by Michael Foust | Nov 10, 2017
Despite the impressive cast, Murder on the Orient Express is only an average film. Still, the movie does toss some thought-provoking ethical questions our way.
Hercule Poirot is the world’s best detective, and easily the most popular one, too. With a knack for solving impossible cases – as well as a flamboyant mustache – Poirot attracts attention wherever he goes.
Detective work, though, can be tiring, and Poirot needs a vacation. So he takes a multi-day train ride on the scenic Orient Express, confident that he will get a little rest and relaxation.
But little goes as planned. First, a rich, single woman begins hitting on him. Then, a pushy passenger makes a shocking business proposition. And – wouldn’t you know it? – someone gets murdered, just as the train derails.
Suddenly, our reclusive hero is pushed back into the spotlight, as he must determine which of the remaining 13 passengers committed the crime. He also must find the bad guy before he (or she) strikes again.
Murder on the Orient Express (PG-13) opens this weekend in a retelling of Agatha Christie’s popular novel. It is set in 1934 Europe and stars Kenneth Branagh (Dunkirk, Valkyrie) as Poirot and a host of well-known names as the passengers. The cast includes Penélope Cruz (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man), Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows), Johnny Depp (the Pirates of the Caribbean series), Josh Gad (Frozen) and Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Branagh doubles as the director.
Despite the impressive cast, Murder on the Orient Express is only an average film. The first third and last third of the film are interesting enough, but the middle third is so slow that a man behind me in the theater fell asleep and began snoring (The caffeine from a Dr. Pepper was the only thing that spared me).
Still, the movie does toss some thought-provoking ethical questions our way.
Let’s examine the details:
Warning: spoilers!
Violence/Disturbing
Several men fight in a restaurant. We see the murdered man’s body, but it’s not too graphic. (He is clothed, with blood on his torso). We also hear theories about the murder. Later, someone gets shot in the arm. A lady puts a gun to her head and pulls the trigger, but it’s not loaded. We also see a non-graphic flashback/recreation of the murder, but we don’t see the body or any blood.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
We see a prostitute in a restaurant and we hear the word “prostitute” twice. A train worker implies he is after romance/sex on the trip. A lady acknowledges she is “husband shopping,” but she seems to want a one-night stand, too.
Coarse Language
I counted 13 coarse words: d—n (4), h-ll (4), GD (2), misuse of “God” (3).
Other Positive Elements
Hercule Poirot is a model detective. There is right and wrong in the world, he says, and nothing in between (Although, by the end of the movie, he begins doubting his own beliefs). He also carries in his luggage a black-and-white picture of a woman (his deceased wife?).
After the avalanche derails the train, a passenger says that events are “in God’s hands.”
Other Negative Elements
No doubt, Poirot is a brilliant detective, but he also thinks too highly of himself. He even claims that when someone is murdered, “there are two people who will know: your God and Hercule Poirot.”
“I am probably the greatest detective in the world,” he says.
He’s also the most confident one.
Life Lessons
Scripture says “your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23), and Murder on the Orient Express details that lesson on the big screen. Of course, not every killer will be caught on this side of eternity, but God will judge all of us someday – as even the film acknowledges.
The movie also shows us how deception can cast a wide net, entangling multiple people. Tragedy, too, can impact dozens of people, as the plot makes clear.
Worldview
We live in a society that questions authority. God, though, says the government – and by extension the police – exists to protect citizens and to avenge evil (“For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer,” Rom. 13:3). Police and detectives are God’s instruments (Rom. 13:1).
Hercule Poirot’s role in Murder on the Orient Express is to find the wrongdoer. Yes, he is a fictional character, but there are thousands like him in real life. They deserve our respect and prayers.
Murder on the Orient Express also raises the question: Is it OK to take the law in your own hands? The film provides its own answer, but is it based on Scripture?
Poirot, too, faces an ethical conundrum at the end.
Family-Friendly?
Murder mysteries aren’t for kids. But this one is probably OK for many teens.
What I Liked
The scenery – the Orient Express train winds its way through snow-capped mountains — and the plot twists. I had never read the book, so I truly didn’t know “who done it.” Additionally, for a murder mystery, it is light on language and violence.
