MOVIE REVIEW: God's Not Dead

God's Not Dead is not a bad film, but by no means is it the return to form for Christian movies that it is heralded to be. Indeed, with it being the champion in what could have easily been considered the Christian Film Renaissance (with at least 12 Christian/Biblical movies released theatrically in 2014), I would have hoped for a bit more than what is really a bloated ensemble piece that cares too little for its characters in its effort to send a message that you already know by looking at the title.

Rated PG for thematic material, brief violence, and an accident scene

The trailer promises that the film will deal with the debate of God's existence between professor and student, and for the most part it does. Shane Harper (Good Luck Charlie) plays a college freshman who refuses to deny God's existence because that's not what he believes. His philosophy professor (Kevin Sorbo, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Soul Surfer) challenges him to "prove the antithesis," which he valiantly and persistently does over the course of the film. However, one of my biggest gripes with the film is that the plot is too bloated, and it feels like it. The main plot, as described above, sounds really promising and it is inspiring, displaying a true role model for Christians. Yet if it had just focused on and thoroughly developed that plot, along with the relationships of professor and student (with pastors, significant others, fellow classmates), it would have had the potential for greatness, especially when we're inundated with under-par Christian films. Instead, the filmmakers felt it was necessary to add in way too many subplots, such as: a seemingly anti-Christian reporter who faces a major tragedy, a atheist son who hates his dementia-afflicted mother, a pastor and a missionary experiencing a series of unfortunate events with their car, and a girl raised in a Muslim home challenged for her Christian faith. None of them are significantly related to the main plot or to each other, and the last one is hardly in the film, making me wonder why it was even included at all. Furthermore, the cameos by the Duck Dynasty crew feel so forced. I understand that because of the A&E show their presence would get butts in seats, but they felt extraneous. Their only purpose is to make redneck jokes and deliver the message of the film...which is the title.

The ending even feels unearned. In time, the professor finds redemption after being met with tragedy, and at that moment, we the audience are supposed to cheer (or be crying because that was actually a well-done scene). This is going to have a dramatic impact on the remainder of the film, yes? Nope! Instead we cut to an event that condemns the professor and praises the kid for standing for his beliefs...before making a direct appeal to the audience to share "God's Not Dead" via text to their friends. So everything leading up to this--the mother with dementia, the reporter with cancer, the outcast Muslim, the debates, the breakups, the comic relief of the pastors, the businessman who cares for no one--all led up to an appeal to send a text message? Come on! In that moment, all of the emotional buildup was lost. One could give the argument, "The people at the event didn't know what happened to him," but the screenwriter ought to have had enough integrity to keep the audience engaged in this new connection and resolution.

The acting is alright, with Kevin Sorbo and Shane Harper rightfully stealing the show. Sorbo is probably one of the better actors working in Christian media today, so at least we have him to look forward to. But even then, the power of his performance is inhibited by a weak script that has him a complex antagonist in one scene, and the dastardly caricature of an atheist in the next. Harper impressed me for the most part, breaking away from the Disney sitcoms he was once a part of, which is nice to see. Otherwise, though, the acting is meh. Standing out in my mind is Trisha LaFache, who plays the reporter in an overly cartoony performance when interviewing Newsboys and the Robertsons, sacrificing emotion for a soulless "hard-hitting news break" over-the-topness. That's not to say she doesn't convey emotion at all; when she is diagnosed with cancer, her sadness felt real. I'm just disappointed that Christian films are stuck in a rut with overall quality.

I'm not singing the film's praises because I don't feel it completely deserves it. The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Divergent did not get great reviews from me because, even though there were promising aspects, the films themselves were incredibly flawed. I don't feel a Christian film ought to get a pass from such criticism just because I happen to agree with its worldview. The fact of the matter is God's Not Dead has problems that severely hurt it. The movie generally feels like the filmmakers threw good ideas at the screen, hoping that something would stick, regardless of how they meshed. Some parts do stick, which the filmmakers try to use as an "out" for including unnecessary, unmeshable material in the script. That's an appalling way to look at making a movie. The Christian audience deserves better than that, but the film is so concerned with telling the "message" that deaths, cancer, being an outcast, and dementia feel sad because the idea of it is sad. It's purely sentimental, just like a Hallmark movie; we feel no raw emotion because emotion isn't developed. Even The Passion of the Christ wasn't sentimental, giving us flashbacks that develop the character of Jesus, making his death so much more heart-wrenching; you won't be getting much of that here.

It's my belief that a Christian-made movie should stand well on its own right, regardless of the presence of "the message." It's my belief that Christian movies should be held to a higher standard because of their goals. This one fails to do that, being a pretty mediocre drama regardless of your beliefs. Take, for example, M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. Regardless of what you thought of the ending, you cannot deny that that film was so tightly-knit together that everything felt necessary. That movie has strong Christian themes, but there's not that need to tell "the message." It stands well on its own. Why couldn't have God's Not Dead have done the same if it's mission is to reach the secular crowd? Why couldn't Christian audiences gotten a movie worthy of the $12 they paid at the movie theater? Wouldn't the message be more effective if it was part of a genuinely great film instead of being the film itself? Wouldn't it get secular audiences interested in a genre that is filled with more lackluster pictures than horror?

Kevin Sorbo delivers an acting performance worth seeing. Too bad the main story doesn't soak in all the limelight.

In short, this had the potential to be one of the Great Christian Movies, being a sleeper hit and all, and it just failed to do so. It placed less emphasis on the cake--character development, believable dialogue, meaningful direction, a sense of focus--and placed more emphasis on the icing--"the message"--and the sentimental sprinkles on top. It's not among the worst of Christian films, but I'd think twice (maybe thrice) before saying it's one of the best. A disappointment, I can only give this film 2.5/5 Stars, for its two leads and the positive examples displayed in the main plot. It's just too muddled for me to give it a more positive review. It may touch people, it may lead people to Christ, but a completely good movie it is not.

Did you see God's Not Dead? What was your favorite Christian/Biblical movie released in 2014? Whatever you have to say about me and the movies, comment below!