Approved for 12+

1500 Steps

"1500 Steps" is a transforming journey toward self-belief and brilliance. A cross between "Chariots of Fire" and "The Karate Kid," this high school drama is set in the beautiful, Sydney beach suburb of Cronulla. Jonas “Jobe” O’Brien, a homely sixteen-year-old, lives in a struggling single-parent family. His mother is dead, his father is an alcoholic who was once a champion runner. Jobe, a misfit and loner, has inherited his father’s athletic ability and love for running. After a fatal mistake at a party, Jobe seeks revenge against the perpetrator as an emotion and power wells within him that he has never experienced before. A retired ex-Olympian, Harry White, sets about mentoring Jobe's athletic ability when by chance he sees him run. It is now up to Harry White to encourage Jobe to dig deep and decide what type of man he wants to become. This is a touching coming-of-age story.
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Negative Rating
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SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
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Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

“1500 Steps” is a film that inspires! It shows that life is a marathon, not a sprint, and if one stumbles during the race it is important to remember that finishing well is the key to ultimate triumph. Hebrews 12:1 is mentioned and its idea of running the race with endurance.

The story takes place in Sydney, Australia, in the beach suburb of Cronulla. Jonas “Jobe” O’Brien (Alex Fechine) lives with his alcoholic father (his mom died) and tries to fit in at school, but a certain bully makes his life miserable. Yet a girl named Grace (Laura Benson) sees Jobe’s worth and starts going out with him, which makes her former boyfriend, the bully, quite upset. It doesn’t help that Jobe always beats the bully, Damon Dundas (Jack Matthews), in school running competitions. When Damon puts a drug in a student’s drink at a high school dance, the result is tragic and Jobe loses a good friend. In addition, Jobe is accused of using drugs and is suspended from the running team even though he is innocent. He prays in anger to God and then asks God for help. The results of his prayer are pretty amazing.

This movie speaks to the heartache of alcohol and drug abuse and shows that people too often place a period in their lives when God has instead placed a comma, allowing more of the story to follow. We are happy to award this dramatic story our “Faith-Friendly” Seal for ages twelve plus. Do yourself a favor and see it. You will be glad you did.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

Shoving between young men; young man is hit with a surf board and some blood is seen on his head; character bumps another character on purpose; two young men fight and one man pummels the bully until he is stopped; brief flashback scene of a car accident which is not graphic.

2
Sex

Kissing by couple in a few scenes; young man seems to stare at a girl's breasts in class (it's difficult to tell where he is looking); student during a dance grabs his crotch for a second or two.

1
Language

Jerk-1; Sucks-1.

2
Violence

Shoving between young men; young man is hit with a surf board and some blood is seen on his head; character bumps another character on purpose; two young men fight and one man pummels the bully until he is stopped; brief flashback scene of a car accident which is not graphic.

2
Drugs

Young man puts drug in a drink at a high school dance which causes a tragic event, but the man is eventually found out and drugs are found on him; young man has an unlit cigarette in his mouth or on top of his ear in a few scenes; student is seen drinking from a flask; "crackhead" comment; man drinks a lot and passes out and is put to bed by his son.

2
Nudity

Cleavage in a few scenes; shirtless men and young men and women in shorts.

2
Other

Father is verbally abusive to his son due to alcohol and when he speaks about the boy's dead mother the son punches him but they later make up; tension between characters; student makes a flatulence sound in class; grief over young man's mother being dead; young man is angry with God but then prays for God's help.

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