by Michael Foust | Sep 13, 2019
The film ‘Downton Abbey’ opens next week, continuing the story from the popular PBS miniseries of the same name that ran from 2011-2016.
Lord Robert Crawley is a distinguished 20th-century
gentleman who is caretaker of Downton Abbey, a historic English estate fit for
a king, with dozens of bedrooms and a large staff to cook and clean.
Perhaps that’s one reason the king and queen have chosen to
pay a visit.
Yes, King George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom are
visiting Downton Abbey for one night during a stopover on their journey to
another town, and “Lord Grantham” (that’s Crawley), and his family and servants
have exactly two weeks to get ready.
The servants will polish the silver, dust every nook and
cranny, and purchase the freshest food for the finest meals.
Then again, maybe not. The servants learn that the king has
his own butler and his own servants to tend to matters. Even worse, the king’s
servants are, well, snobs.
This means Lord Grantham’s beloved servants won’t be needed
for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Instead, they’ll be serving the
servants. Not fair? You better believe it. As Daisy (one of Lord Grantham’s
cooks) says, “We’re not footballs … and we don’t deserve a kicking.”
The film Downton Abbey
(PG) opens next week, continuing the story from the popular PBS miniseries of
the same name that ran from 2011-2016. It has the same actors and actresses
(Hugh Bonneville as Lord Grantham and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary), the same
music (with a slight twist), and the same pace. Most fans of the series will
walk away pleased. Lord Grantham’s mother, Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith),
returns with multiple zingers, while her intellectual counterpart, Isobel Grey
(Penelope Wilton), returns to counterpunch.
Yet the movie isn’t a one-dimensional
“get-ready-for-the-king” film. It has several romantic side angles, a surprise
or two and even a few good lessons.
The film also has a major caveat—a gay angle that will turn
off many viewers (Details below).
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. Someone tries (but fails) to shoot and kill
someone.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Moderate. Several couples share brief kisses, although the
film has no bedroom scenes. We see Lady Edith in a corset.
The film continues the story about Thomas Barrow’s
homosexuality, although it seem more noteworthy during the span of a two-hour
movie, instead of the plot being spread out over six seasons. We see him and
another male character go to a gay nightclub, where men are dancing with one
another (We see two men kissing). Later we see Thomas and his companion briefly
kiss, too. Referencing the taboo nature of homosexuality, Thomas says, “Will
they ever see it our way?” His companion responds, “I don’t know. Fifty years
ago, who would have thought men could fly?”
Coarse
Language
Minimal. I counted only two words (a single “my G-d” and a
single use of the British slang “bloody”). Kudos to the filmmakers for not
filling it with coarse language, as happens far too often when TV shows are
turned into movies.
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
The film opens with a recap of the TV series, in which a
rape is referenced. The flashback also references a “gay man in 1920s England.”
When the Crawleys wake up to sunshine instead of rain,
someone says, “God is a monarchist.”
Life Lessons
Serving is a
virtue: The
servants take pride in their work. Mr. Molesley embodies this trait best,
wanting to wait on the king and queen.
Humility is
appealing. The
film puts both snobbery (demonstrated by the king’s servants) and humility on
display. The latter is demonstrated by the entire household, including by Lord
Grantham and Lady Mary, who don’t view their servants as beneath them.
Your sins
will find you out:
One minor character discovers this biblical truth.
Worldview/Application
At first blush, Downton
Abbey would appear to be a film about greed (why are the Crawleys hoarding
their possessions?) and elitism (what else would you call a plot about
aristocracy?).
In fact, though, it’s just the opposite.
When Lady Mary wants to sell the castle and become a normal
person, Anna Bates, a servant, tells her: You
employ people. You give people jobs. Without your family, this community would
crumble.
The Crawleys are anything but snobs. When portable chairs
must be moved during a downpour, Lady Mary and Lord Grantham get to work—opting
not to force the servants to perform the task.
