Young Washington Review: Inspiring Film Casts George Washington in a Fresh Light

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“No man who lived a life of ease ever left a name worth remembering.” So states the title character in the new film Young Washington, which tells the story of a youthful soldier named George Washington who aimed to prove himself on the battlefield. Although Washington’s military greatness and presidential successes are well-known, this feature wisely focuses on his youth—showing how a boy heartbroken over his dad’s death eventually became one of our nation’s Founding Fathers.

After briefly showing the grieving title character as a young boy (Will Joseph), the film focuses most of its attention on Washington (William Franklyn-Miller), a disciplined man in his twenties. At the time, Washington wanted to prove his worth in the British army, but his humble roots (and lack of property) held him back from becoming a British officer.

To prove his mettle, Washington offers to venture into unexplored territory and report back to Lord Fairfax (Kelsey Grammar), a well-respected British landowner. That assignment leads Washington to a standoff with French soldiers, which builds tension between the British monarchy and the French. After an unexpected fight between the two powers, Washington rises in the ranks and eventually must lead his fellow soldiers into battle.

Although many recognize Washington’s patriotic contributions, this new film nicely shows a different part of his story. This isn’t a salute to an American icon. It’s the story of an underdog beginning his military career. “Imitation of great men does not make you one,” a British officer states to Washington, and that statement rings true to Washington, who had not proved himself yet.

Directed by Jon Erwin (I Can Only Imagine and Jesus Revolution), the film paints Washington as an overeager and ambitious soldier. The screenplay by Erwin, Tom Provost, and Diederik Hoogstraten emphasizes that, but never idealizes him. “Failure is a great teacher,” Washington says, and the feature shows him failing repeatedly.

Instead, the screenwriters choose to capture the legendary commander in his infancy, showing that great men do not walk into the battlefield and find glory. They sometimes stumble into war, and their resilience — their fortitude and perseverance — makes them into great men. When the feature ends, Washington has not yet become a historical figure. He has become a good man of loyalty who has proven himself on the battlefield.

Franklyn-Miller does an honorable job in the lead role here, but never comes off as the larger-than-life figure the history books show Washington to be. That might be part of the charm here because in a film where Ben Kingsley, Kelsey Grammer, and Mary-Louise Parker surround him, he never matches up with the performers surrounding him. However, that is true of young Washington himself, a man often surrounded by people who had already proven themselves through years of turmoil and hardship.

The feature succeeds when it focuses on Washington’s career, showing how overlooked and underappreciated he was at an early age. Unfortunately, there are also a few stumbles here, including a budding romance between Washington and Sally Cary (Mia Rodgers), which never naturally fits into the film. Also, the third act battle presents Washington as a seemingly invincible hero who cannot be seriously injured.

Despite a few flawed story beats and some unnatural-feeling dialogue (especially in the early scenes), there’s a lot to appreciate about Young Washington. As Washington’s mother, Mary (Mary-Louise Parker), notes, “God raises what is well-grounded.” Despite some flaws, this feature is well-grounded with a strong cast, commendable action scenes, and a strong story that will likely entertain and educate theatergoers who might not know the title character’s inspiring origin story.

Photo Credit: ©Angel

John Hanlon is a film and TV critic whose work is syndicated on radio station websites across the country, including AM870TheAnswer.com and AM590TheAnswer.com. He began writing about television and films in late 2009 and has been published on CNN.com, The Week.com and USAToday.com. Hanlon has also been featured on the national radio shows The Dennis Miller Show and The Hugh Hewitt Show. He has also appeared on the Reelz television program Mark at the Movies.