The real-life story seemed inspiring at first glance, but the movie fails to capture its heart or true purpose. In fact, it fails to tie Zack's relentless walking to how homeless families and kids are actually being helped.
The budding but then forgotten subplot, about the protagonist's neighbor who, along with her young son - a friend of Zack's, no less - is being forced into the spiraling depths of homelessness, would have been the much better movie.
Sadly, the neighbor's plight of homelessness is totally missed by Zack and his walk-enabling mom! This, despite Zack's mom hearing from the neighbor herself that she is being forced out of her home because she can no longer make the payments after the death of her husband.
So basically, we're supposed to be moved by Zack's desire to walk and grab as much PR as possible, while neither he nor his mother can see the homelessness that's right in front of their eyes!
The movie was more sad than inspiring, and suggested that do-gooders need to open their eyes more, and understand that charity must begin at home--with eyes wide open.
One star would be appropriate for the script/story, but the acting by Daveigh Chase, Frances O'Conner, and Dylan Matzke (brilliant as the neighbor's son who must deal with the pitfalls of homelessness) warranted adding on a second.
The budding but then forgotten subplot, about the protagonist's neighbor who, along with her young son - a friend of Zack's, no less - is being forced into the spiraling depths of homelessness, would have been the much better movie.
Sadly, the neighbor's plight of homelessness is totally missed by Zack and his walk-enabling mom! This, despite Zack's mom hearing from the neighbor herself that she is being forced out of her home because she can no longer make the payments after the death of her husband.
So basically, we're supposed to be moved by Zack's desire to walk and grab as much PR as possible, while neither he nor his mother can see the homelessness that's right in front of their eyes!
The movie was more sad than inspiring, and suggested that do-gooders need to open their eyes more, and understand that charity must begin at home--with eyes wide open.
One star would be appropriate for the script/story, but the acting by Daveigh Chase, Frances O'Conner, and Dylan Matzke (brilliant as the neighbor's son who must deal with the pitfalls of homelessness) warranted adding on a second.