What I Didn’t Like
At times, the movie has the feel of a local dinner theater (The middle of the movie moves awfully slow). At other times, the film is just plain silly (Pfeiffer’s overly dramatic character is a prime example).
Thumbs Up … Or Down?
I thought I would really enjoy Murder on the Orient Express. I didn’t. It has its moments, but it’s mostly a thumbs down.
Discussion Questions
- It is ever OK to take the law in your own hands? If yes, then when? If not, when why not?
- One character says: “Sometimes the law of man is not enough.” Do you agree?
- Did you agree with Hercule Poirot’s actions at the end? Why or why not?
- Examine the impact of a tragedy in your life. Did it cast as wide a net as did the one portrayed in the film?
Entertainment rating: 2 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Murder on the Orient Express is rated PG-13 for violence and thematic elements.
by Michael Foust | Nov 3, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok is entertaining and funny, although it contains plenty of material that may give parents pause.
It’s always difficult when you discover that your long-lost sister is the goddess of death. It’s even worse when you learn that she can whip you in a fight.
But for Thor – the god of Thunder – it’s a new reality.
It all started when Thor and his adopted brother Loki were conducting a galaxy-wide search for their father, Odin, the ruler of their home planet Asgard. They found him on Earth – Norway, specifically – where he proceeded to deliver some life-changing news. Odin was dying, and his passing would allow his first-born child, an evil daughter named Hela, to be released from prison and take over Asgard.
As the goddess of death, Hela wants to change Asgard from a peaceful place into a wicked kingdom and use it as a base to rule the universe.
Of course, the virtuous Thor wants to stop her, but their first battle doesn’t go so well. She destroys his hammer. Then she banishes him to the strange, alien planet Sakaar, where he quickly gets imprisoned. Can he escape Sakaar in time to save the citizens of Asgard?
Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok (PG-13) opens this weekend, giving moviegoers the third chapter in the film series that is based on the Norse mythology character. It is the sequel to Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013) and stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Cate Blanchett as Hela. We also get to see two other Marvel characters: Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Hulk (voiced by Mark Ruffalo, who also plays Bruce Banner).
Thor: Ragnarok is entertaining and funny, although it contains plenty of material that may give parents pause.
Warning: minor spoilers!
Violence/Disturbing
Excessive. And too much to mention, even if it is mostly bloodless. A scary-looking skyscraper-sized “fire demon” fights Thor. Demonic creatures chase Thor. Hela defeats an army of soldiers, stabbing some of them with swords in the chest. The leader of Sakaar kills someone by literally melting him into a pool of liquid. Hela resurrects a deceased army (and a giant wolf) using an eternal flame. We hear discussions of executions and an executioner. A taser-like device is used to immobilize people, causing them to convulse. Thor, Loki and Hela partake in multiple fights and battles. Thor and Hulk battle one another in a coliseum-like setting. A pair of machine guns are used to kill multiple soldiers. One character loses an eye and is subsequently seen, on-screen, without his eye.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Moderate. Several female characters display cleavage. Thor is seen without a shirt. Hulk gets out of a hot tub and we see his (computerized) backside. A character tells Thor that the leader of Sakaar – the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) – used a spaceship for “orgies.” (We hear the word twice.) A portal to another world is called the “devil’s anus.”
Coarse Language
Moderate. I counted 17 coarse words: he– (7), d–n (2), s–t (2), OMG (2) SOB (1), a– (1), misuse of “God” (1), p-ssed (1).
Other Positive Elements
Similar to the Guardians of the Galaxy series, Thor: Ragnarok is part superhero film, part comedy. But there’s one key difference: The humor in Thor is far more clean and appropriate (minus two big exceptions, as detailed above). I laughed — a lot. Contrast that to the Guardians films, which are packed with bawdy and sexually suggestive jokes. It is a welcome difference.
Other Negative Elements
Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), a major female character and a friend of Thor, loves to drink and get drunk. Her love of alcohol is played for laughs, but few people around me were chuckling. It’s an annoying schtick.
