AFA Staff

AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources

October 2011 – Family football film scores again for Walmart/P&G
At the peak of his 10-year pro football career, Jake Walker’s stardom is threatened by a knee injury and younger competition. But he desperately needs one more season to capture an elusive pro record and cement his chances of making the Hall of Fame. 

In the middle of negotiations for the coming season, he gets a call from home; his dad (his high school coach) has had a severe heart attack.

Game Time: Tackling the Past is the eighth in Walmart/Procter and Gamble’s Family Movie Night series. “They’ve done it again,” said Don Wildmon, founder of AFA, “they’ve made another good movie. After 34 years of AFA trying to persuade television to produce decent shows on a regular basis, I had about given up hope. But now, Walmart and P&G are producing a series of great family movies, and we need to support them.”

In this latest film, Jake isn’t too happy about being called home. His relationship to his father, Frank, and his brother, Dean, is strained almost to a breaking point, an estrangement with roots in an incident during his high school career when he and Dean were starring on Dad’s Riverton, North Carolina, Buccaneers team. The film creates suspense by not revealing until late in the story just what caused the rift.

There’s a subtle parallel here to the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son. Jake had left home to pursue fame and fortune, his dad and brother both thinking him to be totally self-centered. Dean, on the other hand, had stayed home and followed in Dad’s footsteps as his assistant coach.

Meanwhile, Mom is tenacious in her drive to back all three men into a corner where they’ll have to confront the specter that has haunted their family for almost 15 years.

When Dean has to step into the head coaching role, he asks Jake for help. At first, Jake declines, but reconsiders and makes a commitment to Dean and the team to be there until the season opener. Then comes the challenge from his agent. A new two-year contract is on the table if he’ll fly to L.A. immediately – and miss the big game. 

Beau Bridges and Catherine Hicks (Annie Camden in the hit television series Seventh Heaven) give strong performances as Frank and Anna Walker. Frank says grace over dinner, and both he and his wife focus on the need for faith, integrity and honesty if a family is to be strong. Ryan McPartlin as Jake, and Josh Braaten as Dean also deliver solid performances as they portray the years-old conflict between brothers. 

As the Walkers struggle through their challenges, issues of humility, forgiveness, loyalty and integrity are expertly and subtly woven into dialogue and demonstration. No preaching, just ordinary people dealing with ordinary, though critical, issues and finding ways to resolution. The movie debuted September 3 on NBC and is now available on DVD. 
Review by Randall Murphree

Marley & Me: The Puppy Years
Marley, the lovable yellow Labrador known as the World’s Worst Dog is again on the big screen, this time talking to the audience and to other dogs. Marley & Me: The Puppy Years is a prequel to the original Marley & Me film. In the new film, young Bodie Grogan agrees to dog-sit Marley while staying at his grandfather’s house for the summer.

When Marley comes to Bodie, he is obviously untrained. In his early teens, Bodie mirrors Marley’s attitudes, often being disrespectful and uncooperative toward his grandfather. Through the summer, both Marley and Bodie learn the value of obedience and the rewards of a job well done. 

The real adventure begins when Bodie decides to sign up Marley and two other Labrador puppies for a neighborhood dog contest. Marley and his pals outwit villains, save another puppy team from harsh owners, and generally steal hearts along the way. 

It is a touching story that will delight all ages. Parents might like to know: There is a bit of flatulence humor, Bodie’s grandfather takes them to an opponent’s home to spy on their progress, and Bodie makes fun of his grandfather early on with a friend about his false teeth. 
Review by Debbie Fischer

Documentary shows hope in Christ
A Force for Change is the story of the police in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere. It was long known for its problems of prostitution, drugs, children sleeping on the street and, at one time, corruption in the legal system. 

But hope and transformation are being reborn there. In 2003, a small group of Christian police officers became burdened for the force and the community. Through years of praying together and teaching others about Jesus, the police force that was once known for being violent and corrupt, is now a tool of evangelism in a dark city.

In this moving, 45-minute documentary, it is easy to see how God can transform one – one life, like a man who became a vigilante judge, jury and executioner of drug dealers; one police force, like the one guilty of revenge killing after their colonel was brutally assassinated; and one city, like Sao Paulo.

Several elements merit a caution. This video contains violent images of dead bodies, blood-covered car seats after an assassination and naked bodies (blurred to diminish impact).

A Force for Change is one of a series of videos from the Sentinel Group which documents God’s transforming power in cities around the world. (See AFA Journal story, July/August 2011.) Videos are available at www.revivalworks.com or 800-668-5657. 
Review by Teddy James

A head start on college
High school seniors – and their parents – are already thinking seriously about college choices, costs and curriculum. In College Prep Genius, Jean Burk brings a bundle of expertise and little-known insights to aid families approaching the college years.

Burk is a published author, teacher, home schooler (of two college grads) and professional speaker whose products have helped countless students prepare for, finance and succeed in college. For example, she gives practical pointers on how to build an impressive home school transcript that is accurate and thorough. 

“Building a high school transcript goes beyond just math, science and English credits,” she says. “It really goes further, even to thinking ahead when it comes to college admission. College admission counselors are looking for students and candidates who are energetic – they’re enthusiastic, they’re self-motivated.”

She reveals principles that help students be successful when taking college entrance tests, and she shares techniques that have helped hundreds of students earn full university scholarships.

Burk’s College Prep Genius Bonus Pack and individual components of the program are available at afastore.net or 800-326-4543, option 3. 
Review by Randall Murphree

‘Somebody’s Daughter’ – hope for the porn addict
In this powerful DVD, song writer/producer Steve Siler offers hope and healing to men addicted to pornography. Somebody’s Daughter is especially effective for the man who is open to the truths of Scripture and the sacredness of family.

Siler founded Music for the Soul, a ministry with a goal to harness the power of music in products that will lead people who are victimized or suffering to find hope and help.

Somebody’s Daughter combines documentary and music video segments. Five people, including one married couple, detail their stories of porn addiction, then how they came to freedom.

“This project is so well done that it’s almost overwhelming” said Tim Wildmon, AFA president. “It has great potential to bring people back to hope.”

Christian recording artists Clay Crosse, Scott Krippayne and John Mandeville perform four music videos on the DVD. One uses the gripping imagery of a raging fire destroying home and family as the husband/father struggles with porn addiction.
Review by Randall Murphree