June 2011 – Truth Be Told MILD CAUTION
Walmart/P&G’s Family Movie Night series continues producing television films to appeal to the family. The inaugural year included four movies, all highly commended by AFA, and the fifth title, Truth Be Told, aired in April.

The latest movie has a number of commendable elements, especially the story line that illustrates how guilt will plague one who tries to get ahead by lying. And the guilty parties eventually confess.

In the end, however, the two major characters who perpetuate and live the lie do not encounter any negative effect. In fact, both accomplish their personal goals. The other side of the coin is that the benefactor who funds their respective goals illustrates the power of forgiveness and grace.

Other concerns for AFA are two opening scenes – one of them quite lengthy – in which Annie Morgan, the main character, is dressed immodestly.
Review by Randall Murphree

Cutback
High school seniors Luke, a competitive surfer, and Casey, who’s afraid of the water, are the best of friends in Cutback, a movie from Digital Film Entertainment and Skipstone Pictures. Luke dreams of pursuing a pro surfing career after high school, but his parents plan for him to go to college.

Neither of the young men is a Christian, but the story line creates numerous situations in which Christians have an influence on them.

After Luke sneaks into the house late one night, his dad is waiting. Upon discovering that Luke has been drinking, Dad grounds him. Meanwhile, Mom enlists her church’s youth pastor to come to the house and talk to Luke. She then coerces him to go to youth group.

Meanwhile, Luke is developing a relationship with Emily, a committed Christian. But when he and Casey have a car crash, Luke winds up in the hospital, spurns God and insults Emily. Eventually, Luke opens up to the youth pastor with his questions about God. He apparently gives his life to Christ, though the gospel is not clear.

The movie’s Christian characters are portrayed without being overbearing as they live out their faith and talk to others about it. The themes of marital reconciliation, loss and grief, and forgiveness are just beneath the surface as the main story progresses. Cutback can be purchased at afastore.net or at 1-800-326-4543, option 3.
Review by Randall Murphree

Jerusalem Countdown
This thrilling end-times story opens at the Rapture and chronicles the attempts of a group which calls itself Revolution of God, a group allegedly intent on establishing a new one-world order. The screenplay is based on the John Hagee novel of the same title.

The story line is engaging and the action fast and gripping. There’s predictable violence, from lots of gunfire to explosions to hand-to-hand combat. Those scenes are realistic and fairly graphic, but they do not show gratuitous gory results of violence. Two government agents meet another man at a bar in a few scenes. The film is clear of offensive language or sexual content.
Review by Randall Murphree

Forgiven CAUTION
In Forgiven, a western about love and redemption, Jake Kincaid seeks revenge for serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. Upon his release from prison, he is determined to locate the gold he supposedly stole and find who is responsible for wrongly sending him to jail. His efforts land him in the small lumber town of Fairplay, California, where he meets an independent woman and a mischievous little girl, both of whom impact his life for the better.

Forgiven is billed as “a western the whole family can enjoy,” but parents should be aware that it contains smoking, drinking, gambling, and violence common to the genre. There are incidents of female immodesty, name-calling, weak acting, and a subtitle (not the actual dialogue) that contains one profanity. There are some references to God throughout the film as well as a redeeming message, but unfortunately the positives don’t outshine the negatives. The film is not rated.
Review by Rebecca Grace Davis

Reconciliation CAUTION
Clean Freak Productions’ Reconciliation is a thought-provoking story of a father and son whose relationship has been broken for years.

When Grant was just a young boy his father, Jeff, began a homosexual relationship, then divorced Grant’s mom. Grant lashes out at his dad, telling Jeff he hates him and never wants to see him again. This family history is depicted via flashbacks.

The movie opens with Grant praying in a hospital chapel. He and Jeff have just reconnected due to the fact that Jeff is dying of AIDS.

Their forgiveness and reconciliation provide the context for a more poignant theme throughout the movie – God’s unconditional love and forgiveness offered through Christ Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross.

The story is intense, and parents should be aware that there are scenes in which homosexuality is discussed, beer is consumed, extramarital sex is spoken about, Grant and his wife (with moderate cleavage) are in bed talking together, Grant is seen shirtless getting into the shower, during a birthday party there is a slide show with a picture of Jeff and his homosexual partner almost kissing, and Jeff and his partner wear wedding bands.
Review by Debbie Fischer

The Bill Collector CAUTION
Forced to repay a loan shark in The Bill Collector, collection agency supervisor Lorenzo will do whatever it takes to save his neck – no matter how dishonest. The new DVD release is from Pure Flix Entertainment.

The moneylender sends his heavy-set, intimidating nephew Omar to live with Lorenzo and monitor his every move until the money is repaid. But the unexpected happens when Lorenzo and Omar find themselves at the local Learning Enrichment Center’s gospel choir practice.

The premise of the movie is good but The Bill Collector lacks in overall appeal. Various parts are disjointed, overdone, awkward and disrespectful. For example, in one scene Lorenzo, who is not a believer, “preaches” a muddled message with incorrect Bible references but is then told by another character that it was very inspiring. There are also elements of drinking, smoking, gambling, violence and deceit.

There are some positive references to God and Christ’s work on the cross as well as a powerful and redeeming ending. But The Bill Collector falls short when it comes to sharing a clear and biblical picture of the gospel.
Review by Rebecca Grace Davis

The Penny CAUTION
The opening scene of The Penny from Filmweavers is a flashback to a dark alley where police officers Tim Bell and Jack Carter interrupt an illicit drug deal. Tim, a young cop, and the dealer both die in the shootout that follows. Jack feels responsible for his young partner’s death.

The story then jumps to the present. Jack has left the force and is now a mail carrier with a disabled wife; a sometimes sullen and rebellious 17-year-old, Kate; and two sons about 6 and 8.

A parallel story follows Dan White, a convenience store operator who is running far behind on his bank payments and struggling with every part of his life. A third set of characters are Rick and Curt, small time drug dealers who find themselves in over their heads when they lose a stash of cash that their supplier is demanding.

A bent and battered penny is the simple prop that ties the three stories together. Filmmakers do a credible job of weaving these stories together and bringing the main plot threads together in a dramatic scene at Dan’s store. Some surprising twists occur that give the story a little extra punch at the end.

There are no language problems, and the only violent scenes are not graphic or gratuitous. The Christian element is subtle but treated with respect, and the themes of forgiveness and family reconciliation are resolved well.

Intense themes are the major reason for parental caution.
Review by Randall Murphree

Camp Wattabunchaphun
The live action film Camp Wattabunchaphun takes place during a one-week Christian summer camp. The goal of the film is to present the importance of Scripture, the love of God for each person and the fun of fellowship to children three to six years old. Through the use of puppets, repetitive songs and slapstick comedy, the goal is met.

During the short film, a raccoon puppet gets several “magical” items from J.C. Penney. One of the items is a Bible and, after recruiting help from a red fox, he sets out across camp to find out what this mysterious object is. The mystery is solved when the animals see the camp director reading the story of Jonah. Parents will get a kick out of seeing the puppets act out the Bible story. After the puppets act out Jonah, J.C. Penney comes to retrieve the Bible and other items.

Children will enjoy singing along with songs such as “Praise the Lord,” “Kumbayah” and others.
Review by Teddy James