What Works
The music. The plot. The grandeur. Seeing the castle on the
big screen is more enjoyable than watching it on a tiny television at home.
What Doesn’t
The gay angle with Thomas Barrow wasn’t surprising—the TV
series tackled the subject, after all—but it will make it less palatable for
some families.
Discussion
Questions
1. Name five positive characteristics about Lord Grantham
and his family.
2. Do you think the Crawleys are humble?
3. What does the film teach us about finding joy in work?
4. What can we learn from Thomas about loving those with
which we disagree?
5. Would it have been better to sell the castle? Was Lady
Mary right?
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out
of 5 stars.
Rated PG for
thematic elements, some suggestive material, and language.
by Michael Foust | Sep 6, 2019
When terrorists attacked the United States in 2001, 6,700 passengers were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, a town with a population of 9,000. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, an inspiring story about that week lands in theaters.
When terrorists attacked two cities and killed nearly 3,000
people in 2001, the world mourned.
But 1,460 miles away in the small town of Gander,
Newfoundland, hope was shining bright.
Gander was the default destination for 38 planes and about
6,700 people travelling over the Atlantic Ocean when the United States closed
its airspace on Sept. 11, 2001.
Those 6,700 people were heading to places like Denver and
Disney World when their planes were told to make a sharp right and land in
Gander, a North American city in Canada that is so far east that it’s closer to
London, England than to St. Louis, Mo.
As one passenger later said: “I had never heard of
Newfoundland.”
They were stranded in a place they didn’t want to be, far
away from friends and family. Even worse, they were stuck in a town that—on
first blush—wasn’t equipped to house and feed them. Gander’s population was
about 9,000. Where were these 6,500 extra
people supposed to go?
But a strange thing happened. Over the course of the next
five days, Gander’s citizens became the passengers’ friends and family. They
opened their arms to clothe and feed 6,700 strangers, not knowing if a terrorist
was hiding among them.
Gander became a Canadian version of Mayberry, complete with
a friendly policeman, a kind mayor, and hundreds of volunteers who cooked
meals, found them a bed and even gave these stranded strangers a tour of the
scenic island.
Next Wednesday, Sept. 11, a documentary about this unique
week—You Are Here—lands in cinemas.
It includes interviews with crew members, passengers, citizens and city
officials who saw their lives changed—for the better—during a period most of us
were despondent. It will be shown for only one night.
“We saw (6,700) people who needed food. They needed
clothing. They needed shelter. But most of all, they needed love,” the mayor
says in the film. “We showed them that human kindness will outdo hatred any
day.”
You Are Here is a feel-good film that will give
you the hope-filled emotions of a Hallmark film—yes, there’s a surprising love story
in it—and the down-home nostalgia of The
Andy Griffith Show. We learn how the Salvation Army pitched in to help. We
discover how a Baptist pastor used a Bible to communicate with Russians. Most
of all, we watch ordinary people do seemingly extraordinary things, taking care
of people round-the-clock. When the week ended—most passengers were in Gander
for five days—many were sad they were leaving.
Home videos from the week bring the story to life, as do
clips from a local TV channel. That channel was closely monitored by citizens
throughout the week to learn what was needed.
“You asked for moose (on the show), you got 20 pounds of
moose from 15 different people,” the host says, reflecting on that week.
Because the passengers were prohibited from taking their
luggage off the planes, they needed clothes, too. Ganderites filled in that
gap, as well.
You Are Here isn’t a faith-based film, but it
nevertheless serves as an example of the love in action God commanded of the
church: “Do not neglect to show hospitality
to strangers …” (Heb. 13:2).
The story is so uplifting that it inspired books and a
Broadway musical.
“In (those) five days we became very close to those people,”
the mayor says. “… (O)n the fifth day, we lost 6,700 family members.”
