Released October 29, 2010
Directed by Michael French
Starring: Jim Byrnes, Ethan Embry, Andrew Lee Potts, Sarah-Jane Potts, Victor Webster
First viewing October 30, 2010
Jolly: 2/5 stars
I viewed this movie with an open mind. I paid my $12.50 (yes, movies are getting that expensive), sat in the theatre and waited for the show to start. The first issue was that there was only one other person in the theatre. “Strange”, I thought. “Could it be because this story does not motivate people to gather together and experience something meaningful?” Impossible, Rick Hansen has impacted millions of lives and never fails to draw a crowd. So why would it be any different with this movie? Then it hit me – the problem with the movie before even watching the opening credits is that it is not Rick Hansen. It is a dramatization of a part of his journey. People must just want the real thing. But I digress…
The movie begins with an interesting perspective on how Rick’s journey ties into Chinese legend, setting the tone for the Man In Motion World Tour in China. A reporter (Jim Byrnes) travels to China and stirs up the team with his intrusive questions and skepticism. The movie starts to drag – I admit I almost fell asleep at a matinee.
The drama becomes extreme/ intolerable as Rick (Victor Webster) wheels up the Great Wall with his team. I wasn’t there myself, but the way that Rick is portrayed as delirious with exhaustion and shaking uncontrollably is highly unbelievable. There are video clips from the real Tour integrated into the movie which actually works against the film because even in the small amounts of real footage shown we can see the contrast in charisma, dedication, and strength between Rick Hansen and the portrayal by Victor Webster.
The only emotional attachment to this movie comes from the real footage, especially when paired with the new version of “St. Elmo’s Fire”. But that brings me back to my original point – the real thing is better than this dramatization. There isn’t enough substance to recommend seeing this movie; instead I would recommend going onto Google and searching “Rick Hansen”. Why settle for less than the real thing?
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