"Saint Ralph" is the film Danny Boyle was trying to make when he gave us "Millions" earlier this year. But Boyle could never have the sheer audacity it takes to dip into the realm of the contrivances deployed here. He's too cool for that. And while his film plays out as a cool yet detached likeable story, "Saint Ralph" whips your heart around with humor and emotion and will make a spiritual revelation seem almost possible within your soul by its climax.

Ralph is a 14 year old boy living in Canada in the 1950's. He goes to Catholic school. He lives on his own, duping the authorities into believing that his grandparents live with him. His father is deceased and his mother, soon after the film starts, is in a coma. Through a series of suggestions at school, Ralph begins to believe that if he commits a miracle, his mother will come out of her coma. He has been put on the school's cross country running team as a punishment. But soon he believes that if he gets good at running and wins the Boston Marathon, he will have his miracle to revive his mother.

To be sure the most winning member of the whole enterprise that is "Saint Ralph" is Adam Butcher, who gives a marvelous and daring performance as the titular young man. Butcher's charm and ease in front of the camera makes the film quite engrossing and enjoyable. The script by writer/director Michael McGowan is more than some serious art piece. There is a lot of "coming of age" humor here and Butcher performs this lighthearted fare with the same winning conviction that he offers for the more serious parts of the film. This makes for one of the most charming films of 2005 with enough humor to keep it from being maudlin and yet a serious enough story to be quite emotional.

To be sure, Butcher is offered the most wonderful support by Campbell Scott and Jennifer Tilly. As a high-minded and rebellious young priest, Scott provides the voice of encouragement to young Ralph, bucking the more traditional (and therefore obviously misguided) influence of Father Fitzpatrick (played by Gordon Pinset). And as a young nurse often at his mother's bedside, Tilly provides wonderful warmth and sweetness to the story, spicing up the film with a good natured quaintness that helps it to succeed even further.

"Saint Ralph" is the kind of film that makes you want to believe in miracles. Yes, it may be a bit schmaltzy and contrived, but if you open your heart unto it, you just might find yourself overjoyed.

Notes:

Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is used at the film's climax. The film uses several non-period pop songs which doesn't exactly work.

Filmed in Canada.

The film has won awards from the Directors Guild of Canada and a couple of film festivals.

The film premiered in Toronto in September 2004. Samuel Goldwyn Films began a U.S. arthouse run in August of 2005.

Viewed on DVD in December of 2005.

Report Card

Script: A+

Acting: A+

Cinematography\Lighting: A

Special Effects\Make Up: A+

Music: C

Final Grade: A