By Forris Day Jr.
Whether you are patriotic, anti government or somewhere in between there is no denying many people, including Americans and Non-Americans have given their lives to create a country where a person can proclaim their beliefs out loud, without fear of being imprisoned or worse. America has its problems but we are a free country. That is due to the many who have gone before us and fought. These people have lost lives, limbs, freedom and have had their own lives destroyed by the memories of war. The lucky ones have survived and blended back in to the normalcy of regular life.
In “The Pledge” a New York City born and raised boy Tory Hedderman (Barrett Carnahan) moves to a small West Virginia community where he feels out of place. He is used to the action of the city and talks of pursuing his dream of filmmaking but seems to be unable to get out of his own way. Once in town he drowns in his own sorrow. At a turning point in the movie he is accused of egging a statue of a “Doughboy”. Doughboy is a name given to soldiers in WWI. It is the equivalent of what we now call a GI. After being accused of vandalizing the statue he is sentenced to community service at the local soldiers home where he slowly learns of the sacrifice made by our veterans.
He befriends a wounded veteran who is not much older than himself named Mitch Kern (Michael Guy Allen). Mitch at first refuses to discuss his injuries and Tory thinks he just has a bad attitude but Tory has a lot to learn indeed. Tory is assigned to create a documentary where he will interview the residents of the home with the intent of showing the film to potential investors of the underfunded residence. He works closely with volunteer Jill (Emily Capehart) a peppy and energetic supporter of the veterans. Will Tory remain miserable or can Jill turn his attitude around?
The Pledge is very relatable in the fact that we all know a Tory. A person who doesn’t really care about how our country came to be and the people who laid down their lives for our freedoms of today. These folks have the right not to care. That is what is great about our democracy. I personally have relatives in the service including a son in the US Marine Corp. I have many family members that have served in WWII., Korean Conflict, Vietnam and even the Spanish American War and I’m sure others so I do appreciate our veterans.
“The Pledge” is a family film that anyone can enjoy. It is filled with characters that are relatable to most anyone. I feel that even teenagers will enjoy this as the main characters are teenage. Well written by Ty DeMartino and directed by JW Myers the same team that created the family film “A Christmas Tree Miracle”.
Rating: 8/10
