The Tiger Rising is a sweet natured film written and directed by Ray Giarratana.  It features some powerful messages and emotional moments as it tells the story of two kids both struggling with different family issues. It was based on a children's book written by Kate DiCamillo. 

The story revolves around a young boy named Rob Horton who moved to rural Florida after his Mom passed away from cancer. He lives in a motel with his father who does odd jobs for the owner of the motel to earn his keep. One day Rob not only meets a spunky new girl in class with a bite named Sistine Bailey but he also finds a tiger in a cage in the woods behind the motel. These two seemingly unrelated occurrences set in motion a series of events that forces both he and Sistine to confront the pain they are both trying to bury deep inside themselves. 

Some good performances are on display in this movie. Both Christian Convery and Madalen Mills, who play Rob and Sistine respectively, deliver heartfelt and complex characters that show a lot of promise for their future careers. They showcase quiet pain and wild outrage well. Queen Latifah also delivers a sobering performance as a motel maid with a lot of pain of her own and some wisdom gleaned from it to share. Dennis Quaid puts his all into his role as a sleazy motel owner. However, despite his best efforts to make this character repugnant, some of his own natural likability still shines through.  

The tiger though is the real star of this film. It not only becomes the symbol for strength, innocence, beauty, imagination, and freedom but it brings awe in and of itself. Maybe it’s my own connection to tigers creeping in but I personally was never more engrossed with this movie then when the tiger was on screen. That being said, I should warn my fellow animal lovers that you may feel somewhat jilted by the climax. 

The narrative is chock full of emotional lessons, many of them quite blunt. Not to say they aren’t good ones but sometimes I got the impression they were a little forced. This piece of cinema definitely wants to get its message across to the viewer. 

There are definite shades of Bridge to Terabithia here, so if you, like me, are a fan of that film, you will probably enjoy The Tiger Rising. That being said, Bridge to Terabithia was more of a slow burn with a gut punch at the end. While Tiger Rising certainly does take an unexpected turn, it feels more rushed and haphazard which makes for less of an emotional impact. You get the feeling that you are watching a flower bloom but one that suddenly speeds up to the full bloom too quickly all of a sudden. There were plot threads with bullies and art teachers for instance that would have been nice to see wrapped up. Instead they seemingly got dropped which was disappointing. You're left with an ending that does resolve everything to a large degree but feels out of synch with the rest of the narrative.

Still if you are someone who knows well the struggle of grief and your world falling apart then The Tiger Rising will be a welcomed friend who understands your pain. The performances and lessons are something that still have worth. It just could have used a bit more of a polish. One of the characters in this movie is a sculptor which is very apt for this film on a whole. It was sculpted with the best intentions and you can see what it is clearly, it just could have used a little more detail to have more of an impact.

Rorshach Rating:

Mental Health Moment: The Tiger Rising definitely had moments that resonated with me on a personal level. One of the major themes found in this story is getting out of the cages we put ourselves in when we feel in pain or at a loss. I definitely can relate. Sometimes the world can seem scary. We’ve been hurt by it so brutally in the past that it feels safer to lock ourselves away, or at least the tender vulnerable parts of ourselves. But as this movie makes abundantly clear we only increase our own suffering by doing so. We are meant to run free in this life. Part of freedom is encountering dangers and things that can hurt. It’s the price we pay to experience and savor all the wonders and joys that this life can also offer. So yes we may suffer loss, rejection, and pain but by doing so we ensure we have the opportunity to connect, love, gaze at beauty and let our imaginations soar. So let your heart run wild, I know I will from now on.

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Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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