Young tween Justin Yoder, who's known for his outgoing demeanor and wit despite being confined to a wheelchair, dreams to be like his athletic older brother and propels himself into the world of soapbox derby racing. It's a field he's sure he has a chance in. Unfortunately, he finds that because of his condition, not everyone is eager to see him compete.
Reviews
Very disappointing...
Good concept, poorly executed.
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
Miracle in Lane 2 works on several levels. First and most noticeable, it is a wonderful movie about overcoming obstacles, being persistent, working with mentors, etc., etc. Everything we come to expect from this genre.It is also a good disability awareness movie, suitable for a wide audience. The movie demonstrates the way 2 groups of people typically respond to persons with disabilities; those who "get it" and those who don't."Miracle" reflects, in Disney's soft-edged style, some of the challenges faced by children with physical disabilities, their parents, their siblings and the larger public. It deals with some touchy subjects with sensitivity AND a dose of reality.Based on fact? Yes. Factually correct? Well, the writers took a lot of license with the details of how the All American Soap Box Derby works. That's secondary to the story, however. Suffice it to say one won't learn much about the way AASBD operates from this flick, other than kids building and competing in gravity-powered racers. You will learn more about the issues mentioned above.That said, there was enough factual correctness that when my stepson, a wheelchair user most of his life, was motivated by this film to compete himself, we were able to make contact with the gentleman who (still?) manufactures the hand brake used by Justin. Last I heard, it remains the only "non-standard" component permitted on any standard AASBD racer.BTW, Not only did my stepson compete locally, he became a Vermont State Champion and competed in the 2002 World Championships in Akron. While we were there, he spent some time with the real Justin.
This was a really cute family film---it shows that the underdog CAN rise to the top and win the prize. Of course, it didn't hurt to have Frankie Muniz as the star; he is a likeable and talented young actor. No wonder "Malcolm in the Middle" is such a big hit.
Enjoyed the movie and the message. Didn't realize it was Malcolm's Frankie Muniz at first, but thought that he did a pretty good and convincing acting job anyway. The cast seemed to have pretty good rapport with one another, and you are never bored at all as the story progresses. A good one for the family to enjoy.
This was a great family-oriented movie. The only criticism I have is regarding the "God" sequences. They were stupid. They added nothing to the film, and, in fact, detracted a great deal from it. The very last scene of the movie (the angles-in-wheelchairs) should have been cut out completely. It left a very bad taste. Otherwise, a great film!
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