Angel Studios began promoting this film last year, preparing us to see the film on the United States’ 250th birthday. This first promotion gave us a good trailer and the opportunity to buy tickets REALLY early. It was a great idea to tie the film into the country’s birthday celebrations.
I have now seen the film. I was not disappointed in the presentation. Young Washington follows the early life of George Washington, a colonist from the Virginia Colony.
The colonies were full of unrest as two of the powerhouses of the time, France and Great Britain, jostled each other to see who would end up possessing the lion’s share of the New World’s land.
During this period in our history, the conflict centered on who would possess and control the Ohio Territory. The French were surging into the territory, building forts and trying to occupy as much of the land as possible.
Young George Washington convinces the powers that be to allow him to survey the Ohio Territory to help prove British ownership of the territory. Following his return from this task, as the French and their allies (Indian tribes) prepare for war, the colonial administrators are convinced to make George a Major of the Virginia Militia.
The truth is that George’s first attempt at leading the militia into battle was a failure. What is also true is that the young Major learned from his mistakes. His actions in the later battles and the times in between are what made him the commander we needed when the colonists decided that rule from across the ocean was not working.
Young Washington is a well-made film filled with excellent acting talent. My favorites were: Mary-Louise Parker as George’s mother. Ben Kingsley as Robert Dinwiddie, a British colonial administrator who was the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Kelsey Grammer as Lord Fairfax, the mentor, employer, and close friend of a young George Washington. And Andy Serkis as General Edward Braddock, a British Army officer and commander-in-chief of all British forces in North America during the early French and Indian War. Braddock was in command of the forces that attempted to capture Fort Duquesne (now modern-day Pittsburgh) and failed, but the attempt showed George’s growing talent for winning battles.
This film is a perfect addition to your July 4th celebrations! And it’s a lot cooler in the movie theater than outside under the sun!
Director: Jon Erwin
Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Andy Serkis, Ben Kingsley, Kelsey Grammer, Joel David Smallbone, William Franklyn-Miller, Michael Benz, Mia Rodgers, Jonno Davies, Angus Castle-Doughty, Ryan Begay, Alfie Kiely, Will Joseph, John Foss, Ian Dillon, Leo Hanna, Eoin Lynch, Jo Dow, Clement Toyon, Nicholas Antoniou, Eduard Kalmakov, Fearghal Geraghty, Paul Delahunty, Gerard Power, David Sweetman
MPA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of strong war violence and some bloody images)
Selig Rating: 4.5 Stars
Runtime: 125 Min.
Release Date: 07/03/2026
Language: English
Genre(s): Action, Biography, Drama, History, War
Movie Site: YOUNG WASHINGTON Official Site
Trailer: YOUNG WASHINGTON Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.