‘A Mile in His Shoes’ a Surprise Gem
KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Sam Connan (age 10) had a chance to enjoy one of the special experiences of being a film critic: discovering the unexpected gem of a movie. That’s what he found A Mile in His Shoes to be – “really a very good movie” to which he gives a full five out of five stars.
Available now on DVD from Vivendi Entertainment and Nasser Entertainment, the powerful and positive family-friendly film is screening at the Beloit International Film Festival on Feb. 18. The screening is free, so if you’re near this southern Wisconsin town, consider making it a family outing.
A Mile in His Shoes
Reviewed by Sam Connan
(See his full review on video.)
I just finished watching A Mile in His Shoes, and when I was first sitting down to watch it, I thought, “Oh please, don’t be as bad as I think it’s going to be!” But that was unfair of me because, first of all, I didn’t know anything about it, and second of all, it was really a very good movie.
It’s about an autistic farm boy who has Asperger’s syndrome, and he likes to feed his pigs by throwing apples into a tub that is nailed sideways to a tree so his pigs can eat smashed apples. A baseball coach sees him doing that, so he has the kid try it with a real baseball, and the kid throws the ball so hard that it goes straight through the tub.
The baseball coach realizes that this kid is a natural pitcher, so he recruits the kid, whose name is Mickey.
Much of the movie is about Mickey’s troubles communicating with the world outside the farm, functioning in society.
Luke Schroder played Mickey in this, and I was very surprised when I went onto IMDb.com to find that there was really nothing on him. Then I realized that this movie was filmed just last year (2011), so this was probably his first film. But, I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that he is going to be a gigantic star. He was so incredibly wonderful in this role. He doesn’t have much to his credit yet, but he will.
I liked the way that they show things through Mickey’s eyes. I don’t have Asperger’s, but they show it in a way that gives you a better idea of what it’s like to have Asperger’s and look around and comprehend what’s happening. I think that is very well done. 
I’d have to say that the age range is pretty much anybody. Very small kids might not like it because there’s a lot of talking, although some of the stuff that Mickey says is very funny.
All in all, I’d have to give this a five out of five stars, because this was really a wonderful movie. This is something I’d recommend to friends. It’s very good.
Photo: A Mile in His Shoes box art (top), Sam Connan (bottom)
