Overview
A boy's determination to save his mother leads him to unexpected triumphs and personal growth.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- heartwarming
- nostalgic
- lazy weekend
- inspirational movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film brisk, sunny, and sincerely rousing, while faulting its conventional storytelling, contrived obstacles, and uneven performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ralph trains for the Boston Marathon believing his victory can bring his comatose mother back to consciousness.
Ralph's adolescence unfolds under the discipline of St. Magnus Catholic School and Father Fitzpatrick's authority.
The film divides its brisk progression with intertitles announcing the feasts of saints.
Father Hibbert becomes Ralph's trainer despite initially believing Ralph's mission is misguided and carrying his own secret running history.
Films like Saint Ralph, and why
The Mighty Ducks
heartwarming coming-of-age sports drama centered on an underdog's unlikely goal
The Rookie
uplifting youth sports story combining mentorship, adversity, and community support
Breaking Away
period coming-of-age drama using athletic achievement to explore faith and personal resilience
Chariots of Fire
inspirational sports drama with a determined outsider overcoming institutional and physical obstacles
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael McGowan
- Release Date
- 2005-08-05
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (86)
Cast
- Adam Butcher
- Campbell Scott
- Michael Kanev
- Gordon Pinsent
- Tamara Hope
- Keir Gilchrist
- Boyd Banks
- Jennifer Tilly
- Shauna MacDonald
- Frank Crudele
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Saint Ralph about?
- A lonely Catholic-school teenager turns marathon training into a desperate act of faith for his comatose mother.
- What is Saint Ralph like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Saint Ralph as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Saint Ralph violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Saint Ralph.
- What did critics think of Saint Ralph?
- Critics generally found the film brisk, sunny, and sincerely rousing, while faulting its conventional storytelling, contrived obstacles, and uneven performances.
- Which films are like Saint Ralph?
- Films with a similar feel include The Mighty Ducks, The Rookie, Breaking Away, and Chariots of Fire.
- How long is Saint Ralph?
- Saint Ralph runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Saint Ralph?
- In United States, Saint Ralph streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