Life Lessons
Like most superhero films, Thor: Ragnarok contains lessons on self-sacrifice and courage.
“I choose to run toward my problems and not away,” Thor says. “Because that’s what heroes do.”
Thor and Loki deliver a solid lesson about family and brotherhood.
Thor’s home planet also serves as an object lesson. “Asgard is not a place. It is a people,” we’re told as its destruction becomes possible.
Worldview
Thor: Ragnarok, of course, is set in a fictional Norse mythological world with multiple gods and goddesses – both good and evil. We even hear talk of Thor fulfilling a Norse “prophecy.” Then there’s Doctor Strange, who performs sorcery.
Yet even in such a twisted polytheistic world, the movie gives us a clear distinction between good and evil, right and wrong.
Of course, we tend to brush aside such anti-biblical worldviews as “just being part of the plot.” But for Christian parents, it’s likely worth a post-movie discussion with their children about the one true God.
Sponsors
Red Robin is the most well-known sponsor.
Family-Friendly?
I wouldn’t be comfortable letting my 5-year-old twins watch Thor: Ragnarok. The violence is excessive, and the disturbing images are plentiful. My 9-year-old son wanted to watch it, but I didn’t take him. In hindsight, I made the right decision. It deserves its PG-13 rating.
What I Liked
The humor. Let’s face it: Without some laughs, only comic book geeks would enjoy a movie about Norse mythology.
What I Didn’t Like
The two sexually suggestive jokes stand out in a movie that is mostly void of such talk. They’re unnecessary. Thor also swears a lot for a superhero – a fact that might bother some parents. Finally, there’s the issue of male-vs.-female violence. Call me traditional, but I don’t find it entertaining to watch men hitting women – even if the woman is an evil goddess.
Thumbs Up … Or Down?
Minus some caveats, this one is a thumbs up.
Discussion Questions
- Name two positive character traits of Thor. Name two negative ones.
- Why did Thor want to return to his home planet? Why didn’t Valkyrie want to return to her home planet? Was she wrong to feel that way?
- What is a home? Is it a place or a people? Or both?
- Contrast the movie’s teaching about god with Scripture’s teaching about God.
- The violence was bloodless. Is that good or bad?
Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Thor: Ragnarok is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive material.
by Michael Foust | Oct 27, 2017
Even though I knew how it would end, I cried like a baby the final five minutes. It spotlights the traditional family in ways that most PG-13 films don’t, and it even has a pro-life angle. But it has TONS of language.
Eric Marsh is a 40-something Arizona man who wants only one thing in life: to fight wildfires. But he doesn’t want to be a member of just any firefighting crew. He wants to be part of a “hotshot” team – those elite-and-talented 20-member crews that regularly risk their lives to stop wildfires in their tracks.
Marsh trained months and months for this role, and he finally got his chance when the mayor and city council agreed to fund a crew that Marsh will head. If they gel as a team and then get certified, they will become one of only about 100 hotshot crews in the nation — and they will be responsible for protecting their hometown, too.
It’s the true story behind Only The Brave (PG-13), which is currently in theaters and recounts the inspiring-but-tragic story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, who defied the odds to get certified and then fought valiantly against an out-of-control 2013 wildfire that claimed 19 lives.
It stars Josh Brolin as Marsh; Jennifer Connelly as his wife, Amanda; Miles Teller as his crewmate, Brendan McDonough; and Jeff Bridges as his mentor, Duane Steinbrink.
Only The Brave is a biopic unlike any I have seen. Even though I knew how it would end, I cried like a baby the final five minutes. It spotlights the traditional family in ways that most PG-13 films don’t, and it even has a pro-life angle. The amazing special effects – which make you feel as if you’re in the middle of a fire — don’t get in the way of the story.
That said, this one has quite a bit of coarse language. Let’s examine the details:
Warning: spoilers!
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate. We see people, within town, running from an approaching fire. Yet the Granite Mountain Boys run toward the fire – and often find themselves in dangerous situations. It’s incredible (and intense) to watch. Later, Marsh violently breaks an office chair after he gets upset. We see a car crash. Finally, a group of firefighters dies in a wildfire, although we don’t see it occur (We do, though, see family members cry as they await word on their loved ones).
