Good family films are really hard to come by! I just had the pleasure of viewing the movie A Mile in His Shoes with my 3 boys. We were all entertained and edified by the tender story of Mickey Tussler. Mickey is a teen struggling with Autism and living with his parents on a farm in the mid-west. They’ve protected him for years, and he’s living a somewhat isolated life, when he meets a minor league baseball manager by chance. Coach Arthur Murphy discovers that Mickey has an awesome pitching arm, due to the many hours he spends throwing apples into an old tin bucket. With fear and trepidation, Mickey’s folks allow him to go to the big city and try-out for the team. Mickey’s autism places him in a few unpredictable positions, but teammates reach out and protect him as much as they can. And, of course the movies isn’t lacking in a few rivalries, and bullying.
My boys loved the baseball sequences, and they were sensitive to Mickey’s condition. I feel like the movie embedded some good feelings and opened up conversation about how we should treat others with disabilities. My guys also asked when Little League sign-ups were.
The movie comes to us from the famed artist, Thomas Kincade, and is directed by William Dear who also directed Angels in the Outfield.
The movie is a bit reminiscent of Blindside, but not quite the same blockbuster caliber. Dean Cain does a fine job in the role of Coach Murphy. A Mile in His Shoes was just released today, 1/10, and you can purchase it for only $11.99 from Amazon.
* Vivendi Entertainment provided me with a dvd of A Mile in His Shoes to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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