2/10
Good intentions aren't enough
18 December 2019
Movies like this are the reason faith-based movies have such a bad reputation among non-Christian viewers. As other reviewers have noted, racial stereotypes abound--something that may fly over the heads of churchgoers from the heartland, but is definitely noticed by others outside this demographic. There are the usual complaints that come with many low budget "church" movies--bad acting, lousy dialogue, characters with unclear or unrealistic motivations, padding with unnecessary montages of outdoor footage, et al. The elder daughter's arc going from angry and disinterested to caring and compassionate is good, albeit expected. The actors playing the grandmother and the gang leader cousin come out the best, lending weight to some otherwise light proceedings. Without a doubt, the filmmakers wanted to make an inspiring movie about the change that comes when one dedicates their life to Christ. While there's nothing wrong with this goal, the ability to communicate this in a compelling way is hamstrung by a glaring lack of skill or ability, coupled with a case of tunnel vision in regards to how certain characterizations will be perceived. There are a few shining kernels among this effort, but the viewer has to work pretty hard to find them. Most won't go to the trouble.
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