WFG RATING: B-

A Global Digital Releasing presentation. Directed by Chris Cassidy and Christopher Kenneally. Produced by Chris Cassidy, Christopher Kenneally, and Jim Klock. Cinematography by Thomas Fishwick. Edited by Chris Cassidy and Brandon Brumfield. 

Stars Jeremy Stalnecker.

A former Marine attempts to bring awareness by doing the nearly impossible in this documentary. 

After serving his time in the Marine Corps, Jeremy Stalnecker founded Mighty Oaks, a foundation to help fellow military who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Researching and learning that PTSD has resulted in at least 22 suicides a year among former soldiers. To raise awareness, Stalnecker decides to do something that seems impossible on the surface. He decides to run 22 marathons in 22 days across the country. It will not be easy, but Stalnecker is ready for the challenge. 

Now, this is quite an interesting story. What I like about some of today’s documentaries is that we get stories that should gain recognition but for one reason or another, seems to get overlooked or not worthy of national headlines. This is one of those that has a great story of a former Marine who attempts to run 22 marathons in 22 days to bring awareness to the suicide rate of PTSD-stricken military. That’s a story that deserves national, even global news. 

Chris Cassidy and Christopher Kenneally bring Stalnecker’s story to life along with fellow ex-Marines who share their stories of their experiences of war and their effects. We do get to see Stalnecker run some of the marathons but the only small gripe I have here is that I feel it needed more of the latter. At a runtime of 48 minutes, it felt a little short and while this is good for what they have, some more footage of some of the other marathons Stalnecker participates in and giving it a slightly longer runtime would have made it more the while. 

22 is not a bad documentary. It does serve its purpose in a way, but some more marathon footage mixed in would have it more worth seeing the story for what it is. But overall, a good effort.

The film is now available on Digital Platforms.