Content
You Are Here is unrated but should be treated
like a PG film. It contains minor language (one “living h-ll” and about five
OMGs—some heard from the day of the attack) and discussion of the terrorist
attack (a first responder says he saw body parts on the ground outside the
World Trade Center). Among the passengers interviewed are two gay men who were
a couple on the day of the attack. We also see people drink alcohol.
Discussion
Questions
1. How would you react if 6,700 strangers landed in your
city, needing food and clothing?
2. What can the passengers teach us about contentment?
3. What can the citizens of Gander teach us about how the
church should welcome strangers?
by Michael Foust | Aug 23, 2019
The faith-based film ‘Overcomer,’ which opens this weekend, is the first movie from the Kendrick brothers since their No. 1 hit War Room.
John Harrison is a tenacious and determined high school
boys’ basketball coach who has one goal in life: winning a state championship.
Fortunately for Coach Harrison, all his best players are
returning next season. Even better: the top players for the other team—you know, the one that
eliminated his Brookshire Cougars in the postseason this year—are graduating.
“Next season, we take everything,” he tells his team.
Perhaps that elusive state championship trophy will finally
be his.
But then the town’s largest employer closes. And then
hundreds of employees transfer elsewhere, taking their families—and Harrison’s
best players—with him. And then Harrison is forced to coach the cross country team,
which has only one runner.
Overnight, Harrison goes from being the coach of one of the
state’s best basketball teams to a depressed man struggling for meaning and
purpose. He’s searching for his identity in life—and so far, he hasn’t found
it.
The faith-based film Overcomer
(PG) opens this weekend, starring Alex Kendrick (Courageous, War Room) as Harrison; Shari Rigby (October Baby) as his wife, Amy;
Priscilla Shirer (War Room) as
principal Olivia Brooks; and newcomer Aryn Wright-Thompson as cross country
runner Hannah Scott.
It is the first film for the director-producer tandem of
Alex and Stephen Kendrick since their box office hit War Room, which shocked Hollywood by climbing to No. 1 on its
second weekend in 2015. Prior to War Room,
the Kendricks had a string of other hit films, including Courageous (2011) and Fireproof
(2008)—each of which opened at No. 4—and Facing
the Giants (2006).
The Overcomer plot
takes a turn when Harrison encounters a hospitalized man, Thomas Hill (Cameron
Arnett), who is filled with joy, even though he is blind and in poor health.
Hill transforms Harrison’s outlook on life, and Harrison
then impacts Hannah, a girl who grew up without a father and who is searching
for direction in life, too.
Overcomer, like all Kendrick movies, has a
biblical theme. Its promotional materials ask the question: What do you allow
to define you? It’s similar to the question Thomas asks Coach Harrison: Who are you? The Kendricks want moviegoers
to consider whether their identity is found in the eternal Christ—as Ephesians
1-2 teaches—or in temporal, worldly things.
It’s the Kendricks’ sixth movie, and with each one, they
further bury the “Christian films are cheesy” tired mantra.
Overcomer is entertaining. It’s engaging. It’s
funny. It’s convicting. It’s inspiring. It has the right pace. It has a solid
cast. Most importantly, it has a Gospel-centric message that aims at your heart
and soul. Two of my friends cried while screening it—from beginning to end. I
shed a few tears, too.
Overcomer has the biggest budget ($5 million)
yet of any Kendrick film, and it translates to the big screen from the get-go
with an impressive drone shot of a basketball game.
LifeWay is offering Overcomer
Bible studies and books for every age that spotlight the identity theme. Unlike
most Hollywood movies, this is a film that churches can get behind.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. A primary character dies at the end of the film.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None.
Coarse
Language
None.
Other
Positive Elements
The film includes tight-knit, loving families—both black and
white. It shows a husband and wife working through problems and parents loving
their children.
Life Lessons
Reconciliation
is possible: The
plot begins with one major character apparently hating another one, but by the
film’s end, they come together.
Redemption
is beautiful:
We learn Thomas made a major mistake in life he regrets. He is given a chance
to make things right.
