As an irreligious person interested in Christian cinema from an academic standpoint, I found this to be one of the better Christian films of the last decade or so. It is missing the mean spirited hostility towards non-Christians, i.e. God's Not Dead, that is common in films of this type. The doubts of faiths are internalized to the Christian characters-Joyce is more zealous than her pastor by way of example; further the Christian characters are given pretty realistic foibles and flaws. This is a film that is very much for people in the faith wanting to see a story that affirms the basic precepts of the religion. It is a Sunday sermon, not a recruitment pitch. It succeeds, more or less, because of the earnestness of the storytelling.
The film presents the narrative as these characters understand it in a straightforward and honest way. There is not a hint of irony or smugness. Moreover, the script is careful, mostly, to balance the theology with humanity. I especially liked that the efforts of all the people who helped John survive were given credit (and in way a Christian would appreciate). The actual story-no matter what greater significance one attaches to it- is compelling. It was enjoyable, even as someone who is irreligious, to see it brought to life.
A lot of this has to do with the production values and acting. This isn't expensive film but it is not cheap TV quality either. The drowning sequence (and the call backs to it) is shot effectively and some what lyrically. Now on the whole the direction is workmanlike and basic. But it works. The acting is very wonderful. I won't say this will be anyone's career work but Grace, Lucas, and especially Mets give fully realized performance. Grace and Mets have good chemistry as opposites. I wouldn't mind seeing them as frenemies again.
Unfortunately, the script feels the need to tack on about a 5 minute sequence dealing with the problem of evil. It is whole unneeded and worse unsatisfying in its own right. It commits minor character assassination in the process. The writer should have left well enough alone.
But this is a good movie on the whole.
