In Seven Days in Utopia, a young golfer soon turns road rage into a life-learning experience after an old man finds him sitting and bleeding by his wrecked car and takes him in. The movie, based on David L. Cook’s bestseller Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, leaves little doubt about its tone, for it opens with scripture verse Isaiah 30:21, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Aspiring golf pro Luke Chisolm (Lucas Black) is in a match for his life when nothing goes right. Getting overbearing suggestions from his caddy, who is also his father (Joseph Lyle-Taylor), Luke grows befuddled as shot after shot goes awry. The last straw occurs when his father finally walks away as Luke has a tantrum right on the golf course. Luke responds by jumping in his car and taking off down the highway at high speeds while punching objects in his car. When a big bull stands right in front of him, Luke swerves to the right, crashing thought a field and coming to a stop with blood oozing down his head.

Fortunately, rancher Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall) approaches on horseback. He lends Luke a hankie for his head and takes him back to his ranch. By this point, it’s no secret where the movie is going, but it’s an inspirational journey worth watching.

As Luke is introduced to Johnny’s close friends, he becomes aware of their gentle ways and easy-going manner. He’s given a room at a boarding house, fed and clothed and introduced to the young and pretty Sarah (Deborah Ann Woll). He soon learns she’s studying to be a horse whisperer, and that even though she might be attracted to him, she’s no easy conquest. Luke gets a few unfriendly gestures from a young local (Brian Geraghty) who also has his eye on Sarah.

After a few uninvited visits into Johnny’s place, Luke discovers the man was once a golf pro and an alcoholic. Taking Luke under his wing, Johnny uses numerous elements of his life -- golfing, fly fishing, painting, flying -- to teach Luke morals and ways to better himself, including how to improve at golf.

A fine cast with actors like Duvall, Black, Melissa Leo, Deborah Ann Woll, Brian Geraghty, Jerry Ferrera, Joseph Lyle Taylor, KJ Choi and Kathy Baker keeps the story moving and the good lessons about life continually coming. Once Luke leaves his new friends and heads off to the Texas Open, the film’s plot is basically over, and the next segments are clearly cliché.   

Seven Days in Utopia, a great family film, gets its messages across without preaching. It strives to answer the question Johnny asks in his narration, “How could a game have such an effect on a man’s soul?” There are some answers in the film and more for viewers to figure out themselves. The movie also contains action, a bit of romance, humanity and humor (scenes of the guys in the Texas Hold ‘Em poker game are not to be missed).

(Released by Utopia Pictures and rated “G” for general audiences.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.