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Parents' Guide to

If I Had Wings

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Inspiring story of blind young runner deals with bullying.

Movie PG 2015 89 minutes
If I Had Wings Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • If I Had Wings Movie: Scene #1
  • If I Had Wings Movie: Scene #2
  • If I Had Wings Movie: Scene #3
  • If I Had Wings Movie: Scene #4

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Kingaug
Kingaug Adult
June 24, 2021
age 8+

This title has:

Great messages
Blackrock63
Blackrock63 Parent of 9-year-old
March 4, 2019
age 11+

Good Little Movie

Deals with friendship between children from opposite ends of the track. Good messages about dealing with bullies and giving people a 2nd chance

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Alex (Richard Harmon) is determined to run on his high school's cross-country team in IF I HAD WINGS. Though his dad, Geoff (Craig Bierko), has been encouraging him, Alex's mom, Sandy (Jill Hennessy), is more protective of her blind son and thinks it's asking too much of him. Alex strongly disagrees. The cross-country coach agrees with Sandy but relents when Geoff, a probation officer for teens, proposes that Alex team with Brad, a boy who can't seem to keep out of trouble but is amazingly skilled at running. At least, that's what all the police officers who've been chasing him say. So a bargain is struck. Brad will train and run with Alex. Wary at first, Alex and Brad begin to work together. Their relationship is strengthened when the two must stand together against a team member who's intimidated by their abilities and strikes out against them. Challenges mount when misunderstandings and trust issues threaten to destroy the fragile bond Alex and Brad are developing. By the film's climax, everybody has grown and learned from this unusual partnership.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

No surprises here: Characters learn what they're supposed to learn, alter their behavior on time and as required, and the results are exactly as expected in inspirational sports films. But the performances are strong; messages are clear and earnest; and the film is well-executed by what appears to be the entire Harmon family. Dad, Allan, is the director; son Richard and daughter Jessica play major roles; Mom, Cindy, produces, among other responsibilities. The scenes directly related to cross-country running feel less than authentic, and though that would be a plus, it doesn't change the overall impact of the story. Older kids, tweens, and teens, will probably recognize the derivative nature of the story but enjoy If I Had Wings anyway.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the many kinds of challenges people face. Alex's blindness is an obvious obstacle for a cross-country runner. What are the individual challenges for each of these characters in If I Had Wings: Alex's dad, Brad, Brad's dad, Alex's mom, Julie?

  • Find out more about cross-country running. How is that sport different from track and field? Which separate skills does it require?

  • How did Alex and Brad handle Tyson's bullying? Do you think Tyson learned anything from his experience, or do you think the character would continue to bully? In that sense, who was the more "blind" of the two boys: Alex or Tyson?

  • What should you do if you see or experience bullying?

  • How do the characters in If I Had Wings demonstrate compassion, teamwork, and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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