekcooper.com