An Underdog Story With an Edge

Read Time:4 Minute, 45 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Racewalkers
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Genre: Comedy, Sport
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 20m
Director(s): Kevin Claydon, Phil Moniz
Writer(s): Kevin Claydon, Phil Moniz, Evan Landry
Cast: Kevin Claydon, Phil Moniz, Robbie Amell, Greg Bryk, Jess Salgueiro, Italia Ricci, Rebekah Francoz, Ryan Blakely, Milton Barnes, Trevor Hayes
Where To Watch: shown at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival

RAVING REVIEW: This film spotlights the competitive but rarely explored world of racewalking, a sport most people don’t even realize has Olympic-level interest. It embraces the absurdity of its subject while still treating it with real respect, making for a refreshing mix of comedy, sports drama, and an underdog story that never takes itself too seriously. With its sharp writing, great character interactions, and plenty of moments that deliver genuine laughs, it balances humor and heart in a welcome way.

At the center of it all is Matt (Kevin Claydon,) a former baseball prodigy whose dreams of professional stardom never materialized. Once a promising young athlete, he now spends his days coaching Little League while living out of his van, weighed down by his past failures. His life is out of whack when he meets Will (Phil Moniz,) a passionate and unconventional racewalking coach who recognizes something special in him. While Matt initially scoffs at competing in a sport he can’t take seriously, his natural ability forces him to reconsider. What follows is a journey filled with physical and personal challenges, as Matt’s unexpected path to redemption pushes him into a world he never imagined being part of.

The film thrives on the dynamic between Matt and Will, two characters whose struggles may be different but whose need for a second chance makes their relationship compelling. Their back-and-forth banter is genuine and heartfelt, making for some of the best moments. Both leads bring natural chemistry to the screen. Something is engaging about watching them push each other toward something greater, and the film understands exactly how to make their evolving bond feel authentic.

Then there’s Ava (Italia Ricci,) Matt’s ex, whose departure from his life serves as another reminder of how lost he is. She’s not just there to check off a relationship subplot—her frustration with Matt’s lack of direction is justified, and her presence adds weight to his journey of self-improvement. While her character could have been explored further, she helps highlight the stakes beyond athletic competition.

Of course, every underdog story needs a proper set of obstacles; in this case, those come in the form of Kurt (Greg Bryk) and his son Ched (Robbie Amell.) Kurt is a former Olympic-level racewalker, and he has no intention of letting someone like Matt disrupt his carefully built legacy. His son, a dedicated but not particularly self-aware competitor, is caught between wanting to impress his father and dealing with the growing realization that Matt might be a real threat. The father-son duo brings humor and conflict, with Kurt’s controlling nature and Ched’s exaggerated bravado making them just as entertaining as antagonistic.

The humor is a major highlight, with the script packing in plenty of sharp dialogue and well-executed comedic moments. The film knows how to embrace the ridiculousness of its premise without turning its characters into caricatures, making the comedy feel natural rather than forced. The jokes land because they come from the personalities and dynamics between the characters, not just from the concept itself. There’s also a fantastic balance with the more understated character-driven humor, ensuring the film appeals to a wide audience.

Will’s background and motivations are hinted at but never fully explored, and delving deeper into what drives him could have made his character even more compelling. Similarly, a closer look at Matt’s battles would have added even more depth to his arc. The film does a solid job of making him likable and easy to root for, but exploring more of his self-doubt and personal growth could have made his transformation even more satisfying.

The film is consistently entertaining, filled with memorable moments, and makes an unlikely subject engaging and fun. It’s not trying to reinvent the sports comedy genre, but it doesn’t have to—it just needs to tell its story well, and it does. The result is a film that finds humor in the unexpected, celebrates the underdog spirit and reminds audiences that success doesn’t always come from where you expect it.

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[photo courtesy of COLLECTIVE PICTURES, BOBBY F. PRODUCTIONS, ZEROTRILLION PICTURES]

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