Same River Twice

Same River Twice combines many perspectives of the Idaho river running experience with outstanding characters and a real storyline. The river plays a significant role here and Idaho looks pretty good. All the family loved it.

This movie was obviously a labor of love for director Scott Featherstone, and his cast of unheralded TV actors tries hard. But it's difficult for them to overcome some of the trite characterizations and situations. Shea Farrel (a regular on the old ABC series "Hotel") is saddled with the most cliched role: the father who feels too sorry for himself after a messy divorce to be a good parent to his teenage son (Joshua Keaton). John Putch (Jean Stapleton's son) as a underachieving bicycle mechanic, haunted by guilt over the death of a young river rafting guide years before, and Keven Rahm, as the Putch character's slacker nephew come off best in a big cast. Robert Curtis-Brown narrates this story of four former river rafting guides (Putch, Shea, and Dwier Brown play the other three) who keep a prearranged reunion years after their halcyon days as young men who bonded on the river. Each has a life crisis. Curtis-Brown is happily married, but his young daughter has MD. Dwier Brown, now a succssful attorney, is ambivalent about committing the young artistic woman he has brought along on the trip. The Shea and Putch characters have the problems cited above. I give Featherstone credit for not tying up all the loose ends, but his script and the talents of his actors are not always up to their more dramatic scenes or ambitions. The scenes of the four friends off by themselves at the end of each day (they have all brought people who are part of their current lives) are the best parts of the movie. In these scenes we can believe these guys are good friends who care deeply for each other. But there are nagging problems. It's hard to believe the decent, upstanding Curtis-Brown character would attend this reunion in light of what was happening with his family. And there are too many pat solutions and quick changes of heart for the film to be considerd "realistic." Though the movie is not "preachy," there are a couple of references to God and religion that made me suspect this movie was financed by a Christian group. But then there are issues like the the unmarried couple of the lawyer and the graphic artist that most conservative Christian groups would not condone, so perhaps I'm mistaken. Another thing that bothered me was the Hispanic character being given some of the worst dialogue for someone of his ethnicity since the last "Cisco Kid" episode was shot. He is a stereotype, despite being a mostly positive character. In sum, I credit Featherstone and his cast for their desire to make a interesting, dramatic family film. The whitewater scenes are quite impressive, and the river and surrounding scenery are beautiful. There are also a couple of tunes on the soundtrack by one of my favorite groups, The Subdudes, as well as one by Shawn Colvin.

Not often do you have the opportunity to see a movie that captures your attention, for the entire span that it is showing, and also is wholesome enough for any member of the family. Same River Twice was showing on our local ION/TBN channel. I was initially lured into watching it by the beautiful scenery and well acted script from the moment I turned the channel. My 12 year old grandson walked by the t.v. on the way outside to play (on a lovely day I might add) when he stopped in his tracks, turned to me and said, "MawMaw, I'm gonna watch this for a minute before I go out." That 'minute' ended with the final credits and it was at that point he said that the movie it was so good, it was one we needed to get for our personal movie library. Not often does he give such endorsement. I wish there were more like this, that we can add to the old classics such as Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows and Homeward Bound.

I first saw this movie on TBN about 10 yrs ago & fell immediately in love with it - the scenery, the people, the story-line & the presentation of God in a subtle but profound way! Since then, I've seen it again on TBN, 2 or 3 times & just knew I had to own it - so began my 3 yr search! I never caught the Title, and only slightly recognized the actors & of course no one I asked knew about it! Even today, those I ask don't know about it - it's the best kept secret - but shouldn't be!

So, my search to find it was difficult to say the least - from TBN to all the Christian movie sites - I couldn't locate it by searching the subject or things I thought would make it pop up, I even did several Emails to TBN & other movie sites, but nothing. However, as God always does - He answered my prayers. I couldn't sleep 1 night last week & turned on TBN - there it was, just beginning - I had to cry because of how He cares even about the little things that we care about. It teaches about our Loving God & how He has interwoven all of Creation into 1 Whole unit within Himself. My final words? GET THIS MOVIE, GET THIS MOVIE! Show it to family & friends, they're all in this group somewhere! I'm using it to minister to our youth groups. B Blessed!

The version I saw came from Feature Films for Families and there were no nude scenes, no cursing and nothing I found offensive. Great movie for family with preteens or teens. It shows that sometimes growing up and becoming a man means facing hard situations but pressing through. Having friends that help you makes it so much easier. It was funny, sensitive, and makes you look at people differently when you realize sometimes we just don't know what is going on in their lives. I loved this movie and so does my kids ages 12 and 15. The thought of this movie makes me want to get together with my friends and go on a camping river trip.