Miracle in Lane 2

Miracle in Lane 2, is a 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie starring Frankie Muniz, Rick Rossovich, Molly Hagan, and Patrick Levis.

Miracle in Lane 2
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Written byJoel Kauffmann
Donald C. Yost
Directed byGreg Beeman
StarringFrankie Muniz
Rick Rossovich
Molly Hagan
Patrick Levis
Roger Aaron Brown
Tuc Watkins
Theme music composerPhil Marshall
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
Production
Producer(s)Greg Beeman
Christopher Morgan
CinematographyWilliam Wages
Editor(s)Terry Stokes
Running time120 minutes
Release
Original networkDisney Channel
Original releaseMay 13, 2000 (2000-05-13)

Plot

The film tells the true story of Justin Yoder (played by Muniz), a young boy born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Justin uses a wheelchair. He lives with his overprotective parents and brother, Seth (Patrick Levis), who is a successful high school athlete. Due to his disability, Justin is unable to play any sports, something he is determined to do, much to the scepticism of his brother. For guidance, he turns to God, who takes form of famous race car driver Bobby Wade (Tuc Watkins).

Justin attempts to try out for summer league baseball, but is turned down by the head coach due to his disability. Unrelenting, he continues on his sports journey and soon picks up chess. After only some time practicing and immediately promising his brother he's going to win a trophy, he enter a tournament where due to being wheelchair bound, he is incorrectly placed in a younger bracket. Justin considers it an advantage going up against younger kids but is quickly defeated in his first match.

After leaving the tournament in disappointment, he finds himself at a car show where he spots his neighbor, Vic (Roger Aaron Brown), and his vintage red Corvette. Justin notices a trophy to be awarded for best car and asks if Vic has a chance of winning it. He is told that it is unlikely, not because of the car as the contest holders consider it probably the best car there, but because the winner will be the one who collects the most money, something that will be hard for Vic due to his off-putting demeanor and personality. Justin gets an idea and offers to help Vic collect in exchange for the trophy if he wins. Vic initially refuses but realizes it's his best chance at winning and agrees to do it. Vic wins the contest and after gives Justin a ride home.

A couple of days later, Vic drives by and asks Seth if Justin is home to which he's told no. He considers giving a box to Seth but ultimately decides against it and drives off. Seconds after Vic leaves, Justin and his mom pull up and Justin recognizing Vic's truck, asks Seth if he had a box with him. Seth says yes and Justin immediately takes off for Vic's house, ignoring his brother's pleas to help him with the groceries.

Justin pulls up outside the house and calls out Vic's name, but gets no response. Determined to get his trophy, he wheels into the back of the house looking for Vic where he finds the Corvette stored in a garage. Inside the garage he spots a box high up on a shelf and assumes that it's his trophy. Unwilling to wait any longer to get it, he attempts to knock the box down, but instead inadvertently knocks down the shelf which lands on the car, damaging it, and causing it to roll down the driveway into some trash cans, damaging it further.

Forced to make up for what he did, Justin is sent to help Vic clean up the mess he made. As Vic gets to know Justin, he starts taking a liking to him and starts being friendlier, even offering Justin some milk and cookies. After finishing up the garage, Justin asks Vic if he wants him to help him with the shed too, an offer he quickly turns down, telling Justin to stay away from the shed.

One day, while helping Vic around the yard, Vic leaves Justin while he runs some errands. With him gone, Justin peeks into the shed through a window and notices multiple trophies inside. He goes inside and discovers even more awards along with a soapbox racer. He starts up an old film and sees on the screen a young girl racing soapbox racers. As he watches on with interest, the door behind him opens and Vic storms in, demanding that Justin leave.

Justin hopes to participate in that sport and eventually finds a love and talent for it. To accommodate his disability, his father and their neighbor, Vic, build a customized racer with a hand brake (which they call the "Justin Brake"). Meanwhile, Seth feels that his parents focus too much on Justin rather than giving both equal treatment. However, he has a change of heart when Justin crashes during a race.

The Yoders are confronted with the idea that Justin's involvement with the sport may be hazardous to his health. At the end of the film, he asks God if people are perfect when they go to Heaven. In response, he shows him a vision of it where there are people with and without wheelchairs, all together, to which he happily replies "perfect".

As a tribute to Justin, live footage of him is shown before the closing credits.

Cast

Production

Originally known as Wheelies, the telefilm was in production in March 2000 for a May 2000 Disney Channel premiere.[1]

Awards

Won

Greg Beeman (director), Christopher Morgan (unit production manager) (plaque), Lisa C. Satriano (first assistant director) (plaque), Nick Satriano (second assistant director) (plaque)

  • Humanitas Prize, 2001 - Children's Live-Action Category, Joel Kauffmann, Donald C. Yost
  • Young Artist Awards, 2001 - Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Movie (Drama), Supporting Young Actor, Patrick Levis

Nominations
  • Writers Guild of America, 2001 - WGA Award (TV) Children's Script, Joel Kauffmann, Donald C. Yost
  • Young Artist Award - Best Family TV Movie/Pilot/Mini-Series - Cable
  • Young Artist Award - Best Performance in a TV Movie (Drama), Leading Young Actor, Frankie Muniz
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References
  1. Barker, Kate (March 1, 2000). "News in Brief". Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
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