Eternal
things matter the most: What’s more important: a basketball title, or one’s
relationship with Christ?
Worldview/Application
Early in the film, Thomas poses a question to Coach Harrison
that becomes the crux of the film: “If I asked you who are, what’s the first
thing that comes to mind?”
Harrison offers a series of answers that fall short:
Basketball coach? History teacher? Husband? Father? Each time, Thomas responds:
If all of those were stripped away, what would your identity be then?
It’s a question each one of us should ask.
Of course, we may say we know the answer—our identity is
found in Christ—but how many of us are living that truth out each day? Too
often, we find our identity in our jobs. Or in our hobbies. Or in our
possessions. Or in our family and friends. That, in turn, results in a life
void of joy. It also adds stress and confusion when troubles arise.
Hannah hits the bullseye in the middle of the movie when she
summarizes the opening verses of Ephesians:
“I am created by God. He designed me, so I’m not a mistake.
His Son died for me, just so I could be forgiven. He picked me to be his own,
so I’m chosen. He redeemed me, so I am wanted. He showed me grace, just so I
could be saved. He has a future for me because He loves me. So I don’t wonder
anymore, Coach Harrison. I am a child of God.”
Discussion
Questions
1. How would you identify yourself? What do you find your
identity in? How would God identify you?
2. What changes do you need to make in your life to affirm
your identity in Christ?
3. Why is our identity in Christ so significant?
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 5 out
of 5 stars.
Overcomer is
rated PG for some thematic elements.
by Michael Foust | Aug 16, 2019
The film ‘The Angry Birds Movie 2’ opened this week. Parents may want to think twice before going.
His name is “Red,” and his name and feather colors fit his
mood. Angry? Perhaps. Unforgiving? Yes. Self-centered? Definitely.
Red lives on Bird Island, a place where birds live in
constant threat of attacks from their enemies and animal counterparts, the pigs
on Pig Island.
The pigs, of course, see things a little differently. If it
weren’t for the birds, they say, the world would be a better place.
Neither side, though, has ever seen an attack that didn’t
deserve a response.
Turn the other cheek? Not here.
So when the birds shoot a bottle of hot sauce across the
water that explodes on Pig Island, the pigs retort by popping the birds’
balloons (by using a magnifying glass ray, of course). Then the birds respond
by sparking a man-made tsunami that crashes onto Pig Island, and the pigs
answer by dropping thousands of small crabs onto Bird Island.
If only the
birds and pigs could find a common enemy to fight together.
That’s exactly what happens when an ice volcano on a third
island starts launching “ice bombs” at the other two pieces of land. The
mastermind behind these cold explosives is an opinionated bird named Zeta, who
has a plan to destroy the inhabitants of Bird and Pig Islands so she can live
and relax on both.
It will take a team effort to defeat her. But can the birds
and pigs get along?
The film The Angry
Birds Movie 2 (PG) opened this week, starring Jason Sudeikis (The Angry Birds Movie) as Red, Leslie
Jones (Ghostbusters, 2016) as Zeta,
and Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)
as the bird Silver.
It and its 2016 predecessor are spinoffs of the popular Angry Birds video game franchise.
Both Angry Birds
movies, though, lack entertainment value (each received a B+ CinemaScore from
moviegoers, a rock-bottom score for an animated film). More significantly,
though, they fall far short of being kid-friendly.
The newest Angry Birds
2 movie includes: a scene of a pig taking selfies of his rear end and
shirtless torso in front of the mirror, a scene and a joke about two birds
making out, a lengthy scene of a bird urinating in a urinal, a scene of a pig
in a thong, a scene of a pig in spandex as we hear Right Said Fred’s I’m Too Sexy, and more posterior and
poop jokes than you can count. It also has minor language.
It is one of the least kid-friendly animated films I’ve
seen. It’s as if three random fourth-grade boys wrote the script.
That’s too bad, because its core message — reconciliation,
teamwork and humility — are positive lessons children need to hear.
