“The Boys in the Boat”, is a movie that was released on December 25th, 2023, originally inspired by the 2014 narrative nonfiction novel by Daniel James Brown. The novel takes place in the time around World War II, the 1930’s, and follows Joe Rantz, a young and modest student recently enrolled at the University of Washington. With his mother dying when he was young and his father abandoning him, Joe learned early on to take care of himself, although his poverty made him feel different from his wealthy counterparts at the university. Joe tried out for the rowing team and after a long and tiring freshman year, he made the team under the head coach, Al Ulbrickson. This novel explores the challenges and intense journey Joe Rantz goes through with his University of Washington crew team at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

“The Boys in the Boat” was given a 56% Tomatometer rating from critics and a 96% Audience Rating. 

Meghan Krumenacker, a member of the Mount crew team and USRowing Athlete, and Kate Tannenbaum, an avid member of the theater ensemble, both rated the movie a 7/10. Mrs. Fabrey, advisor to the Campanile, simply stated that the “book was better than the movie”. So not ever watching is also an option, maybe just take a pit-stop at Barnes and Nobles.

“I wish it showed more of Joe’s character development and gave his back story a little bit more,” said Krumenacker.

Tannenbaum said the movie was “fast paced” and “seemed like it all happened in one year but I think it really happened over four years” and she concluded, “so a little confusing that way but I thought it was really good”.

“Well I don’t know a lot about rowing but it definitely opened my eyes to how grueling and intense it can be so I think it did a good job in that,” said Tannenbaum, who doesn’t have much knowledge about rowing.

Krumenacker, having rowed since she was in seventh grade said, “I thought it was pretty accurate but I think the scene where they came back (fought to continue competing with the faster boats), they were in last by 8 boat lengths, and then they moved all the way up to first. I think that was a little bit dramatic and unrealistic for a real race.”

“If you’re not exhilarated by the idea of a boat race, then you might want to wait to watch it at home, but I still think everyone should see it because it’s an inspiring story that also illustrates history very well,” said Mrs. Fabrey, who has a son on the LaSalle Crew team.

If you’re up to watching a feel-good inspiring movie about an underdog rowing team with a happy ending, go ahead and buy that ticket.

If you’re not very interested in that warm vibe or rowing, maybe wait until the movie is available to rent or even free.

And if you’re content to bundle up with a good book, don’t even bother watching the movie and get to reading.