THE BOYS IN THE BOAT
Inspiring WWII Underdog Story
What You Need To Know
THE BOYS IN THE BOAT is based on Daniel James Brown’s book about the true story of an underdog rowing team at the University of Washington in 1936. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT is very entertaining, well-acted and well-made and tells an inspiring, patriotic, uplifting true story with strong biblical, moral, but there is some gratuitous foul language, so caution is advised for older children.
Joe Rantz lives in his car and struggles to make ends meet as he pursues his studies at the University of Washington. In search of a new job, Joe and his classmate attend the tryouts for the school’s rowing team.
While hundreds of people show up to tryouts, coach Al Ubrickson puts them through a series of physically demanding tests to see whether they have what it takes. Coach Al is under extra pressure from his superiors to turn in a winning season, but he isn’t impressed with the newcomers.
However, Joe perseveres and pushes his body to the limit. Desperate for a place on the team, he and his classmate earn coveted spots on the University of Washington’s junior varsity boat. While the new team passes the physical tests, the technique of rowing proves to be another challenge entirely as new student athletes struggle to keep pace with the varsity boat.
Meanwhile, Joe begins a relationship with a classmate named Joyce, and they begin to fall in love. However, his relationship with Joyce becomes another challenge to balance with his academic studies and his rowing.
Growing up with an absent father and no mother, Joe is used to working alone. However, Coach Al reminds him what’s at stake and the unity, grit and determination it will require for the team to succeed – and even make history.
THE BOYS IN THE BOAT is very entertaining, well-acted and well-made. It tells an inspiring, patriotic, uplifting true story with some strong biblical, moral, redemptive, and patriotic themes. The main character in the movie has to learn to give up his pride and work as a teammate. The movie is extremely refreshing as it has a relationship with a man and woman that is wholesome. However, THE BOYS IN THE BOAT has some gratuitous foul language. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview with biblical themes like sacrifice, overcoming tyranny, unity as a team, and the importance of love, support and family in hardship, it does has one brief politically correct scene where runner Jesse Owens compares Nazi Germany to racism in America
Foul Language
9 minor obscenities and 3 profanities like GD
Violence
No bloody violence, depression-era setting shows poverty, the rowers are pushed physically, their hands bleed from rowing
Sex
married couple share a brief innuendo, a newly dating couple kiss
Nudity
a girl changes in her dorm room, nothing is shown
Alcohol Use
Some alcohol imbibed at parties
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Brief era-accurate smoking of cigars and no drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Nothing else seems objectionable.