Unless your children are mega-mature, I’d skip it.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minor/moderate. The pigs and birds open the film by playing
a tit-for-tat game of trying to destroy the other’s island, although most of
the violent “acts” are silly (the birds shoot hot sauce at the pigs; the pigs
drop crabs on Bird Island). Zeta tortures her engineer by freezing his legs and
arms in blocks of ice. She freezes a dog, too. A bird gets accidentally knocked
out in a restroom.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minor/moderate. Red goes to a speed dating event because
it’s “mating season.” A pig enjoying a hot spring bath with others stands up,
revealing a thong. Leonard the pig is showing slides in a film room, preparing
for battle, when inappropriate pictures of him pop up on the screen. We hear
one of them is a “butt shot” (We see him taking pictures of his rear end). Red
and Silver accidentally fall on one another when other pigs and birds walk in
and assuming they were kissing—or something else (“Yeah they were,” someone
says while taking a picture). A pig gets “plan X” confused for “spandex” and
wears the latter (We then hear the song, I’m
Too Sexy). We learn Zeta and another eagle had a baby chick after their
wedding day was called off (The chick says: “That’s my father?”). The pigs
don’t wear pants, and multiple times the film makes jokes about their
posteriors.
Coarse
Language
Minor. The film is full of words that many households don’t
let their young children (or older children) say. OMG is said three times and
drawn out for effect. Other words parents may want to know about: heck (3),
stupid (3), butts (3), idiot (2), gosh (2), crap (1). We also hear “are you
freaking kidding me?” and “don’t screw this up.” A baby chick curses, although
it’s fully bleeped out.
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
We learn Zeta’s ex-fiance abandoned her on their wedding
day. The film includes multiple songs from the 1980s and 1990s.
Life Lessons
Reconciliation
is always possible: The pigs and birds—former enemies—become friends once they
get to know one another. They become a team.
No one
enjoys an arrogant person: A self-centered Red teams up with a few birds and pigs to
defeat Zeta, but he rejects all their ideas. Soon, they want to abandon him.
Humility is
a secret to happiness: When Red puts others first, his life improves. Others like
him more. They make progress on beating Zeta. He’s happier, too.
Worldview/Application
Humility is one of the trademarks of the Christian. God
“opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). His Word
commands us to have “unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love” and a “tender
heart”—but these are possibly only if we have a “humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8).
Christ—the creator of the universe—was humble. He expects
the same of his children.
What Works
The plot’s core story is interesting. It could have worked. Sadly, the filmmakers
went for cheap laughs.
What Doesn’t
I laughed out loud three to four times. But most of the film
is 90 minutes of inappropriate nonsense.
Discussion
Questions
1. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? Do you
need reconciliation?
2. Why does God want us to be humble?
3. What caused Red to change his outlook on life?
4. Did you think Angry
Birds 2 had too much potty humor? Why or why not?
Entertainment rating: 2 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 3.5
out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for
rude humor and action.
by Michael Foust | Aug 9, 2019
The live-action Nickelodeon movie ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’ opens this weekend, telling the story of the popular fictional character from the animated educational series ‘Dora the Explorer.’
Dora is an optimistic and outgoing teenager girl who has
spent her entire life in the South American jungle.
She’s played with snakes. She’s talked to monkeys. She’s
swung from branch to branch, exploring everything there is to see. She loves it there.
But things are about to change. Her mother gets a new job.
And then Dora moves to an environment—California—she doesn’t recognize or
understand. And then she enters high school, a cynical place where teenagers
definitely don’t share her bubbly
outlook on life.
Will Dora be able to influence her high school classmates
for the better? Or will her classmates change her?
The live-action Nickelodeon movie Dora and the Lost City of Gold (PG) opens this weekend, telling the
story of the popular fictional character who is best-known from the animated
educational series Dora the Explorer.
