Product Description

Sensational Frankie Muniz (TV's MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE) stars as Justin Yoder in MIRACLE IN LANE 2, inspired by the true story of a mischievous and courageous 12-year-old who refused to let a physical challenge defeat him. His unrelenting desire to win a trophy leads to Justin's discovery that it's perseverance that makes a winner, as he prepares for a national soapbox championship race! Fresh, funny, full of action and heart, MIRACLE IN LANE 2 combines courage, challenges, and thrills for the ride of a lifetime!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40252 in DVD
• Brand: Disney
• Released on: 2004-05-04
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Surround Sound, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Amazon.com
Based on the real-life story of disabled soap box derby champion Justin Yoder, this Disney bio-pic manages the difficult trick of balancing earnestness with wit, action with family drama. Frankie Muniz (TV's Malcolm in the Middle) plays Justin, a 12-year-old who accepts the limitations of his spina bifida but still wants to win a trophy like his athlete brother. Rick Rossovich and Molly Hagan are note perfect as his thoroughly likable but flawed parents, and Patrick Levis deftly portrays the difficulties of being a loving older brother who gets fed up always having to play second fiddle to his brother and his disease. Frequent trips into Justin's avid imagination, which provide humor and context, help the film avoid the sentimentality that usually accompanies triumph-over-adversity movies. (For instance, God is a race car driver who wears a T-shirt proclaiming "I don't make mistakes.") The smart script is cheerfully candid about Justin's problems (such as vomiting and lack of bladder control) and honest about the strain a disability puts on a family, but it's packed with enough action to sate the sports-minded viewer. (Ages 6 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

INSPIRING and REFRESHING
I just watched this film on the Disney channel, along with my 8 year old niece and brother-in-law. It was so touching and refreshing to see inspiring true stories, such as Justin Yoder's receiving such exposure in mainstream television. What a great role model for young and old alike. Justin's spirit really shines through with Muniz's portrayal - ALL of the supporting cast were excellent! The film touched on so many different aspects of children and disabilities, along with how it impacts the family and friends in so many intense ways. And yet, it didn't focus on the issue of Justin's disability. Rather, it simply told a heartwarming story of just how powerful one individual's spirit can be. I highly recommend this film.

Surprisingly Sophisticated Theology
Along with an entertaining plot, this film contains some surprisingly sophisticated theology (particularly for a children's film). The five "God" vignettes demonstrate five different ways that humans view God as well as track Justin (a boy with spina bifida) in his pilgrimage to understand why, if God doesn't make mistakes, he was born with a birth defect.

Sweet and Realistic
Justin just wants to fit in. He wants to be like all of the other kids. But Justin is paralyzed. Does that stop him? Heck no.

He decides to race in soapbox derbies. And he gets good with the help of his supportive family and neighbor. Along the way, he discovers more about his inner self and begins to appreciate who he is, wheelchair or no wheelchair.

But what made me truly appreciate this movie was the way the filmmakers accentuated the reality. They not only carefully hit upon Justin's trials as a paralyzed kid, but also upon his brother's (Seth) own issues with Justin.

My brother has a disability as well, somewhat different from Justin's problems, but their portrayal of Seth was what made the movie more authentic and helped me to personally relate to the characters.

Making an audience relate to the characters is what makes a movie work. This movie worked. Kudos to Disney for creating this wonderful film.