User reviews

This is in some ways a sweet movie about love between a father and son, between a boy and a girl. Yes it's predictable, yes some weak spots, but Matt Dillon is good; Ryan Potter is charming. Even more effective, the theme of prejudice born of hate and ignorance is explored, especially important in the worldwide intensifying again of vicious racism. I loved how the house becomes something wonderful at the end, a major symbol for the story.

Recommended.

This is definitely a little on the budget side, but it's also very charming and an enjoyable watch! I liked it

I've lived in Kona for 25 years and I can't imagine any movie made here that does not have a native Hawaiian person in it. I did not see one Hawaiian in this film. Understandably, it takes place mauka in coffee country, and there were mainly Japanese in Holualoa then, but why not include Hawaiians on the road or on the coast shots. I know he was trying to be artsy, but I just felt an obvious absence and it was a little rude. Also, I think the colors were over-saturated which gave the film a tv look, rather than a moody film. More like a Hallmark movie. I did enjoy the drone shots.

Watching this film uplifts my spirit- it champions the good in the world while still pulling us through the brokenness of our human nature. It reminds me to continue to champion my foster sister, who also must find her place in two very different cultures.

I thought this movie was great! It was a bit slow, but i think that added something to it. I loved that the romance seemed like it was supposed to be the main event, but you actually spend more time seeing the circumstances they both grew up in that ended up bringing them together. 7/10 because I think the main girl wasn't the best actress and it was tilting towards the "white savior" trope.

Nothing great here. Typical story but done well enough. A feel good picture to watch on a lazy afternoon.

10 minutes into the movie I guessed the whole plot. Watched the whole movie through and family was like "wow you really predicted the plot". It was a cute watch tho. It could've been written better. not the greatest or best movie out there but It gets the job done. An overall decent romance genre movie for all the romantics out there! But if you're an amateur inspector gadget like me you'll figure out the plot before the movie even starts good.

"Running for Grace" had the potential to be one of those wonderful little gems, but a story in which director and writer David L. Cunningham, fails to give the attention to the meat of the story: the romantic connection between Jo and Grace.

The amount of screen time shared between Jo and Grace is barely 15 minutes. Do you really believe that's enough time to show two people developing a connection and falling in love? Imagine if Rose and Jack only had that much time in "Titanic." Or Rick and Ilsa in "Casablanca." Exactly. Neither of those films would have been given a second look.

The story tells about Jo, a boy born as a half-breed. His mother dies of an illness, and he's left homeless as well as completely shunned by the Japanese community of coffee pickers and workers. Finally, he's taken in by Doc (Matt Dillon, who is very much miscast). Portraying a loving and tender man who develops a connection with Jo is completely lost, due to the terrible writing and underplayed performance by Dillon that just isn't very believable.

Cunningham should have focused on the relationship between Jo and Grace as well as Jo and Doc (and he should have found someone else for this part). Everything else should have been much more secondary and peripheral. Had he done this, we would have been treated to a very delightful film. Instead, we're given a film that desperately tries to be something that it's not because Cunningham tries to keep "too many fires lit" rather than putting his focus on the only one that matters.

It's truly a shame as this film had incredible potential but ultimately ends up being a disappointment due to amateur writing, directing, and miscasting.

For days afterwards I reflected on how much I enjoyed watching this film. The story took me for a ride, the real-ness of it all is easy to identify with, and the morals and message are readily applicable in today's world. If more people learned from the role models of this film, the world would be a better place.

It's interesting to have a movie dealing with racism in Hawaii for a change. A half Japanese boy is an aspiring doctor and falls for a white girl. Ryan Potter is the hafu.

Matt Dillon plays a country doc and should act in proper movies like this more instead of those way out things he does.

Worth a watch

If you took Ben Stiller's role as Simple Jack from Tropic Thunder and stretched it out for almost 2 hours, you would get Running for Grace. Predictable, formulaic, brainless...Sometimes when a character you really care for is killed off in a movie you think to yourself "If I made a movie, I would make it so that everything goes the way that everyone wants it to." Running for Grace is proof that you shouldn't do that.

Wonderful story, beautifully filmed - viewers will easily relate to the characters! So refreshing!

This movie was a pleasant surprise. Yes, it is not the best movie and it lacks a lot, but after I stopped thinking and just started enjoying the scenery and what the story had to offer it was really not that bad. A 6/10 is generous though!

