Review, The Hill

 An inspirational, underdog movie about baseball? Sign me up for that viewing because it ticks all the boxes. If it does for you too, then watch The Hill, starring Dennis Quaid, Colin Ford, and Joelle Carter.

Now streaming on Netflix but available to be rented on other streaming services, this American biographical sports drama is about baseball player Rickey Hill.

You may have never heard of Rickey Hill, an athlete who seemed to have an innate love of baseball as well as the ability to hit the ball like no other.

Challenged by a debilitating spinal disease that put him in leg braces from an early age, Hill met every challenge head-on. I’m glad his story has been told.

Hill’s life was characterized by his struggles to overcome his physical handicap as well as the emotional handicap created by his father, a minister who saw baseball as a detraction from the Christian faith he wanted to instill in his children.

Actually, that wasn’t the only reason he didn’t want Rickey playing baseball. He feared his son’s health would be seriously compromised by the physical demands of the sport.

Directed by Jeff Celentano from a screenplay by Angelo Pizzo and Scott Marshall Smith, The Hill was released in theaters by Briarcliff Entertainment on August 25, 2023. I think it’s hard for movies that are Christian-based to draw big audiences with theatrical releases. Thank goodness for streaming services where they can reach bigger audiences.

The movie’s director and the cast of Dennis Quaid, Colin Ford, Joelle Carter, Randy Houser, Jesse Berry, Bonnie Bedelia, and Scott Glenn deliver performances that are completely believable.

They nailed it from the Texas regional accents, the way of life for poor people, and the small town, small church community that existed from the 1950s until the late 1970s.

Faith, hope, a deep love of family and God, and believing that someone can achieve the heart’s desire despite all evidence to the contrary make for an awesome family movie.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Be sure and watch The Hill and leave a good review of it if you want more family-oriented movies to watch. This one is a winner.

CLICK TO ENTER JOAN’S GIVEAWAY

Prize: (1) $10 Amazon Gift Card by random draw.

Winner notified by email so be sure you enter your email correctly.

Entries verified for eligibility.

Sign up for I LOVE READING.

Joan Reeves aka SlingWords: The Word Slinging Adventures of Joan Reeves