Is there anyone who doesn't know the story of Miles Scott, the
Make-A-Wish kid who became Batkid for a day? If you recall the social media
phenomenon that surrounded him in 2013, or have seen photos of the thousands of
people who participated in it, then it may seem like everybody knows Miles. And
perhaps everybody should, because rarely has there been such a genuine
outpouring of pure love and generosity from complete strangers. Get ready to
have your spirits lifted by Batkid
Begins, the most heartwarming film you're going to see this year.
Miles sparked what can only be called a
revolution; a revolution to stem the tide of fear, anger, and selfishness that
has swept across America in recent years. Okay, maybe that sounds a little like
some supervillain's masterplan, and if that's the case then Batkid was the one
who stopped it. For a day, at least. Five-year-old Miles Scott had been
diagnosed with cancer when he was just eighteen months old. His parents,
farmers in the tiny town of Tule Lake, California, are hard-working "salt
of the earth" types. So they didn't know what to expect when the San
Francisco Make-A-Wish foundation approached them and asked Miles what he
wanted. As a kid who loved superheroes on TV and in comics, he wanted to be Batman.
Miles is a firecracker of a kid; shy but with a personality that fills up
entire rooms. Fortunately, so is Patricia Wilson, the undeniable, irresistible
Make-A-Wish director who moved mountains to make Miles' wish come true. The
film is basically a blow-by-blow account of the incredible feats Wilson was
able to pull off with the help of spirited stuntman/inventor (and eventual
Batman) Eric Johnson, his willing wife, and their buddy Mike Jutan. Oh,
and an entire nation of eager volunteers.
Decked out in his little Batkid suit and
accompanied by Johnson, himself in a note-perfect Batman outfit, Miles took to
the city streets in a makeshift Batmobile to rescue damsels in distress and
stop evil villains. Of course it was all set up for him to do it rather easily,
but that's beside the point. An estimated 25000 people gathered to watch this
one little kid, this one cancer-stricken boy, be the hero he always wanted to
be. He ended up being a hero for reasons to broad for him to understand at such
a young age. The film, directed by serious documentarian Dana Nachman, is an
uplifting ride from start to finish. Yes, it's a bit schmaltzy but so what?
This is the rare case of a truly happy story about good people doing what good
people should do. The only source of tension comes from the logistics of the
operation. We're talking about a citywide event that became part of the
national consciousness like few things before it. People were flying in from
around the world to be a part of it. The city police had to be part of an event
this size, streets shut down, buildings reserved, equipment built, safety
precautions made. And then there was Miles, this little kid from a tiny town
who can't understand why thousands of people are dancing in the streets for
him. Perhaps the biggest obstacle Wilson had to face was making sure this event
stayed about Miles when even President Obama is taking notice. The Dark Knight composer Hans Zimmer composed music
especially for Miles. Apple and Twitter's PR teams had to take over the
marketing. It was insanity, but the good kind.
Nachman, who wasn't there during filming
but came in to assemble the footage, isn't content to slide by on the story's
powerful feel-good emotions. She touches up the numerous conversation scenes
with colorful hand-drawn comic book designs, giving the film a visual panache
superior to most documentaries. Maybe a cynic will find reason to rain all over
the good feelings this film generates, but those eager for a hopeful story
about the inherent goodness within us all, Batkid
Begins is the movie to see.
Rating: 4 out of 5
