'Seven Days in Utopia' takes a predictable shot at warm-and-fuzzy

G; 109 min.

In Seven Days in Utopia, a mild-mannered young golfer has a mild meltdown in the middle of a tournament. That's followed by seven days of perspective-patching among mild-mannered, God-fearing folk in rural Texas. Faith and "fore" walk hand in hand -- sort of -- in this soft-centered faith-based drama starring Lucas Black.

Based on David L. Cook's self-help novel, Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, first-time director Matt Russell's film follows aspiring pro Luke Chisholm (Black) as he explodes in a contained fury in a televised tourney where he had hoped to earn his pro tour card. We then follow Luke as he flees the embarrassment of his worst day on the course, turning up at a ranch in a small town where he figures nobody will know who he is.

Robert Duvall is sage old rancher Johnny Crawford, a fellow who enters Luke's life on horseback. He takes the golfer in (Luke has dinged his car) and makes him ponder the great questions of golf -- "How could a game have such an effect on a man's soul?"

Oscar winner Melissa Leo and wonderful character actress Kathy Baker are here to lend, well, character. But mostly, this is about Johnny playing golf guru to Luke.

Seven Days is a potentially good golf movie stuck in a water hazard. It goes in the rough with the staging of Luke's infamous "meltdown." But ask 40 golfers about their worst tantrum on the course, and 35 of them will top this milder-than-mild one.

Seven Days is beautifully shot. And Black, an avid golfer, makes a very convincing pro. The film's charm comes from its lighter moments. Duvall and Black have a warm mentor-student rapport. But Seven Days in Utopia lacks surprises.

-- Roger Moore,

Orlando Sentinel