SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA
By Gary ‘A Week in Hades’ Murray
Starring Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Melissa Leo and Deborah Ann Woll
Written by David Cook & Rob Levine, Matt Russell & Sandra Thrift
Directed by Matt Russell
Running time 95 min
MPAA Rating G
Selig Film Rating Matinee
Golf is always pushed as a metaphor for life. Seven Days in Utopia takes that concept and drives it down the fairway. It is a very rare kind of film; a G rated family film with no computer animations. In many ways, it harks back to the glory days of Walt Disney Studios when company would make live action family faire.
The story starts with a golf tournament and Luke Chisholm (Lucas Black) losing his cool and his lead on the links. After one of the most massive breakdowns on the circuit, he head out of town at breakneck speeds. Getting lost and getting into a wreck, he finds himself in the little town of Utopia, Texas. Almost instantly he befriends Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall) a grizzled old man who has his own golf course in his back yard.
Soon everyone in town knows of Luke and his meltdown on the greens. Johnny proposes to Luke and idea that if the young man will stay in Utopia for a week while his car is being repaired, the elder statesman will improve his golf game. Luke agrees and the lessons of golf and life begin.
Obi Wan…uh…I mean Johnny has Luke do such different tasks as fly fishing, pitching washers, painting and flying an airplane to teach the boy different aspects of the game. This roundabout way of opening the young man’s eyes also shows him that there is more to life than a game.
The film has four writers which gives the screenplay a feeling of compromise. There doesn’t seem to be a solid vision as much as an agreement to conciliation. It lends itself to a weak work. In trying to make it family friendly, the writing crew forgot one of the most important elements of a work of fiction—the villain. Every person who looks to become an obstacle eventually comes around to feel affection for Luke.
Some of the supporting cast in Seven Days in Utopia gives strong readings. Deborah Ann Woll as Sarah is this down home country charmer that comes across well on the screen. She isn’t given much to do rather than look pretty and question Luke in a few instances, but she does make the most of her screen time. Joseph Lyle Taylor comes as chose as one gets to the bad guy of the piece and he plays the part for all it is worth.
Melissa Leo as Lily is much more of a supporting character. This recent Oscar winner doesn’t have much to do in Seven Days in Utopia. This is a Robert Duvall showcase and he does his normal workman job. It is like watching a home run hitter at batting practice. He just keeps knocking ball around without any noticeable effort. There is not much of a challenge for him in Seven Days in Utopia but he does look as if he’s having fun going up against his cast.
Matt Russell directs this film with the subtlety of using a sledgehammer on china. He never finds the right beat with the comedic nor the dramatic moments. There is so much potential with this cast and he never finds much to give his audience. He never finds the passion of his characters and that translates into weak direction.
Seven Days in Utopia is not a bad film, but it is also not a great film. It is a watch-able work but it doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression.
