Lifemark

Poorly written. Emotional moments use cheesy royalty free inspirational/sad music, characters don't have any depth. To put it kindly, the acting is subpar and the dialogue is just awkward. Movie falls into countless poorly-executed clichés. One of the worst writing issues I noticed was how characters didn't evolve throughout the entire movie. Movie was so excellent it could have been directed by Donald Trump.

Here's my satirical review: Beautiful film that loves mentioning how god was responsible for every thing down to a character speaking. What an amazing film, I loved it so much hearing about church and god. It was just so inspirational.

I first found the Kendrick Brothers movie Courageous back when I was experiencing something similar as the character Nathan in that movie. I'll just say that movie had a message that reach a lot of people whether unexpected like it did with me or intentionally for its main audience. That audience has been ridiculed of late in the media and targeted by folks who simply have nothing better to do but insult others. This movie is an example of the evolving hate towards faith based movies and the audiences who support them. I was disappointed to hear my theater was only showing this for one week. I guess the subject matter if too conflicting with today's world climate.

Still, this is one of the best movies I've seen this year. The topic of abortion has been told before going back more than 30 years in another Kirk Cameron movie 'Listen to me.' That movie was produced and advertised by a major movie studio. This one is produced by Christian film makers who have a reputation or making thought provoking, heart warming movies with a message. Except where major Hollywood movies are throwing money making garbage, they're really missing out on an audience who financially support these movies.

This movie is well told, well acted, and moving. With the recent Roe v Wade issues in 2022, it's pro life stance likely scared away studios. No bother because those who enjoy good movies will still choose to spend their money on things they can take their families to see together.

A young man turns 18 and realizes he was adopted as his birth mother reaches out to him. Eventuality he learns some years earlier, his mother considered abortion. The relationship between mom and son takes this movie to a whole new level not shown in movies today....genuine heart and human emotion. Are there themes of faith and hope?? Of course, and it's not ashamed to go there. What it will do though is make you think while you find yourself really invested in the characters. You find yourself rooting for these folks on screen because you want them to succeed. There's some humor, some comedy, little action, and all around a pretty good time. Best part is you can take the family to this one and not worry about sex and profanity. I'm guessing the PG-13 rating comes as a caution due to the subject matter but otherwise this is clean entertainment. I highly recommend it. Show Hollywood their error in not producing more movies like the Kendrick Brothers films-which by the way went number 1 in 2015.

PROS

+ Great production quality and great actors.

+ The movie is very great in removing many psychological barriers. This implies the barrier for reconciliation after a very long time and distance, and especially to consider adoption instead of murder.

+ No problematic language or violence.

CONS

• A mix between superficiality, matched clothing styles and super-emotionalism.

• While the movie is very pleasant to watch and carries a very great message, it is far away from the Good Message of IESOUS CHRISTOS.

We can certainly all agree that adoption is a considerable alternative, but have to ask ourselves if this is the plan A of the Bible, especially given the fact of its complete absence from it. Yes, it is true that not everything is stipulated in the Bible, but could we come to the same quintessence of the movie, specifically of David's advise to his sister, to simply think it over again based on his example?

This culmination of the movie in this worldly advise is problematic. It is one thing what David experienced in the past, but a whole other thing what he now makes out of that knowledge. He presented his sister literally the Good Message of his upbringing, but how much more important would it have been to present her not just a plan B, but the Good Message of IESOUS CHRISTOS, which would include to first follow Him instead of her brother?

Without CHRISTOS she might eventually make the right decision, but it would rather be a product of chance if this would not result in a mother-child relationship, but also father-mother-child family.

What is presented here is beautiful, but if such an extreme situation of life is not being used in order to present the Good Message, then where should THEOS be allowed to work? This is the very tragic failure of the movie. It presented a plan B and laid it wonderfully out, but apart from some Christian undertones, the movie never proposed the wonderful plan A anywhere.

• The credits include the following:

St. Luke Methodist Church

St. Mark United Methodist Church

Grace Presbyterian Highland Community Church (Calvinist)

Focus on the Family

March for Life.

Wonderful movie! It is an inspiring true story about adoption and what it means to truly adopt someone into a family:) highly recommend it to families, couples, and groups! I would recommend it to anyone who would want to be encouraged in the times of family struggle with adoption and not knowing what choice to make. It can change your life! God works in big ways and He cannot be stopped! This film delivers a powerful message about pro-life and how every life matters and children are a gift from God:) Adoption is very powerful, and this movie explains why adoption is powerful in that way! Every child deserves a chance to live and should be cherished and loved:)

The plot of this film has been done a few dozen times before. Sometimes, the subject matter has been handled sensitively, and most other times the subject matter was handled shabbily. The old story of the birth mother wanting to reunite with the child who has been adopted can easily fall into the cornball acting syndrome. Fortunately for this film and its actors, it does not. The script is intelligent, the actors are believable, and the situation is handled in a sensitive manner. All of these good variables make this an easy decision to recommend this film to the public. The only reservation I have about the film is its overreliance on religion.