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Saint Ralph

EMAILPRINTSamuel Goldwyn Films

Saint Ralph reviews
51
8.6 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 15 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy  |  Drama  |  Foreign

Written by: Michael McGowan

Directed by: Michael McGowan

Release Date:
Theatrical: August 5, 2005
DVD: December 13, 2005

Running Time: 98 minutes, Color

Origin: Canada

Summary

RATING: PG-13 for some sexual content and partial nudity

Starring Adam Butcher, Campbell Scott, Shauna MacDonald, Gordon Pinsent, Michael Kanev, Tamara Hope, Jennifer Tilly, Miranda Black, Frank Crudele, and Chris Ploszczansky

A funny, heartwarming and inspirational tale of a boy who dares to dream big. (Samuel Goldwyn Films)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

This deliciously offbeat Canadian comedy gets its charm from marvelous acting and from a screenplay bursting with ideas. Great fun.

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88

USA Today Claudia Puig

The kind of well-acted, genuine heartwarmer that some people complain Hollywood doesn't bother making anymore. And in this case, Hollywood didn't.

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88

New York Post Kyle Smith

All of this is punctuated with refreshingly strange wit.

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75

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

Wants to be a sex farce, a sports film and a serious meditation on Catholicism. To its credit, it succeeds as all three.

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70

Film Threat Stina Chyn

McGowan’s film isn’t just about following this boy’s private quest to accomplish the impossible. It is also about how he affects the other characters in the film.

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70

Variety Joe Leydon

Even though it sprints along a well-trod path through familiar territory, Saint Ralph remains surprisingly compelling.

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70

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

A tart and tender comedy that pulls off a little miracle of its own by being genuinely heartwarming without leaving any cloyingly sticky emotional residue.

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63

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

As predictably uplifting movies go, Saint Ralph isn't completely charmless.

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63

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Tthe kind of movie the clergy can recommend to anxious parishioners.

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60

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Though Butcher is appealing, Saint Ralph is anchored by Scott's persuasive work as a model of intelligent decency.

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60

TV Guide Ken Fox

Far from the sentimental drivel you might expect given the subject matter, this amiable and heartfelt drama about an adolescent boy's attempt to rouse his comatose mother explores the meaning of faith by tapping into the original, rebellious spirit of Christianity.

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60

Dallas Observer Bill Gallo

Little Ralph comes off like "Billy Elliot" on steroids. Still, this an energetic movie that can be truly hilarious in spots, and it captures perfectly the oppressive atmosphere of a Catholic boys' school in the ’50s.

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50

Entertainment Weekly Gregory Kirschling

At first, Ralph and the movie have moxie -- the kid even gets busted for pleasuring himself in the public pool. Then Ralph starts asking us to take this cornball mission seriously.

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50

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

Scott, whose sensitive turn as a priest inspired by Ralph's conviction and commitment gives the film a touch of grace at the cost of revealing McGowan's drab direction of every other actor.

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50

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

The sins of the inspirational Saint Ralph are venial, but they undeniably prevent the small Canadian film from stretching beyond the boundaries of an After School Special.

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50

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

The real miracle here is that the hard-working cast manages to turn McGowan's script into an intermittently touching tale.

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40

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

Scott can invest just about any scene with heft and intelligence, but neither the material nor his co-star give him much help.

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40

Village Voice Ed Park

The most blatant rip-off is of the "Rushmore" soundtrack. But Ralph Walker is no Max Fischer, and his monomania gets dull fast.

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40

Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman

The film isn't going to catapult Butcher to international stardom, but he holds his own in it and helps to sell its curious logic.

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30

LA Weekly Scott Foundas

In fairness, the movie isn't the absolute worst of its kind and there's a certain charm to Butcher's amiable, puppy-eyed performance. But Michael McGowan's direction is as flat as an asphalt road, and his script is gasping for air long before it enters the final stretch.

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30

The New York Times Stephen Holden

This crude, inspirational tear-jerker is as sweet as a bowl of instant oatmeal smothered in molasses. It should please those who honestly believe that Santa Claus and God are synonymous; others may retch.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jonathan F. gave it a9:
Great, funny, inspirational. Adam Butcher was surprisingly very good.

Heather H. gave it a10:
I really liked the movie. I just wish they would have showed him seeing his mother awake.

Sean gave it a9:
the script was witty and the movie was never boring to watch. "inspiring".

D.L. B. gave it an8:
A great feel good movie, with fun insights into Catholicism.

Michael gave it a10:
It is not only enjoyable for its fun and wit, but also for being well-done as a period piece from the 50's.

Caroline gave it an8:
Perfect casting.....a fun movie to watch...wonder what they would've done with a bigger budget 'cause this was pretty decent.

Read more user comments >

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