Mountain Top

A pastor living near the mountains in western North Carolina (Coby Ryan McLaughlin) is approached by the wife of a man in jail for serious embezzlement. The couple (Barry Corbin & Lin Shaye) insists that God wants him, a former lawyer, to be the defense attorney. But why take time away from his pastoral ministry to defend a criminal? Unless, the man's not a thug at all.

"Mountain Top" (2017) is a crime drama written & directed by a coproducer of "War Room" (2015). While not as powerful as that film, it's at least on the level of "God's Not Dead" (2014) and "Do You Believe?" (2015), just not as evangelistic and with a scenic mountain town milieu.

It's refreshing to watch a crime drama with overt verbiage concerning God and faith, yet it's thankfully done in such a natural fashion it comes across low-key and not overdone.

Valerie Azlynn is on hand as the pastor's wife. She looks like a tall version of Valerie Bertinelli when she was young.

The film runs 1 hour, 42 minutes, and was shot in Huntersville & Charlotte, North Carolina.

GRADE: B.

This movie is special. Beautiful mountain scenery and superb acting. Barry Corbin as Sam makes you want to discover his "Papa". And Coby McLaughlin's portrayal as Mike Andrews , the lawyer turned preacher turned lawyer again makes you pull for him like your favorite sports team. You can feel his struggle to be a Godly man in his home and career and be true to his calling while trying to discern what this soothsayer (Sam) is trying to teach him . I mean you actually pull for the lawyer as the "good guy". The movie will make you laugh lots and cry a little. And the tears are as real as the characters. For God so Loved the world... The movie is unashamed of its message of love and the Lord but the characters are so REAL you feel you are living in the scenes. And I must say, Danny Vinson is one funny, under-appreciated actor. He is every small town newspaper reporter you have ever known, or imagined. A quality, well paced film. The music in this film is a perfect match for the scenes depicted. Amazing how Whitlow and Wheeler can bring to the screen these Whilow books. Every movie these guys do gets better and better.

Mountaintop succeeds where other Christian films fail, by delivering a smart storyline that engages Christians and non-Christians alike. This film sheds many of the hallmarks of Christian movies; the cheesy acting, sappy love scenes, and deathly dull inspirational music are nowhere to be found. Instead, the viewer is treated to the quirky, and at times brilliant acting of Barry Corbin and Danny Vinson, as well as a score that remains upbeat and appropriate to a film set in the heart of North Carolina. Though southerners will better understand the culture, and humor of this film, the acting and storyline makes Mountaintop relevant to any theatre goer looking for a good time. In the word's of Braxton Hodges, "It sure is good though."

I just started a subscription to UP Faith and Family, and this movie appeared at the top as a recommendation. The cover was done well, so I proceeded to read the description. It peaked my interested, so I gave it a try. It captured my attention from the start, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I kept thinking "why haven't I heard of this before!" Great plot, beautiful scenery, and such good acting. Coby Ryan McLaughlin was so convincing - no over-acting, and I felt the kindness of the man he played. And the performances of Barry Corbin and Lin Shaye were truly awesome. Loved it! Wish I could find more like it.

Good characters and good cast. My favorites were the minister/lawyer and the newspaper guy. This would make a great tv series.