If there’s one thing that’ll make families flock to theaters, it’s a feel-good, inspirational sports flick. And what better way to celebrate Christmas with your loved ones than to see a George Clooney-helmed inspirational sports flick? Enter The Boys in the Boat, an adaptation of the 2013 novel of the same name by Daniel James Brown. Brown himself based his literary work on the true story of Joe Rantz and his time rowing for the 1936 University of Washington rowing team.
About The Boys in the Boat
Here’s a synopsis per Amazon MGM Studios:
“The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown. The film, directed by George Clooney, is about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.”
The Boys in the Boat stars Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, Sam Strike, Hadley Robinson, James Wolk, Courtney Henggeler, Jack Mulhern and Peter Guinness. Clooney directs from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith.
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Rowing for the Gold
Out of the gate, I was taken in by Alexandre Desplat’s wonderfully moving score. It’s boisterous and light, maintaining a vibrancy the film occasionally lacks. The famed composer displays his versatility from the softer opening notes, crescendoing to a brasher sound to punctuate the climactic Berlin Olympics match. Admittedly, Desplat’s music helps keep the movie’s head above water.
Performance-wise, nobody really stands out. Joel Edgerton is always dependable as the no-nonsense, gruff character (I always forget he’s Australian). He delivers serviceable work here with a dash of gravitas. Callum Turner, whose Joe Rantz is the story’s focal point, also offers a solid performance (with an equally solid American accent). While the film tries to touch on Joe’s inner world, particularly growing up poor during the Great Depression and his fractured relationship with his father, it doesn’t go deep enough. It merely skims the surface of Joe’s turmoil.
Beyond that, none of the rowers are given much development, save Jack Mulhern’s Don Hume, who injects a quiet, subdued presence into the story. Mulhern delivers a nuanced performance that also could’ve stood to receive more love from the writers.
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Underdeveloped
The characters who really suffer in The Boys and the Boat are the only two female leads, Joyce and Hazel, played by Hadley Robinson and Courtney Henggeler, respectively. Both are talented performers who don’t get a fair shake. Sure, the film is called The Boys in the Boat, but the women in these men’s lives are reduced to the stereotypical “supportive housewife/girlfriend” role. They’re not given real depth. Even Joe’s romance is rushed. Why should we care about them as a couple?
As for George Clooney returning to the director’s chair, he does a fine job helming the movie. It’s admirable work, considering the larger set pieces and numerous extras required for this kind of project. The production values are gorgeous, especially the wide and aerial shots of the water as the rowboats race to victory.
However, Clooney’s steady, dependable hand doesn’t go beyond that — there are no creative risks. It’s safe. The same applies to Mark L. Smith’s script. It’s riddled with every sports movie cliché you can think of. Of course, it’s challenging to maintain narrative tension when you know how the story ends. While most of the film falls flat in the stakes department, the final match in Berlin ups the ante. I felt genuine tension during the high-octane race for the gold. It’s a shame the rest of the movie is disjointed and hollow.
Out on the Water
All in all, The Boys in the Boat is just okay. I certainly enjoyed parts of it, from the costumes and aforementioned production values to some of the performances and Desplat’s enchanting score. That said, the film doesn’t give us anything new.
We’ve seen this story onscreen countless times before. It spends a bit too much time in the shallow end, only occasionally dipping its toes in the deep end without taking the plunge (okay, that’s enough water wordplay from me). It’s a challenge to really care about these characters — with the exception of Joe, Don and Edgerton’s Coach Ulbrickson — if we don’t know them.
I’ll admit I may not be the target audience for this movie. If inspirational, period drama sports stories are your bag, you might enjoy this one. So, take this review with a grain of salt. Walk away with what resonates.
Or row, if you like.
The Boys in the Boat glides into theaters on Monday, December 25, 2023.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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