The ever-formidable Robert Duvall goes all Mr. Miyagi on us in this Christian-themed in spirational drama, playing an ex-golf champ mentoring a troubled young player (Lucas Black) whose car breaks down in the titular Texas town (population: 375) after a nationally televised meltdown at his first pro tournament.
Recovered alcoholic Duvall enters on horseback in Matthew Dean Russell’s variation on “The Karate Kid” — based on a best seller by David L. Cook — and spends a week teaching our hero to control his temper and deal with his daddy issues through unorthodox lessons. At least watching Black fish, paint and pilot an airplane is less boring than golf.
“Seven Days in Utopia” obviously isn’t targeted at us cynical New Yorkers. But it goes down more smoothly than you’d imagine thanks to Duvall and an excellent supporting cast, including Kathy Baker, Melissa Leo — and Brian Geraghty (“The Hurt Locker”) as a rodeo rider who is Black’s rival for the local beauty (Deborah Ann Woll).