Grace Unplugged

This is a Christian film and like usual, I did not mind that. I cherish film for what it narrates than on what it all was all built on. Yeah, there's a little annoyance when a father is not letting his daughter to pursue her dreams. Especially in this modern world, and too in the western world, this is a bit surprising.

Grace, an 18 year old girl raised with the Christian faith is set to find her own life path. Her father, who is insisting her not to abandon the faith is the one to be convinced about what she wanted to accomplish in her life. She takes the chance that comes her way and the rest is history making.

An inspiring film. Not just for the Christian faith, but anybody with dreaming to accomplish something big. Particularly the youngsters. The cast was good, and the characters. Music tracks too enjoyable. Maybe the runtime should have been a shorter to accompany the pace. But overall not bad, a fine film was once watching.

6/10

Gracie Trey (AJ Michalka) performs with her protective father Johnny Trey (James Denton) at church. She's 18 and desperate to be a music star. Johnny's old manager Frank 'Mossy' Mostin (Kevin Pollak) shows up one day and tells him that his old song has became a viral sensation. Mossy offers him a new shot but he rejects it out of hand. He doesn't want his old problematic life. He's happy with his wife Michelle Trey (Shawnee Smith), church, and family. Gracie has a different idea. Quentin (Michael Welch) is the company intern.

An easy fix would be having the mom there accompanying her. I guess that easy fix is not what the movie is looking for. It's fine for the Christian crowd who sees Hollywood as a den of iniquity. An even easier fix for the movie would be to make Johnny a single parent. The whole movie has a hesitant feel. It's written like a weak melodrama although it could be worst. It's too hesitant to be too dark. It's too light to do anything risky. It seems to be more against the superficiality of commercial capitalism than anything else. It's singing to a certain choir.

PROS

+ Good, but not great actors.

+ Good script.

+ Good display of Christian boundaries when it comes to dating (or better courting).

+ No problematic endorsement, no foul language or other transgressions.

CONS

• In parts over-acted and overly dramatic, both when it comes to the father and daughter.

• She is lying in the movie, by saying that her father is happy when she clearly knows that he is not.

• She appears to be (nearly) drunk in one scene.

• The movie contains some Christian, but also some anti-Christian values, e.g. It pushes a celebrity-Christianity with the focus on the worship team and specific persons.

• The movie does rather not edify a Christian in his walk with THEOS.

Overwrought, heavy-handed, predictable, and kind of boring. It has a good, clean story line but just too formulaic to have a lasting impact. The music was good and the movie looked good but the characters had no depth. There was a lot of potential here but nothing really was developed for the plot to catch my interest. Too bad because I really wanted to like this film. It also didn't get too preachy which can turn off some people. I actually would have preferred more doctrine worked into the story. There were some key details that were skipped which would have helped the flow of the movie. Great performance turned in by Kevin Pollak, he is the main reason to keep watching during the many slow parts. AJ Michalka shows some promise as Grace but is handcuffed by the terrible script.

The main problem with Christian films is the cheese factor. Movies that take a good quality moral message and then somehow cheese it up with either corny writing, or sloppy directing, or phony performances are starting to become a thing of the past. Once The Passion of the Christ demonstrated that BRILLIANT films could convey morality, the race was on.

Grace Unplugged has some good performances, as well as a heartwarming story. You feel for the characters. You get pulled into the struggles of the father/daughter relationship. You want Grace to follow her dreams. You really vest yourself as an audience member.

That would not be possible if the Christian-cheese factor were prevalent.

I have to admit that there were a couple of moments (without including any spoilers) that the cheese crept in. However, overall- without PROFANITY, NUDITY, GRATUITOUS DRUGS/SIMULATED SEX/SUGGESTIVE ANYTHING, this movie managed to really work. The cast had chemistry. The story pulled heartstrings. It was truly a success.