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Ralph is quite determined in his quest for marathon glory … and a miracle

Christian viewers who can bear the pubescent indulgences of the film's first twenty minutes will enjoy watching Ralph's journey into the beginnings of emotional, and even spiritual, maturity. Finding a passion greater than self-gratification expands and refines Ralph's personality and character—and profoundly affects the people around him, even rekindling the faith of a priest who at first isn't sure he believes in much of anything any more. Ever since the Apostle Paul, believers have been likening our spiritual quest to the running of a race, and the film does a lovely job of showing those parallels in a whimsical, entertaining, and ultimately inspiring way.

Jennifer Tilly plays a nurse who encourages Ralph to chase his dreams

The movie is by no means a theological treatise—Ralph's God appears to him in a Santa Claus suit, and it's hard to know if that detail is a quirky glimpse into the boy's psyche or a pointed commentary on just what or whom we believe in. Still, the Catholic framework of the film, while often mined for laughs, does tend to give a capitol "G" to the God Ralph is learning to pray to and believe. And, in a reworking of a Nietzsche quote that comes up repeatedly in the film, Father Hibbert brings Christ himself into the mix, pointing out that Christ was more than willing to break societal or religious rules to do what love required.

Shot in Canada, featuring mostly Canadian actors (including the notable Jennifer Tilly as a sympathetic nurse), and made for much less money than the average major release film, this is not a Big Movie. But there are some Big Ideas, which are explored in a refreshingly small, wonderfully old-fashioned way—by telling a story. There are a few bits of unnatural dialogue and an oddly intrusive soundtrack that occasionally distract and detract, but these miscues don't stop us from caring about young Ralph and his quest. For the jaded moviegoer who hasn't found much to care about on the screens lately, here's a little film that just might restore your faith—in movies and a whole lot more.

Note: Saint Ralph opened in limited theaters on August 5, but will expand to wider release in the weeks ahead.

Talk About It

1. Father Fitzpatrick claims, "Chasing after miracles is blasphemy." Do you agree or disagree? Why?
   
   
2. Ralph claims to have heard directly from God, which prompts different reactions from the religious leaders around him. Do you believe it is possible to hear audibly from God? How can we determine if it's really God's voice?
   
   
3. Father Hibbert quotes Nietzsche: "The anarchist and the Christian often have a common origin," and decides eventually that "As anarchists go, Nietzsche had nothing on Christ." What do you think he meant? Does the church today follow Christ's example of valuing relationships over rules, and purity of heart over appearances?

The Family Corner

Saint Ralph contains non-explicit but unmistakable scenes of masturbation, presented as a fact of teenage life—but a behavior that abates once the protagonist finds a greater passion. There is one scene of rear nudity. There is also frequent use of the Lord's name in vain, which, interestingly, is repeatedly confessed as a sin but also exploited for laughs. This film may present a dilemma for some families—it tells a great story with some enormously redemptive themes and messages, but some viewers may decide that the content of the first twenty minutes is too questionable to make this film appropriate viewing.

Photos © Copyright Samuel Goldwyn Films

© Carolyn Arends 2005, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

One movie often celebrated by Christian film buffs is 1981's Chariots of Fire. More than two decades later, another film about a runner driven by faith has reached the screen: Saint Ralph. This runner is significantly younger. Ralph (Adam Butcher) is a high school freshman who wants to win the Boston Marathon in hopes that it will be the miracle required to wake his mother up from a coma.

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