With the world caught up in Olympics fever right now, you'd think a film like the competitive rowing drama, Backwards, would be angling for a release to better capitalize on it. Instead, it's got zero momentum, zero buzz, and probably will be a tough film to find at your local multiplex. Sarah Megan Thomas(A Buddy Story) plays Abi Brooks, who at nearly 30-years old has spent here life training to win gold as part of the U.S. Olympic rowing team. With that dream looking to be a bust, she winds up back home and coaching her alma mater's crew team, and rekindling some old flames with her ex, played by James Van Der Beek.
The conflicts that arise between Brooks and her young charges are predictable(of course the Olympics come calling again), but there's an earnest quality to the film that's endearing, and it's always good to see Van Der Beek doing something a little different. He seems to have a solid chemistry with the mostly unknown Thomas, in the biggest role of her young career. While Backwards probably isn't going to enter the pantheon of great Olympics-related sports dramas(can we just say Miracle is the best ever?), it could make for a good date night flick when it opens on September 21st. Check out the trailer below....[Apple]
