Miracle in Lane 2

Miracle in Lane 2 works on several levels. First and most noticeable, it is a wonderful movie about overcoming obstacles, being persistent, working with mentors, etc., etc. Everything we come to expect from this genre.

It is also a good disability awareness movie, suitable for a wide audience. The movie demonstrates the way 2 groups of people typically respond to persons with disabilities; those who "get it" and those who don't.

"Miracle" reflects, in Disney's soft-edged style, some of the challenges faced by children with physical disabilities, their parents, their siblings and the larger public. It deals with some touchy subjects with sensitivity AND a dose of reality.

Based on fact? Yes. Factually correct? Well, the writers took a lot of license with the details of how the All American Soap Box Derby works. That's secondary to the story, however. Suffice it to say one won't learn much about the way AASBD operates from this flick, other than kids building and competing in gravity-powered racers. You will learn more about the issues mentioned above.

That said, there was enough factual correctness that when my stepson, a wheelchair user most of his life, was motivated by this film to compete himself, we were able to make contact with the gentleman who (still?) manufactures the hand brake used by Justin. Last I heard, it remains the only "non-standard" component permitted on any standard AASBD racer.

BTW, Not only did my stepson compete locally, he became a Vermont State Champion and competed in the 2002 World Championships in Akron. While we were there, he spent some time with the real Justin.

I searched up this movie remember watching it once on Disney Channel and expected a hidden gem. I ended up disappointed but that's not to say there's nothing redeemable. The actors keep up a family chemistry while talking about a pretty heavy subject with care, these are some fun ideas such as fake courtrooms, or talking to "God" that end up half baked in the end. There's a minor emergency sequence that does a great job showing not telling how serious our main character's condition is. The main problem is it takes 30 minutes to bring up soapbox racing, which should be the central plot of the movie. I almost turned it off at 25 minutes because nothing was moving forward. I would have also trusted the actors to convey a little more, for example there's a part where our main character is narrating "I wish I had a trophy like my brother" when a jealous look would have probably communicated the same thing. The ending is predictable but still good! I wouldn't watch this if you don't have the nostalgia tinted lenses.

I am teetering between a 5 and 6 rating because this Disney channel original movie was far and away better than most of the ones that came before it, but some of the god scenes (especially at the end with the angels in wheel chairs) was kind of dumb and to me soap box racing is just kind of boring. But little Frankie Muniz is adorable and carried this movie. All the other actors are pretty decent as well. It's cool to this was based on a true story. This movie covered some heavy topics without getting too heavy. The brother dynamic was sweet though the actors were kind of obviously older than the characters ages they were portraying. Not the best movie, but it was a sweet story. I'd recommend a watch.

Justin Yoder (Frankie Muniz) wants desperately to win a trophy. He wants to compete, to succeed, to win. One problem. Justin is in a wheelchair.

While his disability has hampered him for years, Justin finally finds something that he can do--soapbox derbies. After talking his parents into it, he launches into a whole new stage of his life, finding that he is good at something, and he might even have a chance at a trophy.

This movie caught my eye one day a little over a year ago on the Disney channel. I watch 'Malcolm in the Middle' and quickly recognized Frankie Muniz. However, it was not him I came away loving, it was Patrick Levis. Patrick plays Seth Yoder, Justin's older brother. I have a brother of my own with a disability, so I understood every single one of Seth's feelings and frustrations. The scene in which Seth breaks down and spills his feelings to his father was especially poignant. Thank you, Patrick, for such a beautiful and understanding performance. This movie is careful not to deny the truths of being a sibling to someone with a disability--a rare and wonderful thing for films.

All in all, a magnificent piece of work, especially for a made-for-TV movie.

I thought that the film was well done and deserves to be recognized. there is an all important theme of discrimination all b/c you are not normal. I think that through this move people can see that people with disabilities are just as human as we are, and they have feelings too.