Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Tri

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Sincere but routine sports drama has mild cursing.

Movie NR 2016 104 minutes
Tri Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Tri Movie: Scene #1
  • Tri Movie: Scene #2
  • Tri Movie: Scene #3
  • Tri Movie: Scene #4

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In TRI, ultrasound tech Natalie (Jensen Jacobs) is intrigued by the recommendation of Candice, a patient (Shawn Pelofsky), to consider participating in a triathlon -- a grueling event that includes swimming, biking, and running. Natalie, having earned a reputation as one who "never finishes what she starts," checks it out with best friend Skyler (Walker Hays) and the two decide to give it a go. The nearby Nationals Triathlon in Washington, D.C. is just 16 weeks away. Training begins. Natalie and Skyler join a prep team and bond with an assortment of likeable, enthusiastic members, some coping with serious issues of their own. At the same time, Candice, one of the organizers of the DC event, faces a life-threatening medical challenge. Over the next months, the two women feel the highs and lows of working hard toward what may be an unachievable goal, and bear witness to the struggles, even tragic events, that follow others in the triathlon world.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

If there is to be a classic movie featuring the world of The Triathlon Competitor, it is yet to be made; this one tries hard, but fails to elicit any real drama or originality. There are some competent, even engaging performances. Director Jai Jamison, working on his first feature with a low budget and the heavy demands of photographing an event that covers expansive territory and is the most-populated international distance triathlon in the U.S., does admirably well given the story he's trying to tell. But story is the weakest element in Tri. From the outset, no one doubts that Natalie will achieve her goal. And, (Spoiler Alert) incorporating three separate characters fighting cancer as well as one with a devastating heart attack doesn't make up for the non-suspense at the core of the drama. It's slow-going, too, with plenty of pauses to allow conventional characters (the upbeat cancer patient, the grieving widower) to deliver wise but familiar messages about focus, gratitude, and acceptance. At best, the film is a nice introduction to the sport and what it means to commit to it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it means to "finish what you start." Almost everyone experiences lapses in completion of projects we start, like the characters in Tri do, but it's easy to let such lapses become the rule. What are some ways in which we can plan for and execute our goals consistently? How important is it to set those goals realistically?

  • What did Natalie learn from Candice about approaching challenges? From Christine? And what did she learn about herself in Tri?

  • Have you ever wanted to participate in an individual sport such as triathlon? How does an individual sport differ from a team sport? What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of both types? Did this movie motivate you to seek out an activity that you might enjoy and learn from?

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.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate