It is not often I can say that I've seen a film that promotes the Christian faith properly (even when I watch most "Christian" films.) This film is about Caleb (Kirk Cameron), a troubled firefighter and his wife Catherine (Erin Bethea). Their marriage is disintegrating until he finds God and the two begin to patch their relationship. The Christian view of marriage the film promotes is the best choice for couples. A relationship founded in Biblical truth promises a firm bond over the years. I've seen it in practice, I know this to be true. In this age of political correctness a firm statement like this will bring comments that I'm being too broad. No, in this case one size does fit all. Living a Biblical life makes things better every time its tried, no exceptions. This film directs people in the right way. Based solely on this I recommend the film, but mostly to just Christians. I fear that many non-Christians will not get what's being displayed.

This film, like many other "Christian films" gets slammed for its low budget and frank presentation of faith. Thinking back on my own pre-Christian days, I would have seen this and dismissed it as Christian proselytizing with television lighting. I give the film makers Alex and Stehpen Kendrick a break on some of the technical issues because of what they're doing: delivering the Gospel in a respectful and enjoyable way.

Now that I've recommended it, let me get to the flip side.

This film has two serious flaws. First, the dialog is inorganic. The Kendricks have very specific points they're looking to impart, but this comes at a cost. The characters express their motivations and emotions too abruptly which breaks the rhythm of conversations. This leads to actors from getting a flow of words they can present smoothly, which leads to stilted scenes. Just like with live theater, the words said by a character are the critical aspect of a film. Dialog sets tone, motivation, and style providing the lyrics to the film. When the words are too blunt, or "on the nose" they distract, pulling the audience out of the scene and breaking the suspension of disbelief. This is not to say that every line is troubled, there are good scenes in the film. However, there are enough awkward exchanges that I need to mention it.

The other major flaw was the structure of the first act. For my readers who have heard me go at the subject a thousand times already, please forgive me but we're going there again because it is important. The first act is the introduction to the film. We meet the characters, discover their conflicts and desires, and come to understand the rules of the road. This introductory act is mechanical stuff once you understand it. This said, it is complicated mechanics and it is easily set off balance. In this production the whole narrative rests on the presentation of the marriage between Caleb and Catherine. It is critical that we develop a want for their relationship to work. We have to like both of them and see that the two of them are compatible. As an audience we are looking to see ourselves in them, even if they're miserable. We look to connect with the characters and share in their misery, then later in their salvation. The Kendricks do a good job with their argument scenes. They are well written and delivered. The problem is that we are introduced to both characters separately where they grumble about life. Following this they are shown together where the two explode - actually it's Caleb that explodes and Catherine wilts. By the time the two finish fighting and divorce looms, we are left with little reason to actually want them to reconcile because we don't have a clear enough vision of the two being happy.

Caleb is posed as a jackass. He's abrupt with his men at the firehouse and verbally abusive to his wife. What's missing is the reason we should like him. He's an unlikable guy and there's no reason given as to why he's respected or loved by those around him. When Caleb later turns himself around this missing connection with the audience leads them to be witnesses to his transformation not active participants in it. Making the initial connection between audience and hero is normally done with a brief exchange at the beginning of a story where he will tell a joke, do a favor, or impart some wisdom. Caleb does this, but it falls flat since he is so stern. When he moves into his relationship with Catherine we only see a brute, not a man, because we haven't been let in to see the calmer person inside. This impacts how we see his relationship. The two needed to be either more troubled by their circumstances or shown enjoying one another before the yelling starts. This establishes for the audience why we should like the couple. This simple misstep causes serious problems moving into the middle acts where Caleb is transformed because we don't have a proper guide as to what his end goal looks like, what their good relationship will bring.

On the positive side it is clear the Kendrick brothers are capable of some good film making. They have some well paced and structured scenes that payoff. Given the limited budget and time constraints, they manage to get quite a bit out of the resources they are provided. A good example is the accident scene. A car with a couple of teenage girls is trapped on train tracks. The firemen struggle to move the car off the tracks before an oncoming train destroys the vehicle with the girls stuck inside. This moment of peril is very well pieced together and quite effective. Given that it appears to have been shot with very little technology and since the result of the scene is obvious, it is notable how successful they were at pulling it off. A result of good writing and planning, the editor is able to piece together a tense scene. There are moments such as this through out the film where Alex Kendrick's direction and the script align and work in tandem to show the potential of this film making crew.

In closing, I want to repeat that the film promotes a good message. I can see how many people will be able to look past the faults of the production mentioned above to enjoy the message being delivered. Is this a masterful work of cinematic art? No, this is not Citizen Kane. Taking it on its own terms, it succeeds. I have respect for the Kendrick brothers and what they've managed to build over the past few years. They are Christians and they are doing what more Christians should be attempting - making movies that promote their faith.





Related Reviews:
On Christian films
Less Christian Art - More Christian Artists
The G-Rated Christian: Part I - Does God Call For Us to Become Ned Flanders?


Other Critic's Reviews:
Christianity Today
Happy Catholic

Labels: Alex Kendrick, Christian film, film, Kirk Cameron, movie review, Stephen Kendrick