Saint Ralph ... Do you believe in MIRACLES ???
SAINT RALPH was a reminder of my Catholic upbringing. This a very simple story of a 12 year old attending a private Catholic school run by a dogmatic and austere Head Priest (Father Fitzpatrick) played brilliantly by Gordon Pinsent.
Adam Butcher does a great job of portraying the precocious youth, Ralph Walker, who's looking for a miracle to bring his mother (Shauna McDonald) out of a 7 month coma. We learn that his father had died in the war and now his mother has become very ill and is hospitalized. Ralph dutifully and devotedly visits her at the hospital every day and unfortunately she lapses into a coma. He learns about miracles at school and wonders what miracle would bring his mom out her coma. For some guidance he seeks help from the spiritual leader of the school Head Master Father Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is more discouraging then helpful and dismisses the idea of a miracle. Undaunted by Fitzpatrick's remarks eventually Ralph learns the formula (the Catholic version) for a miracle (faith, pray, purity) and looks for a means. He finally finds the means when he learns about the Boston Marathon (running in the race that is) via Father Hibbert (Campbell Scott). From what Ralph learns about miracles he believes that if he runs and wins the Boston Marathon that would constitute a miracle because a 12 year doesn't or couldn't do that. He also has a vision from God giving Him the ok. The vision is in the form of his deceased dad in a Santa suit (it worked for me). He shares this with Father Fitzpatrick and the austere and dogmatic Priest dismisses Ralph's story, once again, as non sense and and such things don't happen to folks like Ralph.
However, Ralph is one very determined young man and with the support and eventual help of Father Hibbert Ralph begins his training. Fitzpatrick, in the meantime, stays true to form and discourages Hibbert from helping Ralph to the point of threatening him. As for Ralph he believes in what he's doing and sets his sights on the race. At first Ralph trains on his own then Hibbert steps in and the real training begins.
SAINT RALPH had a superb cast and a very believable story line. The director and screenwriter (Michael McGowan) created a movie that makes my A list. It had me laughing, crying, just plain mad, and applauding especially at the ending.
On a scale of 1-5 ... I rate this movie at 5 !!!