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Parents' Guide to

Run the Race

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Touchdown for faith-based fans; underage drinking.

Movie PG 2019 101 minutes
Run the Race Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 12 parent reviews

Nataliep122
Nataliep122 Adult
March 21, 2020
age 6+

Awesome movie for all! Must see!

So glad we didn’t listen to the review on this and watched it! Was very real to life, didn’t shield kids from hard things in life, but gave hope. Great sibling love and relationship. Showed sacrificial love, perseverance, hard work, forgiveness. Check this movie out!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
kobychoochoo
kobychoochoo Adult
August 31, 2019
age 6+

A great inspirational sports-based AND faith-based movie!!

My husband and I and 5 of our 6 older kids (age 6-18) absolutely LOVED this movie! The bonus features and making of the movie were great as well. It was VERY inspirational, and is one of the few films I would actually want to own. It is especially appealing to kids and teens who have done sports in school. We are Catholic, and the Christian themes that appear in the movie were so appreciated. This was one of the few movies we have seen that did not have any inappropriate content, which is great for any age. Well done!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In RUN THE RACE, promising high school football player Zach (Tanner Stine) and his virtuous brother, David (Evan Hofer), have endured two years of life's worst hardships, including their mother's death, their father's abandonment, a life-changing injury, and financial distress. The brothers work hard, with the goal of improving their lives by earning a college athletic scholarship, but then that door seems to close, too. With both of the brothers sustaining injuries that seem insurmountable, they take different approaches to life -- one running away from God, the other embracing him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12 ):
Kids say (5 ):

For Christian families who prefer to watch faith-based films, this film is a winner. But kids who think Sundays are for sleeping in probably won't like it -- or get it. So maybe it's appropriate that Run the Race is all about those types of opposing views. The story is a biblical exploration of how to deal when life keeps handing you lemons, and then the pitcher that's holding the lemonade shatters. Like the Bible's Job, Zach and David are having a really rough go of things -- it almost seems like life is trolling them. The brothers handle their circumstances differently: One embraces his faith as a coping mechanism, while the other has a chip on his shoulder. But in a film full of stereotypes, these two avoid clichés by avoiding extremes: God-loving David doesn't preach so much as live by example, and God-doubting Zach isn't a rage machine but rather handles his frustrations with acceptance. The boys are surrounded by gentle adults who listen and encourage them. But their conversations are almost entirely about their faith. More casual Christians may be on board until the movie's end; no spoilers, but it may be a deal-breaker for all but the most devout.

The filmmaking quality in Run the Race is on the better side for movies in the faith-based genre. It's not amazing, but it's not distracting. Still, the tropes are annoying: We get two flags, a Bible, a church, and country music in the first 10 minutes alone. And for all the answers the film provides to nagging Christian quandaries, it creates more questions. One in particular: The resolution involves cheating that's endorsed by all the adults and the faithful. Huh?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the adversity that Zach and David endure in Run the Race. How does Zach's attitude change? Why do you think he's able to be a forgiving person after tragedy?

  • How does Louise (or "Nanny") teach Zach compassion for his father? What's the difference between compassion and empathy?

  • How do Zach and David reach their goal using teamwork and perseverance? They don't see eye to eye on how to cope with their difficulties. How do their communication skills allow them to strengthen their brotherly bond rather than break it?

  • Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? Why are stereotypes problematic?

  • How is drinking portrayed? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?

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