On Your Mark, Get Set, MOW!

Tonight I saw "On Your Mark, Get Set, Mow!" at the DC film festival and I have to say I was really impressed. The film really captures the nature of the people racing. This movie is more about the triumph of the human spirit and what a community can do when they ban together.

I can not imagine what it would be like to live with Huntington's Disease, but this movie gave me a little insight to that world and how horrible a disease that it is. The family featured shows courage that I think a few people have, and it is really captured by the film maker.

This film is a great education tool to learn about Huntington's Disease, but it isn't overly depressing. It strikes the right balance with its many sub stories and great footage of racing that until this movie I didn't know about.

You will laugh, and you will cry. Mostly though, you will be uplifted. I am so glad I took a chance on going to see this today. This was a great film. Do not miss a chance to see this documentary.

I have just returned from a local screening of Mike Ratel's debut film "On Your Mark, Get Set, Mow!" and wanted to say how much I enjoyed the film. Here are a few things that stood out in my mind - first, I think the film is a wonderful piece of Americana. Just the notion of everyday folks looking at their rider mowers and figuring out ways to customize and race them - isn't that just the spirit of individual creativity that makes this country such a wonderful place? Secondly, this may seem to be a movie about lawnmower racing, but it's really a movie about a richer topic - a bunch people coming together around a shared interest and forming a community, a sort of extended family with all of the ups and downs that can bring. Finally, what adds poignancy is that the movie also delves into the devastation that Huntington's Disease brings to individuals and families. If I do have one critique it would be that the information about Huntington's disease and the racing footage are not as well integrated as perhaps it could be - each would be a compelling story on their own - but in the end this is a minor quibble and does not detract from the quality of the film itself. In summary, I feel confident in recommending this film to all viewers (and not just to gear heads interested in racing) - there's humor, pathos, and exultation that's good for the body and the soul. Don't worry about this being an "indie" film - as entertainment it is on par with (and frankly more enjoyable than) many of the productions emerging from the entertainment industry these days. Go see it, and afterwords I promise you'll never look at your lawnmower the same way again!

When I first heard about this movie I thought it might be silly, or absurd, or snarky, none of which is true. OK, perhaps there is an element of the absurd. But film maker Mike Ratel uses a sympathetic and insightful treatment of multiple layers of subject matter to give the viewer to a truly engaging introduction to a dual universe they may only have been peripherally aware of – the intersection of lawn mower racing and Huntington's Disease. I thought it was hilarious, poignant, and entertaining.

The sound track is well matched to the pacing and editing, and the interviews range from humorous to profound. I did not anticipate such an emotional response from such a seemingly trivial and ridiculous subject - Lawn Mower Racing.

On your mark,get set, mow is a very well made documentary. I really liked this movie. I highly recommend it. It is very entertaining. I laughed out loud a couple of times. There was some great action footage of lawnmower races (wrecks and all).And I actually learned a few things about behind the scenes of lawnmower racing, and Huntingtons, two things I knew nothing about before this film.

There are interviews with politicians where you see how and why certain bills are introduced in congress. Interviews of medical experts, some with their own personal stories. And an interview of the great Arlo Guthrie.

A very heartfelt and sincere presentation of an entire community of people drawn together by lawnmower racing (the comic value never gets old as they run to mount their machines) and the desire to help those suffering from Huntingdons Disease. Like the best kind of documentary, it steps out of the way and lets the people impacted by the disease and those engaged in the sport take the spotlight. This results in some very funny moments and when examining the full scope of one family's impact from HD, some very sad scenes that left me impressed with the strength of character that these people display. And they seem completely unaware of the camera, again making it a transparent way to tell a story. Effective use of some great independent music through the entire film adds to the appeal, especially on the racing scenes. If this comes your way, make time for it.