Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drama about teen grief and track is uneven, confusing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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1 Mile to You
What's the Story?
IN 1 MILE TO YOU, after a terrible accident kills almost every member of a high school track team, Kevin (Graham Rogers) is wracked with grief. He's lost his best friend and his girlfriend, and one of his few reminders is his buddy's training shoes, which Kevin refuses to take off. Kevin channels his pain by running, putting in mile after mile and pushing his body beyond its limits as he becomes a track sensation. But even though he gets faster and faster, Kevin still struggles to outrun his pain.
Is It Any Good?
In a race of movies about running, this drama has legitimate reasons to take a spot at the starting line, but it will likely finish toward the back of the pack. Though 1 Mile to You has its heart in the right place and has plenty of scenes of actual running, it's uneven and confusing -- it's both a romance looking for more uplift and a sports-themed movie that's short on providing inspiration (a must for the genre). Plus, some of the running scenes strain credulity -- what high school boy runs miles and miles to school in a sweater and hat and doesn't sweat? And, frankly, what high school boy devoted to running would run in that?
Rogers does a fairly decent job of telegraphing Kevin's anguish and survivor's guilt. But it's Billy Crudup who's the main attraction here; fans of the actor, who starred in the genre-defining Without Limits, will thrill to see him playing Kevin's coach (a natural progression from his Prefontaine role), but his character is ill-defined, wacky in parts and earnest in others. The mix doesn't quite gel -- though he, as always, turns in a strong performance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how 1 Mile to You depicts grief and survivor's guilt. Does Kevin's response to the tragedy make sense? Can you understand why he pushes himself to run so hard? How do you think you'd react in his position?
How do other people respond to Kevin and his mourning? Do his parents and coaches understand why he needs to run so much and why he won't change his shoes?
How is teen substance use portrayed in the film? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
How does Kevin demonstrate perseverance? Why is that an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 7, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : June 13, 2017
- Cast : Billy Crudup , Tim Roth , Peter Coyote , Melanie Lynskey , Graham Rogers
- Director : Leif Tilden
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Gravitas Ventures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : School ( High School )
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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