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Audiences love a good underdog story. When we hear about someone battling the odds and achieving what no one would have ever expected, it makes us believe that the impossible might be possible after all. And The Boys in the Boat tells the inspirational story of a bunch of kids whose impossible story inspired the country.
The Boys in the Boat follows the story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team—a group of underdogs who found themselves at the center of national attention during the Great Depression. For some—like Joe Rantz (Callum Turner)—trying out for the rowing team just meant competing for a chance to get a free room and a job to help cover tuition when so many people were struggling. But these rookie rowers soon found themselves competing for the chance to represent their country in the Olympics in Berlin.
From the beginning, the pressure is high for these young men. They fought their way through a grueling tryout process, beating out hundreds of fellow students for the opportunity to face an even more grueling training process. But the pressure doesn’t end there—especially in an Olympic year. And when Coach Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton) decides to enter his JV team instead of the varsity team to compete in the Olympic qualifying race, the tension builds right along with the excitement.
The pacing of their story is brisk and entertaining, moving from one race to another, showing the characters as they work together and surprise even themselves with their achievements. Though we get glimpses of other members of the team, the story focuses on Joe—a determined young man who whose father left him to fend for himself when he was just 14. The story shows his growth, his budding relationship with girlfriend Joyce (Hadley Robinson), and the challenges he faces along the way.
For director George Clooney, a film like this one is just a no-brainer. There’s just something about this upbeat, against-all-odds story, with its classic charm and period touches, that works so well for the director. There’s nothing fancy here—nothing especially surprising, either. But it’s a lovable feel-good kind of film that makes it just right for Christmas viewing.
If you’re looking for an uplifting movie that you can watch with your aunts and uncles and cousins during your holiday visit, The Boys in the Boat is undeniably lovable—a classic underdog story that pairs well with holiday cheer.
You can cheer on these lovable underdogs when The Boys in the Boat makes its way to theaters on December 25, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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