WALKING WITH HERB

US, 2021, 110 minutes, Colour.

Edward James Olmos, George Lopez, Kathleen Quinlan, Jessica Medoffgh, Jonathan McClain, Billy Boyd, Christopher McDonald, Tammy Lee Santi Meyer.

Directed by Ross Kagan Marks/

The title which sounds pleasantly innocuous. And the IMDb labels as a comedy. Which is a bit of a surprise – although there are comic moments, of course, this is a film with far more serious intentions. In fact, it is a faith film.

In recent years, faith films seem to have been moving beyond particular churches, many of them without any reference to the church scenes or scenes in a church. This is one of those films. However, it is a film where characters believe in God, some with great devotion, others experiencing sudden deaths and anguish, railing angrily against God.

And, even more, this is one of those films (and we remember that back in the 40s there were a number of movie angels coming to earth, especially Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life) where God actively intervenes in someone’s life, sending a guardian Angel to challenge and accompany.

A word of warning: this is very much a golf film, spending a great deal of running time on golf links, close-ups of shots, success and failures, the accompanying crowd, the media. Which means that if you are not a golf fan, you might have to make a serious act of the will to persevere in watching all the golf! The title refers to walking on golf links as well as the spiritual accompaniment in life.

The focus is on Joe, a successful banker, happily married to Sheila for many decades, and a daughter who is enterprising in charity and education, but having suffered the pain of unexpected deaths. The Joe, God is to blame. For Sheila, there is a confident faith in God. The couple is played by veterans Edward James Olmos and Kathleen Quinlan. The screenplay was written by Mark Medoff, writer, director, responsible for such films as Children of a Lesser God.

And, the important question, who is Herb? Well, he is in middle age, perhaps a touch later, dressed in outlandish relaxing clothes, riding his bike, a divine emissary, with more than a word to the wise. His played by George Lopez.

His way of drawing Joe out of himself is through golf, some local challenges, Herb giving technical advice, and, if this is not miracle enough, urging Joe to go into a national championship, playing against the best, huge prize money which Joe would hope to give to his daughter.

And, so we go on the various links, shot by shot, Joe playing off against the champion and winning, further teeing off, and, finally, a play-off against Scottish Archie Borthwick (Billy Boyd and memories of the Lord of the Rings), friendly negotiations with his caddie-coach, Christopher McDonald, and the question of whether Joe and Herb will reach their objective. And some renewed faith in God.

For those who accept the basic premise of God’s Providence, a faith entertainment. For those who do not accept it, they may be caught up in the humanity of the characters – and, of course, the golf.

1. Faith film, a religious film, in the broadest sense? Not associated with church or churches? But, belief in God, criticisms of God?
2. The New Mexico sitting, the comfortable family, the bank, homes, daughter’s charity work with children, the golf links? The musical score?
3. Audience accepting divine interventions in the world? Or not? How plausible?
4. Joe, his story, good man, relationship with Sheila, the years, his work at the bank, his staff, his Jewish associate? The deaths, the impact, his grief? His anger against God, crying out and railing against God? The contrast with Sheila and her sadness, grief but acceptance?
5. The introduction of Herb, eccentric, his bike, the touch of garish clothes, his manner? The encounter with Joe? The audience realising that he was a divine emissary? A contemporary Angel, guardian? Guide and protector?
6. The interactions with Joe, Herb knowing things, drawing on his long experience intervening? The effect on Joe? That Joe should have a special mission? And his puzzle as to why he should be chosen?
7. The film as a golf film, Joe and his experience in the past, liking to play golf, on the links, herb caddying, giving advice, urging him on? Wanting him to be competitive? Wanting him to go in the national competition? Joe and his reaction? Sheila and her reaction? Their daughter?
8. Joe, the golf matches, the film audience on the links with so much of the film, depending on their interest in and knowledge of golf? The match with the champion, the crowd, the media and their comments? Joe and his success? The badtempered loser?
9. Joe, his qualification to go into the major competition? The various matches, his manner, Herb and his presence, advice, knowledgeable caddy? Sheila and her watching? His daughter? The children?
10. The competition with Archie Borthwick, the young Scotsman, his manner, his wife, hearing-impaired and her sign language? Encouraging him? Going round the course, skills, climaxes, difficulties, the buildup to the final holes? The result?
11. Joe, sense of achievement, acknowledging Herb, sense of the presence of God? Bonding with Sheila?
12. Archie, his wife, the winnings, his donation, Joe giving it to his daughter?
13. A happy, faith-ending all round?