The Inheritance

I watched this only because I thought it might be funny...it wasn't. Very cheesy and full of religious babble. Couldn't even finish watching it. Hollywood really needs to stop adding all these religious components into movies that might have otherwise been good.

It was an excellent movie! Sure, some of the camerawork was a little shaky, but overall, pretty well done. The acting was also a plus, showing down to earth family dynamics. There are a couple plot holes, but other than that, the story was interesting and well put together. Four siblings, who haven't seen each other in a bit, meeting up after their mother passed. They have to play one of her games to get their inheritance.

It is a faith-based movie, and they make it very obvious. If you're not into that, that's ok. You don't have to watch it! And you certainly don't need to leave a bad review since this film clearly wasn't meant for you.

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Sounds like a good movie right? Wrong! It's basically a lifetime movie with the guise of a Bible thumper. Very subpar acting all around from the whole cast. Writing was horrendous. The camerawork even has early punch outs and punch ins, atleast the reflections in the mirrors don't show the crew. The movie is loaded with bible verses especially ones that don't even go along with the plot. I couldn't even tell you a character name from the movie because they were so forgettable. It has the Indiana Jones loophole. If the family didn't show up at all nothing would have changed.

Like virtually every faith-based film, this one is heavy-handed on message, and poorly written. The plot takes four disparate siblings back to their childhood-home to scatter their mother's ashes and learn of their inheritance. But the mother---being the kook that she evidently was---doesn't make it easy. Instead, she designs a bible-based scavenger hunt to force her children to unite while they search for the will. Sound promising? It is---but weak story lines, redundant bible verse, banal language, and slow pacing, bury it.

The film's redemption is delivered in the casting; Jaleel White (Mr. Shepard,) Cameron Kelly (Kasey Stryker,) and Mychala Lee (Emily,) take us from laughter to tears and remind us what it means to be part of a family. It's impossible to watch the dynamic between Kasey, Emily and Rachel---(played by Mena Suvari)---and not recognize our own family ties.

Despite the fatal writing flaws, I give this movie nine stars because of the cast, and because I'm a fan of the genre. Faith-based films are safe for the entire family, and rich in messages that we can all use---especially these days. If only they could include decent writing.