Synopsis
After surviving an IED explosion in combat overseas, a young soldier with the Army Motorcycle Unit is medically discharged with a broken back and leg. Against all odds he trains to make an impossible comeback as a motocross racer in order to support his family.
Are you a little stubborn? A tad bit rebellious? Are you the type to risk it all to achieve your goals? Then you will relate to Bennett’s War. Written and directed by Alex Ranarivelo, the movie is an uplifting, triumphant story. When I initially saw the trailer for the film, I wasn’t sold on it. Luckily, I was wrong. With high-intensity motocross scenes along with first-person camera shots, it’s a very exciting experience. In addition, Forrest Films tends to focus on family and this film is no different. Family is important to us all, and it was a great change of pace to see a film focus on a regular family sticking together. If you’re looking for a pure-hearted film with dirt bikes and humor, look no further. However, don’t expect some over the top Fast & Furious aesthetic, this movie is based in reality. It’s real people with real, relatable problems. It’s a triumphant story for the stubborn-hearted.
Plot/Pace
The film follows Marshall Bennett who unwittingly gets medically discharged from the Army after an IED injures him. After learning that his father’s business is failing and he may lose the house, he decides to return to what he knows best, motocross. Firstly, let me start with the negative. They did not develop the rivalry between Marshall Bennett and Chris Walker. Other than both of them wanting to win, I couldn’t see why they attempted to make Chris the antagonist. Also, they underutilized Hunter Clowdus (Chris Walker). If he was a villain type, I didn’t see it. He had very few lines and I felt he was more of a pawn for his brother in the film. Additionally, they also could’ve put more emphasis on the military aspect of the story. Besides that, the film was fun to watch. It was comical and moved at a great pace, don’t take any bathroom breaks. The motocross fans should be pretty pleased with what they see. Even if you’re not a motocross fan, you’ll be enthralled by the action. Most of us speak sports. While not being an overly complicated story, the decisions made are. The film means what it says and says what it means. Overall, Bennett’s greatest foe was his circumstances but he wasn’t going to quit. The threat of never walking again wasn’t going to stop him.
Characters/Acting
Allison Paige and Ali Afshar were the gems of this film. Paige plays Sophie Bennett, the wife of Marshall. She is feisty and whether Marshall likes it or not, is running the show. She is supportive of her husband while also chasing her own dreams. When things get serious she is willing to put it all on hold to save her family. Ali Afshar plays Cyrus, a friend, and employer of Marshall. He plays him as quick-witted and knowledgeable and did a great job acting as well as producing the film. Michael Roark portrayed Michael Bennett and he was unstoppable. He made you want to root for him. Disaster after disaster, he kept pushing forward. The chemistry between Sophie and Marshall was very real. Happy wife, happy life pretty much sums them up. Trace Adkins as Cal Bennett was the epitome of a farmer, humble, hardworking, and enduring. After talking to Trace, he basically played himself. Lastly, Brando Eaton and Hunter Clowdus play Kurt and Chris Walker. Now a professional motocross rider, Kurt used to race and get beat by Marshall pre-military. Now that Marshall came home injured, Kurt has a smug arrogance that made me hate him. Like I said before, Chris doesn’t have too many lines he lets his racing do the talking. I’m sure the ladies will love him though.
Bennett’s War releases in theaters on August 30th, 2019. It’s a great movie to see with the family.
Rating
3 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