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Moderate. Marsh and his wife kiss a couple of times. We see them relaxing in a large bathtub together, but only from the shoulders-up. We hear crude sex talk from one of the members (“hooked up,” etc.) and we see a picture of a scantily-dressed girl. Later in the film, though, this same crew member has matured and has a different outlook on women.
Coarse Language
Extreme. I counted about 70 coarse words: s—t (30); a— (15); pi-s (3); OMG (1); GD (5); d—n (7); he—(3) misuse of “God” (1); b—ch (3); misuse of “Lord” (1); JC (1); f-word (2); misuse of “Jesus” (1). There also are at least two instances of firefighters jokingly giving the middle finger.
Other Positive Elements
Despite the coarse language, Only The Brave has a remarkably pro-family theme, as the members prioritize their wives and kids as much as their crazy schedule will allow. We see a firefighter kiss his children before he gets in the truck to leave. Later, we see another hotshot member reading “Good Night Moon” to his child over the phone.
Perhaps the most remarkable family angle involves Brendan, who transforms from unemployed pot smoker to responsible hotshot – all so he can take care of a baby girl he fathered out of wedlock (The mom chose to keep the baby but initially didn’t want him involved). He places diapers and formula outside the mom’s front door. Eventually, he and the mom get back together, and he becomes a loving father.
We also see a character read the Bible on multiple occasions and briefly discuss it with others.
Other Negative Elements
Marsh mentions his Buddhist faith. We also see Brendan smoke marijuana.
Life Lessons
Only The Brave gives us powerful lessons on self-sacrifice (the entire team), brotherhood (the entire team), redemption (Brendan) and responsibility and manhood (Brendan).
Worldview
I don’t know how many of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were Christian, but their actions reflect what Scripture teaches. Jesus told us, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Paul added, “Count others more significant than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3). Of course, the hotshots also were fulfilling one of government’s God-given roles (protecting its citizens), but consider what society would be like without first responders. We would have no police, no ambulances, no firefighters, no hotshots. And society would crumble.
Family-Friendly?
This one has too much language. It’s not family-friendly.
What I Liked
The way the story and the special effects were woven together (Take note, Hollywood). Also, the family-centric nature of most of the characters.
What I Didn’t Like
The excessive language. I didn’t expect a G-movie, but a count of 70 is too high (Incidentally, most of the language occurs when the men are not fighting fires).
Discussion Questions
- What drives someone to become a hotshot or first responder?
- What caused Brendan to stop smoking pot?
- Would you consider this a pro-traditional family movie, despite the language?
- How would society be different if every man who had a child out of wedlock was like Brendan?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2 out of 5 stars.
Only The Brave is rated PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material.
by Michael Foust | Oct 20, 2017
Same Kind of Different As Me is an inspiring and entertaining film that spotlights grace, forgiveness and empathy – with Romans 8:28 (“… all things work together for good …”) as the backdrop.
Ron Hall is an international art dealer who seemingly has everything a man could want: a high-paying job, a nice house and a wonderful wife.
But just like the fake paintings he occasionally gives as gifts, looks can be deceiving. Hidden behind the façade is a marriage on the rocks – a marriage seemingly headed for divorce after his wife discovers he’s involved with another woman.
She doesn’t divorce him, though. Instead, she works to save the marriage and change his heart. This overhaul involves them volunteering their time at a homeless mission, where they fill plates in a food line and get to know the people of the street.
Although Hall initially despises the work, his tune changes when he unexpectedly befriends the mission’s most infamous homeless person – an angry man nicknamed “Suicide.” His real name is Denver, and soon he and Hall discover that despite their differences – different races, different socioeconomic backgrounds – they greatly benefit from one another.
It’s all part of Same Kind of Different As Me (PG-13), which opens this weekend and tells the true story of a wealthy man whose life is turned around thanks to a relationship with a homeless man. It is based on a New York Times bestseller by the real-life Hall and stars Greg Kinnear as Hall; Renée Zellweger as his wife, Debbie; Djimon Hounsou as Denver; and Jon Voight as Hall’s father. O.S. Hawkins, the president of GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, also has a small role as a funeral minister.
