Young Washington movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: Young Washington

This patriotic movie will release in theaters on July 3, 2026.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours 5 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A-

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About This Movie:

I adore Angel Studios for their desire to put more “light” and good in this world. They’re doing a great job! This is their first film to be released on a premium format: DBOX. George Washington was such an incredible, honorable man. Did you know that the people wanted to make him their king? He had already lived under the British king’s rule and wanted nothing to do with that! The USA is indeed lucky that such a man of integrity was our first president to show us the way to a Republic.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Directed by Jon Erwin, Young Washington gives audiences a powerful, rarely-seen origin story of the man who would become America’s first president. Writing credits also go to Jon Erwin, Diederik Hoogstraten, and Tom Provost. Arriving in theaters just in time for the United States’ 250th anniversary, the film eschews the legendary, perfect figure found in history textbooks. Instead, it centers on a flawed, ambitious, and error-prone 22-year-old George Washington commanding during the French and Indian War. After a single misstep thrusts him into the center of a brutal global conflict, Washington must navigate crumbling alliances, the horrors of the frontier, and his own devastating failures to become the leader a nation will one day need.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Violence: As an epic historical war drama, there are intense battle sequences, musket fire, hand-to-hand combat, and period-accurate depictions of frontier warfare. Expect some blood, intensity, dead bodies, and thematic peril that earned its PG-13 rating.
Age Appropriateness: Ideal for teens (12+) and adults due to the mature themes of war, political betrayal, and historical context. It serves as a fantastic, highly educational springboard for family discussions about American history. Young children hoping to learn about the first president in the USA will be a bit bored due to the amount of dialogue and complex politics.
Profanity: It is SOOO refreshing to be able to watch a film, especially one about war, that isn’t filled with profanity and a million F-bombs. Thank you, Angel Studios, for keeping it clean!

THEMES:

Humility and learning from failure
Honor, duty, and leadership
The heavy cost of war and political conflict
Identity and the forging of character
Courage under fire
Perseverance

THINGS I LIKED:

A Humanized Hero: William Franklyn-Miller delivers a layered performance as the young George Washington. He perfectly captures the swagger and youthful arrogance of a young officer, making his eventual humbling and maturation feel incredibly earned.
The Stellar Supporting Cast: Having heavyweights like Ben Kingsley (as Governor Robert Dinwiddie), Andy Serkis (as General Edward Braddock), and Kelsey Grammer (as Lord Fairfax) anchors the film with immense dramatic weight. Mary-Louise Parker is also fantastic as Washington’s wise mother, Mary Ball Washington.
Stunning Visuals: The cinematography beautifully captures the rugged, unforgiving nature of the 18th-century frontier (filmed beautifully on location in Virginia and Ireland).
Refreshing Angle: Most films skip straight to the Revolutionary War. Focusing on the French and Indian War (and Washington’s early military mistakes) makes for a much more fascinating character study. Very few Americans truly understand the details of the French and Indian War.
Music: Just when I wanted sweeping, emotional music with a triumphant note, that’s exactly what I wanted. Nice musical score!

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Pacing: At over two hours, the middle portion of the film gets a bit bogged down in British-French colonial politics and treaty negotiations.
Historical Liberties: While it strives for accuracy, some timeline events and character dynamics are slightly Hollywood-ized for maximum dramatic tension.
Subtitles: The French and Indian dialogue is not always translated.
SPOILER: I liked having a little romance so that we could see the softer side of George; however, it fizzled into nothing. On the other hand, we all have to experience dating duds before we can find our true match!

FUNNY LINES:

Lord Fairfax (Kelsey Grammer) looking at a young, eager George: “Ambition is a fine horse, George, but it will throw you into the mud if you don’t hold the reins.”
A colonial soldier after a rough skirmish: “If this is what fighting for the British Empire feels like, I think I’d rather try my hand at farming.”

INTERESTING LINES:

George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller): “A single misstep has set the frontier ablaze. I wanted a name for myself… instead, I may have started a war.”
General Braddock (Andy Serkis): “The woods do not care about your rank, young man. They only care if you know how to survive them.”
Lawrence Washington: “Obedience can be commanded, but respect must be earned.”
Robert Dinwiddie (Ben Kingsley): “To lead is to forfeit the right to make excuses.”
Mary Washington (Mary-Louise Parker): “Even a pawn can take the king.”
George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller): “Failure is a great teacher.”

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

The Patriot (I love this movie so much!!): https://amzn.to/4uVICy7
The Last of the Mohicans: https://amzn.to/43cz3iC
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: https://amzn.to/494F1pk
Cabrini (Another beautifully shot, inspiring historical drama from Angel Studios): https://moviereviewmom.com/cabrini-movie-review/

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