Some reviewers found the film's nonlinear storytelling—which uses Jadin as an "apparition" or mental companion during Joe's walk—to be an effective way to explore their relationship. However, others argued the film focused too much on the father's redemption and "pain" rather than the son's lived experience.
It first debuted at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as Good Joe Bell .
The film currently holds a "Mixed or Average" rating on IMDb and Metacritic. Joe Bell (2021) Movie Review Joe Bell (2021)
Devastated by the loss and grappling with his own previous inability to fully accept his son’s identity, Joe began a solo trek on foot across the United States. His goal was to walk from Oregon to New York City—a city his son had dreamed of living in—while stopping at schools and community centers along the way to speak about inclusion and the "lasting effects of bullying".
The 2021 film Joe Bell (originally titled Good Joe Bell ) is a biographical drama that tells the heartbreaking true story of an Oregon father's cross-country walk to raise awareness about the consequences of bullying. The film currently holds a "Mixed or Average"
After several delays and a title change, Roadside Attractions released it in U.S. theatres on July 23, 2021 .
The film is based on the life of , a man from La Grande, Oregon, whose 15-year-old son, Jadin Bell , died by suicide in February 2013 after being relentlessly bullied for being gay. The 2021 film Joe Bell (originally titled Good
Critics were largely divided on the film's execution, leading to mixed reviews.