It is a faith-based film with an all-star cast: Zellweger and Voight have won Academy Awards, while Kinnear and Hounsou have been nominees. Pureflix and Paramount are partnering in its release.
Same Kind of Different As Me is an inspiring and entertaining film that spotlights grace, forgiveness and empathy – with Romans 8:28 (“… all things work together for good …”) as the backdrop. Like many who will see it this weekend, I cried. Let’s examine the details.
Warning: moderate spoilers!
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. An out-of-control Denver breaks the homeless mission’s windows and then a car’s windows with a baseball bat. Later, he tells about his background and (in a flashback) we see white supremacists drag him down the road with a rope around his neck. We also learn that Denver committed a violent crime that landed him in prison.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. We learn that Ron and Debbie haven’t “slept together” in several years. It is implied that he had an affair, although we don’t see the woman. Later, Ron and Debbie kiss.
Coarse Language
Minimal. I counted only a handful: misuse of h–l (1); n-word (4). We also hear the word “negroes” twice and the word “sexy” once. There’s a joke about “bulls’ balls.”
Other Positive Elements
Debbie’s ability to forgive is remarkable. She even calls the other woman and says calmly: “Hopefully you can find someone who loves you the way Ron and I used to love one another.” Then, she gives Ron the option to stay. When Denver tells her about his violent past – which included prison time – she says, “You’re not a bad man. … And I’m glad we’re friends.”
We see Denver being baptized, as a preacher talks about Christ’s burial and resurrection.
Other Negative Elements
Ron’s father is a grumpy man who doesn’t have a filter for his words. That leads to some uncomfortable moments at the dinner table – and to Ron kicking his dad out of their house. “I don’t want you to ever come back here,” Ron says.
Life Lessons
Same Kind of Different As Me includes life lessons on forgiveness, empathy, racism, reconciliation and even caring for the homeless.
Worldview
It’s easy to talk about forgiveness. It’s harder to do it. Yet, it’s what Christ commanded: “Forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25). We forgive precisely because God forgave us. Debbie does that to Ron: “I don’t blame you. … I forgive you.” She even forgives his mistress – and calls her! It’s a remarkable example of the Gospel’s power.
The film also puts Romans 8:28 on display, as Debbie believes the affair ended up being a good thing for their lives.
Family-Friendly?
Same Kind of Different As Me is a family-friendly film, although it contains a few moments that young children probably shouldn’t see. Those include a scene with KKK members and a scene with frank discussion of an affair.
What I Liked
The message and the story. It’s a genuinely funny movie with some surprises – particularly for moviegoers (like me) who hadn’t read the book. The lead cast has solid chemistry. The acting is stellar. Denver’s Louisiana accent is top-notch.
What I Didn’t Like
Nothing major. I would be nitpicking if I listed anything.
Thumbs Up … Or Down?
Without a doubt, thumbs up.
Discussion Questions
- Place yourself in Debbie’s shoes. Could you have forgiven – and could you have done what she did?
- Why is forgiveness so important in the Christian life?
- Read Romans 8:28 and apply it to this movie. Was the affair, in hindsight, used for good?
- What is the key to reconciliation in a broken marriage? Be specific.
- What does the Bible say about racism?
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
‘Same Kind of Different As Me’ is rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some violence and language.
by Michael Foust | Oct 13, 2017
Joseph Spell is a black chauffer accused of raping and trying to murder a white woman who just happens to be his wealthy employer. He maintains he’s innocent, but in 1940s Connecticut – which is still tainted by racism – no one believes him.
Enter Thurgood Marshall, a young attorney for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He travels the country defending people who were falsely accused of a crime because of their race, and he believes he has a good case with Spell.
But there’s a problem. The segregationist-friendly judge won’t allow Marshall to speak in court, which means that a reluctant Jewish attorney named Sam Friedman — who initially has no interest in the high-profile case — must defend Spell before the jury.
Together, this unlikely duo must work together in a Moses-and-Aaron type of arrangement that seems destined to fail. Or perhaps it just might work.