Every moment of this film was stilted, corny and overdone. It is a film which loves itself too much. Caviezil and Dillon both over-act horribly and just embarrassed and bored me. Ryan Potter was engaging and more convincing but swamped amongst the buzzing egos around him. The end is on TV now and it runs like a school play to the very last moment. And as another review mentions here a ludicrously small amount of the narrative is dedicated to the main theme, the 'transgressional' love affair. The pace is dreadful and the acting verges on farcical on many occasions. An utterly self absorbed film. (The scenery, props and costumes were wonderful hence 3 stars and not one)

From what I have seen, I am watching it now, the line deliveries from characters could have been stronger, if that is the right word. The delivery can be awkward. I wonder if this might have worked as a longer movie to flesh out the characters and motivations, etc. And I would have liked to have seen more of Joe and Doc's home life.

(Again, this is from what I have seen thus far and this is my first watch)

Giving 7 stars for movie have a enchanting location and a little bit less enganging story. So defect 3 stars because the acting and chemistry of main actor a not that good and story could be better. But excellent jobs for matt and jim as always. I think the young actor/actress needs more offer of movie role.

Found this Film on Amazon Prime. A somewhat Predictable Storyline does not stop Cast and Director from making into Good Movie !

Set in 1920's Hawaii segregated Coffee Plantation.

You know Poor Boy wants Rich Girl and Family wants her to marry a Doctor ? Plays out Pretty Juicy with Matt Dillion Jim Caviezel and legendary Juliet Mills Cast ! Plenty of characters help to Enhance the Story.

This was one of the worst films I've ever seen. Only because of the gorgeous scenery and better-than-average score could I even justify the one star rating I gave it. Jim Caviezel and the rest of the crew overacted so badly that I felt as though I were watching a high school play. Only Matt Dillon and young Ryan Potter managed to appear somewhat professional in their performances. The story was absurd; the character development all but non existent; and the acting was sophomoric. I don't know what has happened to Caviezel, but I always thought him a better actor than what he displayed in this farce. Matt Dillon has never been a first rate actor, but compared to the rest of the cast, he shone. Terrible waste of celluloid and my time. Sorry, but that's just how I saw it.

I totally LOVED this movie!!! Incredibly beautiful scenery (great to see it on the big screen), and great story-line with good moral content (pro-adoption, anti-prejudice) and all the right elements of love, action, historical accuracy for early 20th century Hawaii, and conflict between good and evil. Matt Dillon's acting was epic...as was Cole (young Jo, the medicine runner - how can anyone be so naturally cute!!!) and Ryan Potter as older Jo. Wonderful! I've seen it three times, just to try to capture all of the scenery and hidden treasures in the story. I've taken a different friend each time to share the fun!!

Bad actors, boring story, ughhhh don't waste your time....

I enjoyed Running for Grace a second time in theater - it's perfect for the whole family. I discovered a lot about Hawaii and it's landscapes and history through the film too. What beautiful shots and powerful themes of love, loss and adoption!

It was fun seeing big actors like Matt Dillon and Jim Caveziel across from first timers like little Cole (ridiculously cute) and others.

I'm thinking there are an awful lot of fake reviews posted here with a connection to the production. No way would I let a child watch this dark, brooding, mess. Nothing warm and fuzzy, too much hate and ugliness portrayed.

Scenery enjoyable but color seems too intense. Never having been to Hawaii, it may just be my perceptual error.

Characters are incomplete, lacking background and a reason to make us care. Doc is too gruff and I don't feel his affection for Jo. Reyes is a drunk, and while I feel his motivation, mostly we are left to guess and fill in the blanks ourselves. Grandma should be arrested for several sins. I felt no connection to the daughter, acting abilities leave a lot to be desired. I just didn't see the connection between her and Jo. We are given nothing tangible to feel. Much miscasting. Dunno why I bothered to finish watching. It's a bucket full of stale popcorn.

This was a great movie. I'm just a simple water machine installer, not affiliated with the film production as someone that gave it a 1 star review claimed. I absolutely loved how Matt Dillon showed his genuine love for the orphan. AWESOME ACTING, by everyone. Even Jim the villain. Anyone that gave this a bad review is just an overall grumpy person. And the comments about it being a disgrace to Hawaii, I highly doubt you lived in the 1920's to witness the racism against the Japanese.

The movie was gorgeous, made me want to visit Hawaii like TOMORROW and I'm headed to bed with a smile.

The scenery and photography are outstanding. The rest of the movie is sadly lacking in dramatic content.