25 Hill is a movie about an unlikely friendship developing between a grizzled old fire chief named Roy Gibbs (played by Corbin Bernsen), and quick-witted 12-year-old soapbox derby racer Trey Caldwell (Nathan Gamble of Dolphin Tale fame). A first question that pops into ones head at the start of the DVD may very well be about the title itself: 25 Hill. What exactly does this mean?

We find out soon enough that it refers to an address. This address is one long straight downhill stretch – a place that is perfect for soapbox derby racing, and the subject matter at the core of this pleasant, well-made family film. Soapbox Derby Racing relies on downhill battles, races between adolescents in their homemade race cars, but the movie itself has more to do with uphill battles, and it’s these uphill/downhill struggles that propel this thought-provoking film about perseverance, determination, and using your brains.

These uphill battles come at us hard and fast, beginning at the start of the movie with the death of Trey Caldwell’s father as he is away at military reserve service in Afghanistan. Roy Gibbs struggles with the reality of the death of his own son, also a firefighter, killed during the World Trade Center attacks of September 11. Trey’s father had recently bought him a soapbox racer, and the two had just begun to build it when Trey’s father is sent overseas. Roy had been a soapbox racer himself when he was a young man, and these two are brought together by Trey’s school principal in the hopes that they can they find some level of comfort and healing in each other’s company.

The hard-nosed fire chief thinks this highly unlikely, as he finds his comfort in the bottom of a bottle. Trey is totally happy in moving forward on his own, a fact that is evident by his lack of friends and his solitude in working on the race car alone. But a bond is eventually developed as they push together to finish the car and win the races, and ultimately come up against the whole existence of the Soapbox Derby itself.

This is a film for the entire family: well-produced, well-written, and well-acted. The lessons learned about perseverance are timeless, and the twists and turns of the film keep it moving along rather nicely. A more developed storyline revolving around Roy’s drinking would have made the problem more evident – other than a drinking and driving episode, he just doesn’t seem like he has a heavy drinking problem – it is more talked about than shown. Given that this film is geared to a more family friendly audience, the downplaying of the drinking makes sense and lends itself to a younger audience.

25 Hill is not a heavy duty Gospel-type of Christian film. There are Christian aspects in the movie, but these are rather incidental, and as such may be appreciated by a wider audience. Yes, sometimes evangelism can be subtler.

Whether life finds you racing downhill or struggling to make it uphill, 25 Hill shows that the journey is better with a friend, and there is more to life than the checkered flag. Enjoy the ride, and enjoy the movie.

Christian Worldview:

25 Hill has an overall strong Christian, moral worldview. Trey is shown getting angry, and then sad, as he deals with the grief of his father’s death. There are strong patriotic elements in the film, as well as nice moments revolving around Trey’s prayer life. There are a couple of uses of the word “butt,” but no other language issues. Roy has an automobile accident rushing to get to a fire as he is “under the influence.”  There are no sex scenes, nudity, and only mild marital kissing.

 

Watch the official trailer for 25 Hill

Click here to read part one and here for part two of the SCH exclusive interview with Actor/Director Corbin Bernsen

To learn more about the author of this review, visit Dale Ward

For more details about 25 Hill, check out Christian Film Database

Trey questions his school principal about the process of praying, and he asks her to pray to God for her. Is Trey “on the right track” in doing this? The Bible talks about praying for others in James 5: 14 – 16: James 5: Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. The principal, Mrs. Banner, tells Trey that he should talk to God himself. God likes to hear from all of us. Why is it important that we pray to God for our own needs? Why is it important that we pray for the needs of others, as well as having them pray for us? Paul speaks on numerous occasions the importance of praying for one another. In Ephesians 6: 18 he writes: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. As we reflect on God’s gift and the power of prayer, may we remember the prayer of Jesus for all believers in John 17: My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.