AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
January 2012 – The Perfect Game
The 1957 Little League World Series is the unlikely backdrop for The Perfect Game, an inspiring and entertaining family movie. The fact that it’s based on a true story makes it all the more appealing.
This two-hour feature from Motive Entertainment follows the story of a rag-tag passel of Monterey, Mexico, baseball fans – little boys who don’t know they can dream of playing baseball in the U.S. Their village priest, a baseball fan himself, feeds their appetite for the sport, and when they draft Cesar to be their coach, their dream begins to grow.
Cesar had told the boys he was once on the St. Louis Cardinals coaching staff, but late in the movie, his conscience moves him to confess that he was only a bat boy before he was fired and returned to his Monterey home.
Before one game, the boys refuse to take the field until Cesar finds a pastor who will pray for them. There are numerous elements to praise – Cesar’s confession, the boys’ childlike faith, the challenge of dreaming big. A couple of scenes depict characters drinking alcohol, the most notable one in which Cesar is drunk. However, he returns to sobriety and the incident serves to demonstrate the danger of alcohol abuse. Available for purchase online and in retail outlets.
Review by Randall Murphree
Marriage Retreat
Three marriages are in trouble and when the couples (already good friends) hear a pastor advocating a marriage retreat, they agree to give it a try. However, the husbands assume that their wives will learn more about how to submit to them; and the wives think their husbands will be admonished to be more sensitive and loving.
James is a soap opera star whose wife Donna is fearful he’s going to leave her just as their first baby is due. Claire can’t figure out how to tell hubby Mark that she’s pregnant. He is adamantly against having children because of his father’s abusive behavior, but he’s never told Claire that. Bobby and Melody are at odds because of his online gambling addiction.
In one sense, Marriage Retreat is a comedy of errors – or at least of erroneous thinking. On the other, the unconventional counsel of Dr. Craig Sullivan and his wife Katrina leads each of the six individuals to take a kind of spiritual inventory, and they all discover some things they don’t like about themselves.
The gospel references focus on one’s relationship to God the Father, but when Donna goes into premature labor, James prays to Jesus for help. The story manages to be both entertaining and challenging. Available at www.pureflix.com.
Review by Randall Murphree
Hollow Caution
Hollow is being marketed to Christian audiences, and there are some redeeming elements, especially in the life of one ex-con and the story of a husband who faces his porn addiction and begins counseling with his estranged wife. It doesn’t have the best acting in the world, but the story is intriguing, and it has enough facets to hold one’s interest.
The cops-and-drug-dealers plot is predictable in many ways, with mild violence (nothing bloody or gory), a few mild obscenities and one use of God’s name in vain. Women’s attire occasionally borders on the immodest (primarily a little cleavage in several scenes).
Harrison, an ex-drug dealer (saved in prison), is the spiritual anchor of the story, and he prays and uses Scripture often. Consequently, some of the characters find resolution by escaping from the world of drugs and crime to begin a new life.
Review by Randall Murphree
Saving Winston
Saving Winston is the story of Ashley, a teenager coming out of a drug rehab facility. Her mom is not willing to take her back at home, so she is put in the care of her Aunt Diane. Initially, Ashley is resentful and disrespectful, and she reestablishes contact with the old boyfriend who had done drugs with her.
Aunt Diane owns an equestrian business, and Ashley had loved riding horses as a young child. When she discovers Winston, a horse that has been neglected by its owners, Ashley helps nurse him back to health, and he becomes a part of her therapeutic recovery. Eventually, Aunt Diane leads Ashley to faith.
The theme and story of the movie are admirable, but the production is extremely slow-moving and the acting pretty flat, almost in monotone sometimes. Scenes frequently go for as long as three to four minutes with no dialogue at all. Available for purchase at www.pureflix.com.
Review by Randall Murphree
Mr. Popper’s Penguins Caution
Jim Carrey stars in this feature-length comedy about a man who learns what is truly important in life. Carrey’s character, Mr. Popper, had a rough relationship with his father. As a child, he only talked to his father through radio communication because he was always on a great adventure far away.
Many years later, Popper’s father dies and leaves him a penguin. In his attempts to send the penguin back, Popper mistakenly receives five more. While learning to take care of the penguins, Popper learns the value of being a father to his two children and reignites a relationship with his ex-wife.
While the movie is funny for all ages, there are several instances of bathroom humor. At the beginning of the movie, Popper’s children show no respect for their father, calling him “Popper” instead of “Dad,” among other acts. Unfortunately, there are two uses of God’s name in vain.
Review by Teddy James
Alleged Caution
Alleged is the cinematic feature film of the Scopes Trial that opened the door for human evolution to be taught in the public education system. The movie shows the tension that often exists between science and religion through the characters of William Jennings Bryan, who sticks with the Bible, and Clarence Darrow, who believes evolution is the only way to teach.
The story focuses on Charles Anderson, a small town journalist who is covering the trial. His mentor, Baltimore Sun editor H.L. Mencken, continually pushes Anderson to “make a story,” rather than tell one. Consequently, Anderson sacrifices his friends and even his fiancée to impress his new boss.
While Alleged is entertaining and worthwhile, there are several items that parents need to be aware of including one scene in which Anderson gets drunk and passes out outside his fiancée’s house. There is the constant pressure of Mencken for Anderson to lie and deceive those around him while both give feeble moral justification for their actions.
Alleged is not a movie for young children, but teens and older will find it engaging and informative. DVD available at retail outlets.
Review by Teddy James
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake: Bright Lights, Big Dreams focuses on the value of friendship and what it takes to make a friendship work. When Strawberry Shortcake has to deal with bad-mannered houseguests in the first episode, she learns that bad behavior can’t be tolerated and that she has to take responsibility to honestly and frankly address a problem, even if it means upsetting people. The next two episodes stress the importance of working together and considering others.
While younger children may enjoy the show for the colorful images and fun music, the DVDs would be most appreciated by older preschool or kindergarten age children.
For more information, visit www.strawberryshortcake.com.
Review by Stacy Long
Little Angels
From the creator of Adventures in Odyssey, Little Angels is a preschool friendly program intended to teach life lessons by applying Bible stories to experiences familiar to young children. Creative songs help teach each lesson. In the first episode, Alex and Zoe learn from the story of Adam that work is something God created people to do and that it can be meaningful and fun.
In episode two, they learn to persevere as Noah did when building the ark. In the third episode, Zoe learns from Jonah to turn to God when she is afraid.
The DVD can be helpful for parents in teaching children good morals, but parents should know that the Bible stories are highly simplified. The Web site www.littleangels.com offers fun activities for children and tips for parents.
Review by Stacy Long
Spot, Speck and Sparkle
Do you remember as a child going on treasure hunts, playing dress-up and playing in the mud? Spot, Speck and Sparkle, a new children’s book by Penelope D. Gargus, is the story of three ladybug siblings doing all that and more while spending the night with their country grandparents, Meems and Paw.
This is their favorite place to go and they take full advantage of all the fun and adventures the country has to offer. Meems and Paw are caring grandparents who thoroughly enjoy watching the three and even participate in some of the fun.
Spot, Speck and Sparkle, the first in a series, is a sweet story about a loving family and childhood fun. Illustrations are brightly colored and will appeal to young children, and the activities in which the ladybug children participate will appeal to both boys and girls. It is a great book for parents to read to their pre-school children. There are some words that younger children may not be understand – which present an opportunity to teach.
There is no direct reference to God. However, the author’s desire is that the series will bring honor and glory to Him, and she has assured AFA that future stories include the characters learning about Jesus and faith in Him. Available at www.spotspeckandsparkle.com.
Review by Debbie Fischer