To fully appreciate Boy in Blue, its helpful to know a little bit about the sport of sculling-or competitive rowing. Nicolas Cage stars as the real-life Ned Hanlan, who at the turn of the century was Canadas foremost sculling champ. A wild, uncontrollable youth, Hanlan is adopted by a gambler named Bill (David Naughton), who promotes the boy on the sculling circuit for his own monetary gain. Ruthlessly businessman Knox (Christopher Plummer) assumes control of Hanlans career, but when Ned discovers just how ruthless Knox can be, he casts his lot with the first honest man hes met, inventor-speculator Walter (Sean Sullivan). Hanlans professional success is capped by his marriage to Margaret (Cynthia Dale), Knoxs previously unattainable niece. The by-the-numbers Boy in Blue was given an R rating due to a few disposable sex scenes, thereby cutting its potential audience (hero-worshipping youths) in half. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide