Vashon Island Review: “Racewalkers”

Racewalkers (Kevin Claydon/Phil Moniz, 2025) 4 out of 5 stars

There’s something so joyful about the Canadian crowd-pleaser Racewalkers, from lifelong friends and filmmaking duo Kevin Claydon and Phil Moniz. It’s both a breath of fresh air and a throwback to the sports comedies of the ’90s that many in my generation grew up quoting and adoring. It takes few risks and, in doing so, feels riskier than you might expect. It also addresses disability in a way that feels unforced and natural, never making it the driving force of the film, but allowing it to accent the story. I wish more movies had that kind of courage and didn’t feel as if they were just checking boxes for social issues. Whatever you take from it, I can’t imagine anyone leaving without feeling utterly charmed and delighted.

If you’ve never heard of racewalking, join the club. It’s an actual sport—an Olympic sport—and people take it very seriously. Racewalkers tells the story of Will Lester (Phil Moniz), a physiologist with a passion for racewalking, a sport he could never participate in due to his dwarfism. When he meets Matt Mackenzie (Kevin Claydon), a washed-up professional baseball player down on his luck, he immediately sees the potential and convinces him to take a chance. Along the way, Will and Matt must deal with a narcissistic racewalking coach (a scene-stealing Greg Bryk) and his aloof son, Ched Lester (Robbie Amell, Simulant), doing their best to stay focused while Matt struggles with crippling doubt about the sport. Jess Salgueiro co-stars as a former racewalker and current ambassador for the sport.

This film doesn’t have a mean-spirited bone in its body—and how refreshing is that? Like the Apple TV series Ted Lasso, it’s a story that never punches down, instead focusing on quirky comedy and minimal raunch so that when those moments do occur, they’re all the more memorable. Claydon and Moniz have such a lived-in chemistry that even throwaway conversations take on extra meaning, giving the actors a chance to flesh out their characters and make us root for them. By the time the finale arrives, we’ve invested so much in these guys that it’s as emotionally resonant as any sports film you’re likely to see. Greg Bryk shines as the delusional coach who cannot bear for anything to go against him, while Robbie Amell is equally effective as his son, who only cares about winning and being cool.

The Canadian sense of humor is on full display. There are running gags that never wear thin, like Matt’s constant purchasing of raffle tickets for a drawing that may never happen, or his contentious relationship with his ex-wife’s new fiancé. There are also stand-out comedic set pieces, like the moment Matt and Will decide to get even with Coach Kurt. I won’t spoil it, except to say it involves a jersey, a Mazda, and a whole lot of skin. But it’s the film’s heart that truly shines, allowing both Matt and Will to come into their own while showing rare grace and understanding toward Matt’s ex-wife, Ched, and all the peripheral characters that round out an exceptional ensemble. It reminded me of Cool Runnings, another ’90s sports comedy that excelled at kindness and punching up. Racewalkers deserves a spot alongside classics like that.

Whether you’ve heard of racewalking or not, this film will likely send you down the rabbit hole, just as it did for me. Every obscure sport deserves the kind of loving, detailed celebration that racewalking gets here: a true appreciation for the sport and those who love it. It’s also one hell of a calling card for Claydon and Moniz, showcasing their brand of humor and the Canadian cinematic spirit that courses through the film. I can’t wait to see what these guys do next, but I hope it’s just as sweet, empathetic, and hilarious as Racewalkers. 2025 has been a banner year for comedies, and this one deserves a gold medal.

[The Vashon Island Film Festival, where Racewalkers just screened, ran August 7-10.]

Billy Ray Brewton

Billy Ray Brewton is the producer and founder of Make Believe Theatricals, which specializes in promoting unique creative voices that exist outside the mainstream. Billy Ray was the subject of the award-winning documentary, Skanks (Slamdance 2014); wrote and directed the award-winning dramatic horror film Show Yourself (Bruce Campbell’s Horror Film Fest 2017); produced the award-winning documentary Socks on Fire (Tribeca 2020, “Best Documentary Feature”); and served as associate producer on the horror anthology, The Mortuary Collection (Fantastic Fest 2019, “Audience Choice Best Feature”). The short film he produced in 2016, Pool Shark, currently has over 100 million views on YouTube. His next project as a producer, Mental Health and Horror, is scheduled for release in 2025. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, IDA, and Documentary Producers Alliance; is the ultimate heel on the Screen Drafts podcast; and writes about film for Cinepunx.