Hard Miles

A formulaic but well-acted film.

[T]he film is a combination of spectacular scenery, arduous exertion, inspiring pep talks, adolescent rebellion, emotional confrontations, and lessons learned by both the teenagers and their leader.

An inspiring movie that pushes away the soot and trauma of our overtaxed corrections system to find the inherent good in its young denizens, one pedal, one hard mile, at a time.

This fact-inspired tale covers familiar redemptive sports drama terrain. But it’s traveled with affectingly understated assurance by director R.J. Daniel Hanna (“Miss Virginia”) and a strong cast, making for a satisfying scenic ride.

For some, watching begrudging teens ride bikes might not sound exciting, but this film delivers a lot more than tires on asphalt.

“Hard Miles” follows a formulaic course, but fueled by two breakaway performances it’s destined to put a lump in your throat.

The movie is very well-paced, logically structured, and consistently engaging throughout its nearly two-hour runtime.

By the end we want these boys to succeed and make something of their lives

With counselor Greg rolling through mountains of metaphors and aphorisms, this drama about the real-life Rite of Passage cycling program is a vehicle made for families with teens to view together.

It passes the time with some pretty sights, fairly worn cliches and semi-serious cycling, a pleasant-enough dramedy that never gets out of the low, easy gears.