Racewalking has been an Olympic sport since 1908 and it still has not gotten the full respect it deserves. Whether it is the way racers move their hips, as if swaying to a salsa beat in their heads, or the leisurely association people have with walking, the sport has endured its fair share of mockery. It is doubtful that Kevin Claydon and Phil Moniz’s directorial debut Racewalkers will change these views, but that is not the film intensions.
Although showing racewalking a surprising amount of respect, Claydon and Moniz are far more interested in the bonds of friendship that sports often fosters.
Playing like a 90’s underdog sports comedy, Racewalkers tells the fictional story of Matt Mackenzie (Claydon), a former MLB first round draft pick whose career ended as quickly as it started. Consider a “bust,” one of the worst labels you can have in pro sports, Mackenzie now lives in his RV and umpires local little league games. Adding more salt to his open emotional wound is that his ex-girlfriend Ava (Italia Ricci), who he still shares a dog with, has found herself a new and successful partner that everyone loves.
Content to live under a cloud of failure, Mackenzie soon learns that all it takes is a bold step in a new direction to move into the light. The catalyst for the change comes in the form of Will Lester (Moniz), who meets the former ball player by chance at the hospital. Will comes from the famed Lester lineage of athletes but, because of his short stature, has not been able to live up to his family’s legacy. Studying race walking from young, Will has a new analytical approach to training racewalkers that goes against the time honour teachings that his egomaniacal former Olympian uncle Kurt Lester (Greg Bryk) and his competitive son Ched (Robbie Amell) employ.
Seeing the raw potential in Mackenzie, Will convinces him to give racewalking a try. Proving that his new coach has an eye for talent, Mackenzie not only discovers the joy of the sport but also sees it as a vehicle that could drive him back into Ava’s heart.
Before he can even think about the possibility of romance, Mackenzie will need to compete in nine Olympic qualifiers, where only the top two in the points standing will advance to the Olympics, against the seemingly unstoppable Ched.
Racewalkers hits all the familiar sports tropes that one might expect of a story of this nature. As Mackenzie’s starts to climb the standings, his success not only garners media attention but also the ire of Kurt who will do anything to ensure his son is on the top of the podium. Each race is filled with moments of humour and down to the wire tension, and there are even some frat boy level gags for good measure.
For all the expected beats that Claydon and Moniz utilize, the directors still manage to make a film that is surprisingly charming. Sweet and funny without ever pulling on the audiences’ heart strings, Racewalkers manages to entertain in a way that never overstays its welcome.
The real secret to the film’s success is Claydon and Moniz’s performances, which manage to keep Mackenzie and Will grounded even in the silliest moments. Taking both the characters and the act of racewalking itself seriously, the filmmakers are able to tackle themes of inadequacy and taking control of one’s on path in rather intriguing ways.
Claydon and Moniz may give their characters plenty of meat to chew on; but they leave little on the plates of the female characters. One does not cast a talent like Jess Salgueiro, who plays retired athlete Allison, and give her nothing substantial to do. The same can be said for Ricci’s Ava who is reduced to being the motivation Mackenzie needs to finally get himself on track.
Despite the shortcomings regarding the women of the racewalking world, it is hard to deny the overall charm of Claydon and Moniz’s film. A pleasant surprise, Racewalkers is a heartfelt comedy that will have audiences walking with an extra pep in their step.
