It’s a rare thing to have movies in theaters with strong morals, well-crafted storytelling and little questionable content. This week is that rare week as three new films hit the marquee.
“The Blind” tells the true story of the transformation experienced by reality television star Phil and Kay Robertson when they found Christ in the early years of their marriage. “Surprised by Oxford” is another real-world story of conversion and salvation found through the gospel. And “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” is a new animated feature in the popular kids franchise that promotes bravery and sacrifice.
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The Blind – In Theaters
“The Blind” delivers a classic story of redemption. A lost and broken boy becomes an even more lost and broken man en route to a dark fate only Jesus can rescue him from.
I don’t think it’s too big of a spoiler to say that Jesus does rescue Phil Robertson from himself—from his alcoholism, from his shame, from his explosive outbursts of violent rage.
At times it’s brutally hard to watch this man’s self-destruction. He collapses into his soul, medicating the journey down with liquor, seemingly powerless to stop the damage from consuming his marriage and family. It’s harrowing stuff.
But God …
God’s pursuit of Phil is relentless here, whether through his wife, his sister or an incredibly patient pastor. And in time, those influences and that pursuit break through Phil’s hard, often inebriated heart.
Watching the film, I didn’t feel like there was anything gratuitous here. That said, it doesn’t flinch from depicting Phil Robertson’s demons. He (and others) drink and get visibly drunk in many scenes. The specter of suicide is hinted at in one powerful scene. A handful of profanities (including one fairly harsh one) give the story a realistic feel, but they may be a bit more realism than some will want to deal with.
Still, depicting a story of deep brokenness without actually showing some of that brokenness is tricky business. I feel the story accomplishes that admirably and never glories in being “edgy” for edgy’s sake alone.
And in the end what’s more clear than anything is God’s power to redeem, to repair and to restore a man bent by sin.
It’s a story that hardcore “Duck Dynasty” fans will likely love. But it’s a story of forgiveness and redemption that has the power to connect with an audience broader than that one.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here. And get a sneak behind the scenes with an exclusive Higher Ground interview with Phil and Kay Robertson here:
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Surprised by Oxford – In Theaters
Testimonies are messy. And Surprised by Oxford, which tells the testimony of Carolyn Weber, is no different.
With that in mind, I want to first get some of the more unsavory parts of this film out of the way. Characters, Christians included, use quite a bit of foul language. And we hear plenty of talk surrounding sex—seeking it out, fantasizing about it or otherwise discussing the Christian ethic regarding it. It’s those elements that, at the very least, will likely bump this movie out of consideration for families who want to bring young children.
That said, there’s also an argument to be made that these realistic depictions of people’s choices make the power of this testimony even stronger. Because when I watch “Surprised by Oxford,” I see my own past reflected there, where I engaged similarly with those cultural issues prior to my college conversion. While I cannot and will not praise such elements in their own right, they do bring to mind Paul’s words in Colossians 3:7 about my life before Christ: “In these [ways] you too once walked, when you were living in them.”
“Surprised by Oxford” also depicts an intellectual pursuit of Christ — the one study where genuine knowledge will eventually explode into complete joy, regardless of our circumstances. The story takes us on that journey, and it perfectly balances between saying too little about Christ and pushing Christian messages in places where they’d feel forced.
That last point is major: to say it bluntly, I’ve sat through many a Christian film that’s only connection to Christ is one character’s prayer or two. I’ve likewise sat through Christian movies that are so drenched in Christian morals that they forsake plot for a message equating to little more than “Christian good, atheist bad.”
This movie masterfully avoids both extremes, providing a deep look into the Christian faith without drowning its viewer in out-of-place references to it. “Surprised by Oxford” — based on Carolyn Weber’s autobiographical memoir of the same name — tells a genuine story about Christian conversion, one that feels more realistic than perhaps any Christian film I’ve seen before.
To close out, I will remind once more that this aspect of realism carries some content issues to navigate, too — some that’ll need consideration before viewing. But just as “Surprised by Oxford” is realistic about the worldly desires we struggle against, it’s likewise realistic about the beauty of the gospel — the one thing that can ever bring us the joy for which our souls so desperately crave.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie – In Theaters
What kind of a meanie would I be if I said bad things about a “Paw Patrol” movie? Well, don’t worry, no such mean guy here.
The latest pic from the “Paw Patrol” pups is playful, puckish and filled with pizzaz. In other words, it’s rollicking and heroic fun. And it teaches kids that even if they feel small and underpowered, they can still bravely help those around them.
The only small ruff of warning I’ll bark out for parents is that there are some mean (but not terrible) baddies in the movie mix. And the perilous moments they cause could be a bit much for super-sensitive puppies in your pack. In fact, one important hero appears to be killed after making a self-sacrificial brave choice. (But don’t worry, she’s just knocked unconscious.)
The only other bone some parents might want to chew is the fact that, thanks to this move, there’s a whole new line of “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” toys looking for a home base. And some little hero in your house might passionately suggest that his or her bedroom is the perfect new HQ for them.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by: Kennedy Unthank, Bob Hoose, and Adam R. Holz.
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