The biopic Marshall (PG-13) opens in theaters this weekend, following the true story and early career of Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), who appeared in front of the U.S. Supreme Court some 30 times as an attorney prior to being nominated by President Lyndon Johnson as the court’s first African-American justice.
The film spotlights a significant case in Marshall’s early life known as The State of Connecticut v Joseph Spell (1941).
It stars Chadwick Boseman (42, Captain America: Civil War) as Marshall; Josh Gad (Frozen, Beauty and the Beast) as Friedman; Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) as Spell; and Kate Hudson (How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days) as Eleanor Strubing, the woman who allegedly was raped.
Marshall is an entertaining and inspiring historical drama that, nonetheless, has some disappointing and unnecessary content problems. Let’s examine the details.
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate. We see the attempted murder recreated in the mind of Spell’s accuser. (A body is tossed into a river. The scene remains bloodless.) Friedman is beaten on the street at night by some thugs, and Marshall gets in a fistfight at a bar.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Moderate. The movie, of course, revolves around an alleged rape, and we see it recreated twice. The first time, she is dressed and then gagged with a cloth before the scene changes. Later, we see it recreated again, with kissing and more flesh but no nudity. Marshall is married in the film; we see his wife in a bra as they discuss her pregnancy.
Coarse Language
Moderate. Marshall has about 29 coarse words – an average amount for a PG-13 film – but some of them are big ones: h-ll (6), GD (5), N-word (4), a—(4), F-word (3), ba—-d (2), s—t (2), d—n (1) SOB (1). Even worse: They’re paired with some of the film’s more inspiring (and even spiritual) lines. (See below.)
Other Positive Elements
Marshall’s bold stance against racism and for righteousness is admirable. So is his work ethic. He travels from city to city to defend the innocent and is well-known among the black community and the legal profession for his sharp mind. But his workload has a price: He’s rarely home. Several times, we see him regret his absence from his wife.
One of the film’s highlights takes place as Marshall and Friedman discuss their strategy. Using the Bible for inspiration, Marshall says: “The Lord commanded Moses to enlist his brother’s help. ‘He shall speak for you to the people’” The duo then finishes the thought together: “You shall be his mouth and you shall be as God.” The point: Friedman will speak for Marshall. Yet this moment is spoiled with Marshall’s profanity immediately before it (GD) and Friedman’s profanity right after it (f-word). Marshall says “GD” several times in the film – a fact that will repel some Christian moviegoers.
Other Negative Elements
Lots of people smoked cigarettes during the 1940s. Lots of people smoke during Marshall, too. Marshall himself also tells the true story of how he lost a testicle in an accident.
Life Lessons
Marshall includes lessons about determination, resolve, standing for righteousness, never giving up and defending the innocent. It also teaches us that people can – and do – change for the better. At first, Friedman wanted nothing to do with the case. He especially didn’t want the paper tying his name to a black man accused of raping a white woman. But by movie’s end, he is Spell’s chief advocate.
Worldview
Segregation was an ugly moment in America history, but there were heroes who put their careers and lives on the line to stand up for what was right. The Bible commands us to “rescue the weak and the needy” (Psalm 82:4) and to “open your mouth for the mute” (Psalm 31:8). That is what Thurgood Marshall did on the issue of race, even if – it should be noted – he landed on the wrong side of abortion later in life. (He voted with the majority in Roe v. Wade.)
Family-Friendly?
The language and the recreated rape scenes make this one not family-friendly for little ones.
What I Liked
Marshall and Friedman have great chemistry, and it’s fun to watch. Marshall’s commitment to his wife is also exemplary.
What I Didn’t Like
The language – and specifically, hearing God’s name often abused.
Thumbs Up … Or Down?
Thumbs up, with caveats about content.
Discussion Questions
- How would you have reacted if you were called names, as were Marshall and Friedman?
- Why was Friedman initially reluctant to help Marshall?
- What causes racism? What is the cure for racism?
- Marshall says, “The Constitution was not written for us.” Do you agree with that?
- We see Marshall drink from a whites-only fountain. Would you have done that if you were in his position?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Marshall is rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexuality, violence and some strong language.