By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I am a David A.R. White fan. I actually just joined Pure Flix. Now, I’m not a Christian, but I enjoy great entertainment. From all I’ve seen, when a movie is produced by or involves White, one doesn’t have to be a Christian to love it. White has a way of making what should be serious moments in his movies, hilarious. I would label them “unintentional comedies” but I’m not sure if it’s any more unintentional than SHARKNADO (2013).
The best example of White’s ability to reach beyond his core audience is GOD’S NOT DEAD (2014). The atheistic chararacters were ridiculously over-the-top in their anger and pomposity. The Christians were shown as the underdog the viewers had no choice but to root for. A sequel hits theaters April 1, 2016 and I have about 10 friends who are on pins and needles waiting for it to come out – none of which are Christians.
What differentiates White from someone like Tyler Perry is that White isn’t necessarily preaching to the choir. Sure, his films will resonate with the core audience, but there’s many viewers who go just to be amused. One couldn’t pay me to watch anything with Madea in it.
When I watch his films, White actually makes me want to be a Christian so if his faith is correct, he really is doing God’s work.
DO YOU BELIEVE? (2015) has a star-studded cast. It follows a group of different people who are brought together in separate scenarios. Picture a G-rated PULP FICTION (1994) with more likable characters.
Samantha (Mira Sorvino) is a recent widow who lost her home. Along with her young daughter Lily (Makenzie Moss) in tow, she often sleeps in her car and has basically lost all hope. The film opens when Lily has been at the hospital for six hours. Joe (Brian Bosworth), a ‘saved’ man in poor health who was released out of prison on a compassionate release goes to the nurse on staff and asks for Lily to be seen before him.
When he finds out the circumstances surrounding Samantha and Lily, he insists that they stay at his place and unbeknownst to them, he sleeps on a bench outside.
Meanwhile, Malachi (Delroy Lindo) a street preacher with a cross on wheels goes to the car of another pastor Matthew (Ted McGinley) and makes him question the extent of what he does for his faith. He gets to Matthew so much so that, Matthew turns around and finds a young scared homeless woman who was in her third trimester. He tries to bring her home to assist, but his wife Grace (Traci Melchior) refuses. The young pregnant mom ends up staying at a cheap motel that Matthew pays for until Grace has a change of heart.
As this story unfolds another does with Bobby (Liam Matthews) an EMT who when a steamroller drives over a man he can’t save prays with him. The dying man though formally an atheist sees Jesus before dying. When the man’s wife shows up she’s so upset that she decides to hire a lawyer to sue Bobby for pushing his religious beliefs.
Everyone including his union and wife encourages him to apologize, but he stands strong and refuses. Andrea (Andrea Logan White), a lawyer defending the wife comes in and gloats to Bobby that she will eat him alive and take everything he personally has.
Her boyfriend, Dr. Farell (Sean Astin) is an even bigger jerk. He gets upset when seeing people saying grace at a restaurant. In an amazingly hilarious line, he says, “you want to thank someone for your food, there’s the kitchen staff.” Dr. Farell has zero bedside manner and a God complex that makes him almost as good as Kevin Sorbo’s portrayal of Professor Radisson.
There are a few other stories including a man suffering from PTSD and a suicidal woman who end up meeting because of what can only be perceived as divine intervention.
Separate from that story is one regarding an older couple who lost their young daughter and never found peace.
Lastly, a gang member touched Malachi’s will and heart, wants out of the criminal life. Though he steals money, with the help of Joe and Matthew he finds God and is saved and has to face off against his older brother trying to convince him that their current path is the wrong one.
These movies make no bone about their agenda. They don’t downplay the religious implications, their thoughts on abortion or their ideas about how and what Planned Parenthood does. I disagree with a lot of the messages this movie puts forth. I don’t believe that God can cure PTSD and from personal experience, I think medication is almost always needed. I’m sure speaking with a pastor may have a therapeutic benefit, in the same way, my therapist helps me talk about my past. That said, unless God increases serotonin levels and cures unbalanced chemicals impacting brain function, medication may still be necessary. It is for me.
Another scene that may need to be explained to younger audiences who view this film is the one where the pregnant teen tells Grace that the Planned Parenthood facility (or whatever they call the organization within the film) would only assist if she was willing to get an abortion. The story goes that when she felt the baby kick, she knew she had to keep it.
Now an abortion is definitely an option around the time of feeling the baby kick (13-16 weeks) but it would be a rarity for a facility to try and force anyone into that decision. It would be an option put out there, like adoption or keeping the child to raise. The issue with the movie is that it makes it sound as though Planned Parenthood is an evil place waiting with a knife to cut the fetus out and kill it. Personally, as I am pro-choice I think that’s a dangerous thought to put into a teenager’s head especially if they feel they have nowhere to turn.
Still I have my own bias because I’m pro-choice. The people who made this film are obviously pro-life, and that’s okay. If I had a child who watched this movie, I’d talk to the kid afterward and tell them what I thought so they could make up their own mind. So many atheists and feminists would probably be up in arms about the portrayals within this film. I’m not. I think the movie is entertaining, the characters have depth, the acting is top-notch, it has solid re-watch value and overall a good message. Despite the issues I disagree with the overall message is to be good to one another and to try to help those in need. We need more of that, not less.
I would highly recommend this movie. Not everything has to be a fight and we don’t have to agree or disagree on everything to find common ground. I think the common ground is David A.R. White. He knows not only how to make a film, but which ones to get behind.
I will say having to wait until April 1st, to see GOD’S NOT DEAD 2, is a sin!
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
