“Tyson’s Run” could best be described as “Rain Man” meets “Chariots of Fire,” but with all of the wit and warmth of those movies completely, surgically removed. 

This could’ve easily been a movie that the folks at Sherwood Baptist Church would’ve loved to be involved in, but that’s nothing more than damning with faint praise. Here’s a movie that is well-intentioned but falls flat in scene after scene, with material that is predictable and manipulative to a fault. Even its target audience will find themselves thinking enough is enough.

The movie stars Major Dodson as Tyson Hollerman, a 15-year-old with autism who’s been homeschooled all his life and is now ready to branch out and try going to public school. Amy Smart is his loving, attentive mother with whom he has a wonderful relationship — certainly better than the one he has with his father (Rory Cochrane), a football coach at the high school Tyson wishes to attend. Tyson eventually starts his new life at the high school, but it comes with a tremendous amount of bullying due to his affliction. He’s teased mercilessly and even called “Forrest Chump” at one point.

Tyson does find solace in one activity: marathon running. He’s inspired to take it up after seeing an athletic shoe store owner (Barkhad Abdi) do a lot of running at the track where his dad coaches. The two take an immediate liking to one another, and Tyson convinces him to train him on how to be a runner.

One of the movie’s most ludicrous scenes involves Tyson taking off in the middle of the night during a rainstorm, and the movie’s pacing grinds to a halt. Why? The movie doesn’t offer a reason, and when it does, it’s shameless in its payoff.

“Tyson’s Run” is one of those movies that if you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen the movie. At no point does it leave room for anything other than sheer predictability and a message that’s ham-fisted into the screenplay with a mallet.

On top of that, the performances are lackadaisical. There’s not a single moment where you can look at the actors and get the sense that they’re embracing the material. The dialogue is inane and wooden.

It would amaze me if anyone remembers this movie by the time they get to the parking lot. Instead of a story that inspires us to go for our dreams, the only thing it inspires is to quickly make your way toward the exit sign.

Grade: D-

(Rated PG for thematic elements and some language, including offensive slurs.)