Seven Days In Utopia (2011)

12% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(2,014 ratings)

Seven Days in Utopia follows the story of Luke Chisolm (Lucas Black), a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour. When his first big shot turns out to be a very public disaster, Luke escapes the pressures of the game and finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas, home to eccentric… More Seven Days in Utopia follows the story of Luke Chisolm (Lucas Black), a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour. When his first big shot turns out to be a very public disaster, Luke escapes the pressures of the game and finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas, home to eccentric rancher Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall). But Johnny's more than meets the eye, and his profound ways of looking at life force Luke to question not only his past choices, but his direction for the future. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Matt Russell
Written By: David Cook (I)
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 2, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Nov 28, 2011
Studio: Steamboat Rock

Critic Reviews

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
Supporting bits, like the saintly love interest played by Deborah Ann Woll, function more as archetypes than flesh-and-blood characters in a lively story.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Seven Days in Utopia, of course, like most sports movies with higher aspirations, tries to position itself as more than a sports movie. And lo and behold, it is -- sort of.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
At least watching Black fish, paint and pilot an airplane is less boring than golf.
Sean O'Connell, Washington Post
Russell's spoon-feeding of motivational nuggets turns to full-blown shoveling in the film's final minutes...
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
Like a cliche tent at the State Fair, with lessons in oil painting, fly-fishing and church to help us all find our center.
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times
There are no real bumps in that road, and though the drama has its heartfelt moments, it unrolls as flat as the Texas terrain, cast in an idyllic summer glow.
Linda Cook, KWQC-TV (Iowa)
Because of Dad and Deb, I could not detest this strange, good-hearted, sloppy movie. Dad discovered a passion for golf late in life. My dear friend Deb, too, speaks often about the challenge of the game, which has touched her profoundly.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Prosaic doesn't begin to describe a Christian propaganda fantasy movie so out of touch with reality and cinema that it comes across as an insult to your intelligence.
Jackie K. Cooper, jackiekcooper.com
A surprisingly ineffective cast delivers a muddled religious message
Keith Cohen, Entertainment Spectrum
This wholesome movie stresses values that seem to have been lost in America. It is a refreshing change of pace to have a movie that doesn't need to resort to violence, sex, drugs or bad language to tell a story resonating emotionally % appealing to all...
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
... cliches and platitudes come fast and thick ...
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
This Christian-themed, inspirational foray into the sacred soul of golf and man is beautifully shot, well-acted by a cast headed by Texans Robert Duvall and Lucas Black, and about as electrifying as a Sunday afternoon La-Z-Boy golf nap.
Victoria Alexander, FilmsInReview.com
Disgruntled teen golfer meets the Yoda of golf. Learns how golf is a metaphor for Buddhism.
Russ Breimeier, Christianity Today
Even the great Robert Duvall can't save this triple bogey of a movie.
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Great actors and good messages, but very predictable plot.
Jim Judy, Screen It!
The movie is undermined by bland to bad writing, directing and editing. (Parental Movie Review also available)
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
I got the sense that I was actually watch Duvall himself praying, no doubt for the Lord to take supreme mercy and have him replaced the next day by George Hamilton.
Mark Dujsik, Mark Reviews Movies
The ending is only a minute part of what the movie does wrong, though it is a spectacularly mistaken move.
Jonathan W. Hickman, Daily Film Fix
The Fireproof of golf movies!
Nell Minow, Beliefnet
Many scenes have a refreshingly quiet quality, not so much of volume but from a spirit of humility and sincerity.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Lucas Black, Robert Duvall, Melissa Leo, Deborah Ann Woll, Robert Bear, Brian Geraghty, Madison Burge, Jerry Ferrera, Sarah Jayne Jensen, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Josh Painting Director: Matt Russell Summary: Talent can only get you so far. For golfer Luke Chisholm, that turns out… More
Cast: Lucas Black, Robert Duvall, Melissa Leo, Deborah Ann Woll, Robert Bear, Brian Geraghty, Madison Burge, Jerry Ferrera, Sarah Jayne Jensen, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Josh Painting Director: Matt Russell Summary: Talent can only get you so far. For golfer Luke Chisholm, that turns out to be Utopia, Texas -- where he's left stranded after blowing his pro debut. Luckily for Luke, a cagey old rancher enters his life there to change it -- and him -- forever. My Thoughts: "I am not a fan of Golf, nor do I enjoy watching it at all, well unless it's in a film with actor's I enjoy watching. The movie really doesn't have much of the game in the film. The movie is more about Johnny helping Luke find himself, faith, and to teach him that a game does not define him. The movie has drama, comedy, and a bit of romance (not much). The movie has some great actor's in the film and that is what caught my eye. They all put in good performances. Not one I would watch again, but not one I regret seeing either."
Philip P

Initially I had no interest in seeing this Christian-based film about golf. Mainly because I have never had any interest in the sport. To be blunt, I have always found it boring and with the fact I was never able to make it through that Shia LaBeouf movie "The Greatest Game Ever… More
Initially I had no interest in seeing this Christian-based film about golf. Mainly because I have never had any interest in the sport. To be blunt, I have always found it boring and with the fact I was never able to make it through that Shia LaBeouf movie "The Greatest Game Ever Played" I didn't think this one stood a chance either. I was partially right; by the time the last half hour of the film came around and it was as predictable as every other sports film I had completely lost interest. I imagined it might stand a chance of grasping my attention because I can always seem to find an interest in anything Mr. Duvall is playing in but this movie skews so closely to the archetypes of every inspirational sports film it is hard not to dismiss it. Sure, the film has a good message and I wouldn't discourage people showing it to their children, but as someone who has seen the story multiple times i at least expected some interesting characters along the way. Instead, even those are archetypes. Duvall as the ancient master who teaches the young student how to regain his way and stay on the right path. There is the innocent love interest that doesn't go anywhere and Melissa Leo seems to show up for no other reason than maybe she just wanted to be a part of the project. It is an admirable effort, but it is nothing spectacular and you can see where things are going as soon as Lucas Black wrecks his car in the small town of Utopia. It is nice to see a young, credible actor such as Black not forgetting where he came from and he does his best with what he is given here, too bad it's not much.