January 2008 – New movies – even the silly ones – tackle weighty issues
The New Year is here, which means big plans, better resolutions, refreshed outlooks and, even, unexpected challenges. A new entertainment line-up of theatrical and DVD releases addresses hard-hitting topics and everyday struggles that many are likely to face in the future.

While some of the films are lighthearted and kid-friendly, others have a heavier more dramatic tone better suited for teens and adults. However, as a group, the films offer hope for those struggling with low self-esteem, disobedience, pride, selfishness, disbelief and spiritual warfare while coming to terms with God’s power and unconditional love.

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything
Ahoy mates! Get ready to set sail January 11 with Universal Pictures and Big Idea as they release VeggieTales: The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything in theaters nationwide. The full-length animated film is about the comical journey of three vegetables who stumble upon adventure and in doing so learn what it means to be a true hero.

Elliot, Sedgewick and George, better known as Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt and Pa Grape, respectively, work as busboys at a dinner theater, but they long to take center stage in the theater’s pirate show. After a failed audition, they see themselves as disappointments to their families and friends. When they don’t know what to do, a mysterious ball lands in front of them and whisks them back to the 17th century, where they face off against real pirates in an attempt to rescue a royal family from Robert the Terrible.

It’s a fun-filled adventure at sea complete with the typical VeggieTales humor and just the right amount of drama. Upbeat songs throughout the film featuring the talents of Christian music artists such as Newsboys and TobyMac make it the perfect VeggieTales fare. It’s wholesome, moral and entertaining … a great film for families to watch.

However, don’t go to the theaters expecting to see a retelling of a Biblical account. This film is subtle in its Christian elements in an attempt to appeal to both the broad and faith-based audience.

“We were very intentional in creating a story on two different levels,” said founder and writer Phil Vischer. “When movies have an overt Christian message, broader audiences don’t show up.”

But with a film like this one, audiences are entertained and exposed to the central theme of what it means to be a hero while giving parents opportunities to share a Biblical worldview with their children, said Mike Nawrocki, director.

“God calls us to adventure and to be heroes,” he added.

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything is rated G. It does contain some mild cartoon violence, odd characters and jump scenes that may startle young children. Otherwise, don’t hesitate in jumping on board this ship as it sails into the world of true heroism.

The Perfect Stranger and Another Perfect Stranger
Based on novels by David Gregory, The Perfect Stranger (2005) and its sequel Another Perfect Stranger (2007) are now available on DVD from Kelly’s Filmworks Ltd. Each movie is about a person’s life-changing encounter with Christ.

In the first film, religious cynic and lawyer Nikki Cominsky receives an invitation to dine with Jesus Christ. Thinking it’s a joke from her equally cynical husband, Nikki shows up to dinner only to find a stranger waiting on her. He introduces himself as Jesus Christ, and she decides to challenge him in an attempt to prove he is a liar. The dinner turns into a lengthy conversation that ends in a way Nikki never expected.

In the second film, Nikki’s daughter Sarah has a similar encounter 10 years later with a man who shares her disgust with religion. Following a blowout with her parents over their relationships with Christ, Sarah travels across the country to check out the art institute of her dreams. She doesn’t think she will ever be accepted, but at least it’s a way to escape the psycho religious fanatics she calls Mom and Dad. Sarah is bitter and sarcastic, and she doesn’t even know if she believes in God. But her encounter with Yesh, who becomes her traveling companion, sheds a whole new light on her idea of religion.

Both films address difficult topics many people – both believers and non-believers – wrestle with every day. The majority of each film is a conversation between two people, but the contents of each conversation are so engaging the lack of scene change is rarely noticed.

It’s a movie that’s meaty, with life-changing potential that proves the existence of God and His Son, but solid references to repentance are absent. Plus, some viewers may struggle with the notion of Jesus physically appearing to others in present day situations. Both films are clean with the exception of mild language such as “gosh,” “swear,” “freaked,” and “screwed.” There is a reference to date rape in the second film.

The Perfect Stranger and Another Perfect Stranger are not rated.

The List
Based on a novel by Robert Whitlow, The List is a “good Southern story” – according to director, producer and co-screenwriter Gary Wheeler. And that’s exactly what it is.

The List is about Renny Jacobson, a young attorney whose wealthy father mysteriously dies, leaving Renny an inheritance of nothing more than the contents of a safety deposit box and interest in the Covenant List of South Carolina Ltd. – a 140-year-old secret society known as The List.

On the way to his first meeting with the society, Renny meets the beautiful Jo Johnston – also an heir to The List. Together they discover that this group of power-hungry men controls a fortune that was smuggled out of South Carolina during the Civil War. This fortune is now within Renny’s reach if only he will sign his name in blood, giving himself over to greed and power.

Renny’s encounter with Jo and his initial involvement with the society send him on a spiritual journey where he comes face to face with supernatural powers, including the power of prayer.

The List is colored by Southern charm and filled with Christian elements including Biblical references, spiritual warfare and prayer. But it’s almost too creepy and awkward for viewers to walk away with a true understanding of these things because the result of Renny’s struggle with good verses evil is vague.

The film is tense and engaging and contains no profanity, but it has a weak ending and an unsettling message. Note that characters drink alcohol throughout the movie and there is some mild violence, trauma and gore.

The List was recently released in select theaters and is rated PG for thematic elements including some peril and brief incidental smoking.

The Wager
Country music star Randy Travis takes on the role of fictitious actor Michael Steel in The Wager, a film from best-selling author Bill Myers.

In The Wager, Steel, a man of morals, is awaiting the biggest night of his life when he will walk down the red carpet as a nominee for Best Actor. Steel is on the cusp of having it all, or so he thinks, when suddenly he finds himself in the middle of a supernatural battle.

God and Satan seemingly have placed a wager on Steel’s life as his faith is tested through the destruction of his reputation, marriage and career. He finds comfort in his sister while his manager seeks to save his plummeting career from media scavengers intent on sabotaging it.

The film has a Scriptural basis in the Sermon on the Mount. Intended to be subtle, The Wager is almost too vague when it comes to making sense of the spiritual issues in the film. Also addressed in the film are the topics of infidelity, adultery, pedophilia and child abuse.

The storyline is heartfelt, interesting and realistic. The Wager also contains special music by Travis and includes a cast of recognizable talent.

The Wager is not rated and does not contain profanity. There is one use of the word “freak,” several instances of blood and violence, several indirect references to sex and some immodesty. The film was set to release to churches in December.

7th Street Theater
7th Street Theater is a multi-faceted production that feels like a TV series and a play, all rolled into one. The Dave Christiano production is a series of vignettes revolving around six characters and their struggles and triumphs as part of a Christian acting company called, appropriately, 7th Street Theater. Each episode focuses on some aspect of the characters’ lives and what they learn about God and each other through their performances.

Christiano has never shied away from controversial topics, and this series doesn’t do that either. In one episode titled “Jamie’s Brother,” the brother of one of the 7th Street characters comes to visit the set and soon is recruited to play a small part in the play. Right after Jamie’s brother shows up, however, strange things start to occur. Pornography begins to appear on the office computer. It’s a mystery to everyone until, after several similar occurrences, the finger points straight to Jamie’s brother. As refreshing as it is to see real problems tackled in this series, it’s just as refreshing to see the impact that forgiveness plays when Jamie’s brother has to confront the cast with honesty.

7th Street Theater is a series worth seeing and sharing. Its upfront portrayal of believers struggling to honor God with their on-stage performances and their lives will encourage and inspire all audiences. The first series is now available on DVD at www.christianfilms.com.
By Hamilton Richardson