Ah, wintertime-the perfect time to release another stupid movie about a boy’s adventures with a pack of dogs in the frozen tundra to save his family’s honor and home. This is probably what the writers and executives over at Disney said after completing “Iron Will,” another extremely predictable heartwarmer which kids and parents alike will shell out $7 a shot to see. (Boy, you have to admire those money grubbing execs, don’t you?)
“Iron Will” is about Will Stoneman (Mackenzie Astin), a 17-year-old boy from North Dakota. Will’s family lives a pretty normal life for people from frozen N.D. Will delivers mail by dogsled and his parents own a farm. Everything runs pretty smoothly until Will’s father drowns under the ice when his dogsled overturns. This tragic event springs myriad others. The bank now wants to foreclose on the mortgage. Of course, it’s up to Will to somehow save the farm.
Well, Will enters a dangerous $20,000 dogsled race sponsored by wealthy railroad tycoon J.P. Harper (David Ogden Stiers). Naturally, in a movie such as this, we need a coach for young Will. This role is filled by Ned Dodd (August Schellenberg), a wise old Indian who fills the age-old Indian medicine man stereotype.
Ned guides Will through the race, which also includes avoiding the evil tactics of a villainous racer. There is no need to go on, because, just as in “Cool Runnings,” “The Air Up There,” and other pointless Disney movies, we all know the outcome.
“Iron Will” is a good movie to see if you have no brain cells. The plot is fabricated and unoriginal and the scenery is generic. Trust me, you’ll need an iron will just to last through this pile of slop. (STAR)
