THE FIRST TIME I PLAYED BASEBALL and dropped the ball when it came out to me in left field, I realized I did not like being on a team. The amount of disappointment I felt was overwhelming and I hated myself. Little did I know I would be required to play the game in our gym classes in school. Through most of elementary school, I was overweight, which hampered me from becoming adept at any physical activity. It is because I was too self-conscious about my looks and making sure my oversized shirts did not ride up and expose my stomach. I suffered from this “complex” through most of elementary school. It was not until I was about to enter high school that I decided to focus on myself and started exercising at home. I had no equipment, only a book that showed what exercises the Canadian Royal Mounties had to do. I had no idea where the book came from, but it was my only source. As I started to lose weight and develop my body, I started to feel better about myself. Though I was doing tough things, at the end of my workout I was feeling something new, a sense of accomplishment. It became such a strong motivation for me that it would later steer my life in a different direction.      HAVING THAT FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND a daily dose of endorphins, I became a fitness and yoga instructor. Talk about an eye-opening experience, seeing people from all walks of life doing something for themselves. As for myself, there are days I am tired and do not want to work out; however, the drive I have inside of myself to take care of my body and mind is so strong that I still get on the bike or treadmill to get my heart rate up and sweat for a while. From my classes and observing people on the fitness floor, I have seen some incredible feats of determination and willpower. Individuals in wheelchairs or using canes/crutches getting themselves onto a weight bearing or rowing machine is inspirational. Having been fortunate to have some in my classes and to talk to them, we share that common bond of proving to ourselves that we can do it and feel successful and good at the same time. Without involving a score or facing team pressure, doing something for oneself provides a sense of pride and satisfaction; I cannot think of a better feeling. This is why I understood what the boys were going through in this sport drama based on a true story.      A YOUTH PRISON’S SOCIAL WORKER COMES up with a great idea, to take some of the teenage convicts on a bicycle ride. The ride would cover one thousand miles, though. With Matthew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises, Stranger Things-TV) as Greg Townsend, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Average Joe-TV, Hailey’s on It!-TV) as Haddie, Jahking Guillory (Kicks, Huckleberry) as Woolbright, Jackson Kelly (Carved, The Warrant: Breaker’s Law) as Smink, and Zachary T. Robbins (How to Get Girls, Bloodline-TV) as Rice; this film’s script followed an obvious path, with a few detours. However, I was totally entertained by the story and Matthew’s acting. At some point, I no longer thought of the teenage convicts as being actors but actual individuals who were dealing with genuine issues. Several scenes involving them could easily have been actual copying of real events in many people’s lives. During their journey, the outdoor scenes were beautiful as they had to make their way from Colorado to Arizona. The fact this movie was based on a true story made the viewing experience more special for me. Plus, I appreciated the message and of course, loved the hard work and dedication these boys displayed during the story.                          

3 ¼ stars