Saint Ralph

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA)

for some sexual content and partial nudity.

Review coming from Contributor: Reece Tedford

Moral Rating:	not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Adults Teens
Genre:	Comedy Drama
Length:	1 hr. 38 min.
Year of Release:	2005
USA Release:	August 5, 2005 (limited)

Relevant Issues

Biblical miracles

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Featuring	Adam Butcher, Campbell Scott, Shauna MacDonald, Gordon Pinsent, Michael Kanev
Director	Michael McGowan
Producer	Teza Lawrence, Seaton McLean, Andrea Mann
Distributor	The Samuel Goldwyn Company

“Finding yourself on the starting line of life.” / “He’s hoping for a miracle. He doesn’t have a prayer. A comedy about chasing miracles.”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “This is the story of Ralph Walker, a 14-year-old who in 1954 outran everyone’s expectations in his bold quest to win the Boston Marathon. His seriously ill mother knows he is waiting to explode into greatness, except that he has no idea where that greatness will manifest itself. Then, an unfortunate incident of self-abuse in the community pool inadvertently points him in the right direction. As penance for his actions, 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 sets his sights on winning the Boston Marathon.”

Positive
Neutral
negative
Critics

Positive

Positive—I found the film “Saint Ralph” similar in content and process to the that of the Bible itself. In both cases, there are characters who behave badly until they find God. To be offended by a film showing the progress of a lost soul to salvation would mean that you are also offended by the Bible itself. “Saint Ralph” is much less graphic than the Bible. And the sins are far less offensive. This film shines the best light on Christianity that I’ve seen in a long time. God bless Ralph for his honest, sincere and yes, innocent love and his work to save his mother. That is what I am sure God would have paid attention to while watching “Saint Ralph”
My Ratings: Good/5

Gregory Scott, age 46

Positive—This film was one of the most inspiration and uplifting movies of the year. Some of the sins by Ralph might be offensive to most Christian viewers, but the honest of the portrayal of a human without God until he finds God is more true than not. This is better than a lot of smut put out by Hollywood. An A-.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4½

Reece, age 26

Neutral

Neutral—This film is a PG-18 at the youngest. The theology presented is certainly not traditional, evangelically Biblical, and although the plot is set in a Catholic high school probably not representative of that faith either. The story is simple and somewhat predictable, and there is some rear nudity. Not the greatest Hollywood has ever produced, but certainly not the worst either. You may enjoy the movie, but then again, if your tastes are not easily satisfied then stay home.
My Ratings: Offensive/2

Bob C, age 41

Negative

Negative—I… was very offended by the repetitive profanity, which, in almost every case was taking the Lord’s name in vain. I was also very offended by the sexual references and demonstrations. It could have been a really cute, sweet, feel good movie. That’s what I was hoping for. We’d seen the preview two times and thought that’s what we were going to get. I regret not researching it.
My Ratings: Very Offensive/3

Debbie McKee, age 42

Movie Critics

…gets a PG-13 rating for Ralph’s sexual preoccupation in the beginning of the story and, in particular, an episode in which Ralph gets carried away in the pool when he spies a partially nude woman in the changing room… [A-]

Nancy Churnin, The Dallas Morning News

…earns a halo for offering a feel-good alternative to the usual arthouse gloom and doom…

James Verniere, Boston Herald

…its geniality outstrips its plausibility…

Bill Muller, The Arizona Republic

…a familiar salute to the human spirit…

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

…has a lot of heart… false religious notions about miracles… some strong sexual references… strong profanities…

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