Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Run the Race Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 3, 2019

There are several Biblical references to running a race as a metaphor for living a life where the end goal is spiritual fulfillment, not success in this world. Director Chris Dowling's (Where Hope Grows) Run the Race builds its narrative around that concept, blending both literal and metaphorical storylines into the tale of a young man growing into his faith through the prism of great, and regular, personal tragedy and setback. As his story progresses, he comes to learn that it is only through God that he can truly win his personal race against a life that has piled more than his share of burden, hardship, sadness, and regret on his back. This is a good, meaningful, and timely picture that explores the importance of a foundation of faith in a troubled world.

Seeking answers.

Zach (Tanner Stine) is a star high school running back playing for the blue-and-white clad Rebels, hoping to impress a Florida scout who is in attendance at a big game. He performs well but the scout doesn’t appear to remain for the entire game, or say or send any word to him. His stresses are exacerbated by a drunken and absentee father that he forcefully pushes away from his and his brother Dave’s (Evan Hofer) life. Football is an escape for Zach on and off the field, particularly while he wrestles with his own internal spiritual warfare, and he is hoping to earn a scholarship to lift him and his brother, who is also dealing with health concerns after an on-field injury, away from a life of struggle and sorrow. But his dreams are shattered when he tears his ACL during an off-field fight with a rival team. As Zach attempts to rehab his knee and courts his young Christian nurse Ginger (Kelsey Reinhardt), a recovering and deeply spiritual Dave angles to join the school's track team. The brothers are forced to confront their dark pasts in hopes of finding a bright future.

Run the Race builds an authentic emotional center that uses football as a backdrop for Zach's story of spiritual freedom. His journey sees him growing in his faith and in his understanding of the world around him. In one particularly dark hour he is counseled by Louise (Frances Fisher), who is not only his employer and family friend but a surrogate mother figure to him and his brother. She tells him the story of a yearlong struggle with news that she could never bear children but finding solace in the gradual realization that her purpose in life was to not raise her own children but rather to care for Zach and Dave in their mother's death and their father's detachment. It's a powerful moment that is one of several that lead Zach back on a path to personal redemption and acceptance of the obstacle-laden lane he's been given to run his life's race.

Another of the film's key components comes in the smartly built romance Zach finds with the initially hesitant but warm nurse intern, Ginger. It is through her -- and a bad experience when meeting her religious parents and putting his true feelings of faith and God on the line -- that he begins to find himself, his spiritual center, and regain the firm footing that has been missing in his life, and not just in overcoming an injured knee. Indeed, the film is about an injured soul, not an injured athlete, and while his physical recovery parallels his spiritual recovery, Run the Race is more concerned with seeing Zach find himself on a spiritual plane rather than on the track or the gridiron.

Run the Race Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

As is so often the case with today's smaller budget (and many big budget, of course) movies, Run the Race was shot digitally. Noise permeates much of the experience, particularly in darker scenes, of course, but evident in some brighter scenes as well. The image is in fairly good presentation condition overall, with quality, reliable detailing commonplace. Facial textures reveal impressive depth and clarity to hairs and pores. Clothes -- street clothes and football uniforms both -- reveal fine fabric definition with appropriately tangible and tactile definition. Environments are pleasantly crisp, from sterile hospital rooms to well-lived-in homes. Colors are pleasantly neutral. Contrast is true and the palette never pushes too hot or flat. A few fuzzy shots appear here and there but rarely detract from the experience. This is a quality 1080p presentation from Universal.

Run the Race Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is pleasantly proficient. Music finds quality width and a light and well balanced surround integration. It's given shape by a healthy and detailed low end compliment. Crowd cheers and din at football games and track meets enter the stage with fruitful immersion and quality depth and detail, pulling the listeners into the environments. Even light atmosphere in hospitals and homes enjoy fine-tuned detail and placement. A few hits on the field and a handful of other, more pronounced effects play with proper definition and depth. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized and presents from a natural front-center position.

Run the Race Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Run the Race contains three featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• The Heart of Run the Race (1080p, 1:39): Executive Producer Tim Tebow and cast discuss story and themes and its family friendly content.
• The Making of the Movie (1080p, 1:00): A super-quick exploration of the trials the filmmakers faced in the early production stages.
• The Cast Talks (1080p, 6:29 total runtime): Cast and crew discuss both the characters in the film and offer advice on several topics. Included are Character Bios, Advice in Hardship, Brotherhood, Dating, Forgiveness, Mentorship, and Sports.

Run the Race Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

At the end of Run the Race, a newly dedicated and spiritually focused Zach urges those to whom he is speaking to stop running from God and instead to turn around and embrace Him. Indeed, the movie's message says that, sometimes, people run away from what they need. They seek solace where it doesn't exist, reason where it cannot be found, purpose in the purposeless, freedom in a different kind of bondage. Through the film, Zach learns to both reconcile with his past, ease his soul and spirit, and embrace the future he is given, to make the most of his blessings and also to make the most of those challenges the world says cannot be used for good. Universal's Blu-ray delivers quality video and audio presentations. A few brief extras are included. Highly recommended.