Watch Taking Chance

Taking Chance is a 2009 drama film directed by Ross Katz and starring Kevin Bacon, Tom Aldredge, and Nicholas Art. The movie follows the true story of Lieutenant Colonel Mike Strobl, a desk-bound Marine officer who volunteers to escort the body of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps back to his hometown in Wyoming after Chance was killed in Iraq.

The film begins with Strobl working his mundane job at Quantico when he learns of Chance's death. Despite barely knowing the young Marine, Strobl feels compelled to volunteer to escort his body home as a way to pay his respects and honor his sacrifice. As he travels across the country with Chance's remains, Strobl observes the ways in which people react to seeing a casket draped in the American flag, and he reflects on his own feelings about war, duty, and mortality.

Throughout the journey, Strobl encounters a range of individuals who offer their condolences and express their gratitude for Chance's service. He meets a flight attendant who is moved to tears by the sight of the casket as it is loaded onto the plane, a fellow Marine who served with Chance and is struggling with survivor's guilt, and a restaurant owner who refuses to let Strobl pay for his meal as a gesture of appreciation.

As Strobl gets closer to his destination, the film begins to focus more on Chance's backstory and the impact his death has had on his loved ones. We see his parents receiving the news of his death, and we witness the funeral procession as it makes its way through the small town of Dubois, Wyoming, where Chance was raised. Strobl is struck by the outpouring of support from the community, as hundreds of people turn out to pay their respects to the young Marine they knew as a boy.

Overall, Taking Chance is a poignant and heartfelt tribute to the men and women who have served and sacrificed for their country. While the film is relatively simple in terms of plot and action, it packs an emotional punch by highlighting the human side of war and the ways in which it affects those who serve as well as those who are left behind. Kevin Bacon delivers a powerful performance as Strobl, conveying both his stoicism and his simmering emotions as he grapples with the weight of his mission. The film is shot in a muted, understated style that matches the solemn tone of the story, and it succeeds in conveying the sense of honor and respect that is due to those who have fallen in service to our country.

Taking Chance is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.