The Boys in the Boat review: "George Clooney's old-school sports drama is solid but predictable"

GamesRadar+ VerdictClooney steers his well-made, old-fashioned sports drama with style and skill. But it’s never quite oar-some. GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Clooney steers his well-made, old-fashioned sports drama with style and skill. But it’s never quite oar-some. Clooney steers his well-made, old-fashioned sports drama with style and skill. But it’s never quite oar-some. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. George Clooney follows up The Tender Bar (2021) with another unabashed heartwarmer, a solid but fairly predictable old-school sports biopic celebrating the scrappy University of Washington men’s rowing eight, which powered to the 1936 Olympics against all the odds. Adapted from Daniel James Brown’s bestseller, The Boys in the Boat is a real-life underdog story, one that zeroes in on Callum Turner’s proud but penniless Depression-era student Joe Ranz, who desperately battles for a crew place just for the free board and lodging. Director Clooney’s sweaty close-ups of the crew’s back-breaking training adroitly emphasise the teamwork that gruff coach Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton) instils into his team of argumentative, mostly working-class recruits, who combat their hard times with inspiringly hard work. Too bad then, that Mark L. Smith’s (The Revenant, Clooney’sThe Midnight Sky) taciturn script (it’s a manly movie, set in a stiff-upper-lip era) is too understated to get you really rooting, Seabiscuit-style, for the raw but exceptional crew when they try and trounce their rich-boy rivals at California and Yale regattas. The Boys in the Boat is out now in US cinemas and in UK cinemas on January 12. For moreupcoming movies, here’s our guide to2024 movie release dates. More info More More about the boys in the boatJoel Edgerton chats new sports movie The Boys in the Boat, fan-favorite Warrior, and wanting to “get back” at George ClooneyGeorge Clooney and The Boys in the Boat stars discuss training for the sports drama: “it was almost spiritual"LatestSquid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"See more latest► More about the boys in the boatJoel Edgerton chats new sports movie The Boys in the Boat, fan-favorite Warrior, and wanting to “get back” at George ClooneyGeorge Clooney and The Boys in the Boat stars discuss training for the sports drama: “it was almost spiritual"LatestSquid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"See more latest► More about the boys in the boatJoel Edgerton chats new sports movie The Boys in the Boat, fan-favorite Warrior, and wanting to “get back” at George ClooneyGeorge Clooney and The Boys in the Boat stars discuss training 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