It stars Isabela Moner (Instant Family)
as Dora, Eva Longoria (Dog Days) as
her mother and Michael Peña (Ant-Man
series) as her father.
The movie follows Dora as she navigates high school—going to
class (she loves literature), eating in the cafeteria (mac & cheese is her
favorite) and dancing awkwardly at the school dance—before she and three
classmates are kidnapped and taken back to South America. It seems Dora’s
parents knew the location of a lost city of gold, and the bad guys want Dora to
lead them to her mom and dad.
Dora and the
Lost City of Gold
includes elements from several great films: the hilarious naivety from Elf, the contagious optimism in Paddington, and the history-based
exploration from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
It’s a clean version of Jumanji: Welcome
to the Jungle (which I didn’t like).
It also provides girls a great role model who has multiple
qualities I’d want my daughter to emulate.
Yes, the film is quirky and even goofy at times, but it’s a
funny and mostly family-friendly film that my two oldest children (ages 11 and
7) enjoyed.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. Teenagers are kidnapped in a crate and taken to
South America on a plane. Dora and her classmates are chased and shot at with
darts. They get stuck in quicksand. They nearly drown, and they think they’re
going to die. They’re nearly killed again in a temple when the walls close in
on them and a ceiling with sharp points collapses. But nothing is graphic, and
comedy is just beneath the surface of every scene. It would disturb only the
most sensitive children. Most older kids and tweens would consider it tame.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. Two teenagers kiss (Dora’s not one of them). We
hear discussion of animals mating.
Coarse
Language
Minimal. Two barely heard OMGs. Two instances of “gosh” and
two unfinished “what the.” Four instances of “shut up.” The rest of the
language involves name-calling: “disco Dorka” and “Dorka,” for example.
Other
Positive Elements
Dora loves her parents, and they love her, too.
Dora is the type of female role model few films offer. She
optimistic. She’s encouraging to others. She sees the best in people. She’s
humble. She’s a leader who learns. Eventually, she wins over her friends. It’s
also worth noting that the film doesn’t sexualize Dora, as happens too often in
Hollywood movies.
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
Dora dances, but not inappropriately (It’s so goofy it embarrasses
her cousin, Diego).
She and her friends get stuck in quicksand, resulting in
sounds that emulate the sound of flatulation.
Her female classmate, Sammy, uses the restroom in the
jungle. Dora helps by digging a hole and inventing a song about making a “poo
hole” in the ground.
Life Lessons
Optimism is
infectious: Dora
was ridiculed in school for her cheery personality, but it influenced everyone
for the better. The contrast between her and her snobby classmates is striking.
Who would you rather hang out with? The answer is obvious.
Bullying is
ugly: We
briefly see a student shoved up against the lockers. We hear Dora called
several ugly names for her intellect and background. The bullies were trying to
be cool. Ironically, through, they were the ones who looked foolish. Proverbs
18:2 says: “A fool takes no pleasure in
understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
Everyone
needs encouraged. Dora
grows discourages a couple of times. Her friends, especially Diego, cheer her
up.
Worldview
The plot involves Incan traditions and myths that turn out
to be true. We watch an elderly woman transformed into a young queen. We hear
discussion of Incan gods. When things go bad, the queen tells everyone that the
gods were “angered.” We watch Dora appease these gods by restoring a statuette
to its original location.
What Works
Isabela Moner as Dora. She’s marvelous. The humor stays in
the family-friendly realm, even if it does include discussions of “poo.”
What Doesn’t
Some of the humor is awkward.
Discussion
Questions
1. Do you enjoy being around people like Dora? Why or why
not?
2. Name five positive characteristics of Dora. Which
characteristic do you need to emulate?
3. What is the key to stopping bullying?
4. Why are cliques so popular? Are cliques biblical or
unbiblical?
5. Dora says if “you believe in yourself, anything is
possible.” Is that true?
Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 4 out
of 5 stars.
Rated PG for
action and some impolite humor.