Movie : Courageous
Release Date : September 30, 2011
Studio : TriStar Pictures (Sony)
Director : Alex Kendrick
Screenwriter : Alex Kendrick, Stephen Kendrick
Starring : Alex Kendrick, Kevin Downes, Ben Davies, Matt Hardwick, Ken Bevel
Genre : Drama
Official Website : Not Available
Honor Begins at Home. Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.
While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.
When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a new found urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children?
Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the movie making ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Riveted moviegoers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.
Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.
Let me start by letting you know that shortly after I became a Christian, I found myself unable to enjoy the comedy clubs, music and movies that I had once loved. It hit me one day that I had to put all those things away that were not glorifying to God…the crude humor, immoral innuendo, blasphemy and lyrics that promoted sin. Although I was dedicated to my new Lord, (I did put the stuff away), I reacted like Lot’s wife, turning back and looking…somewhat lamenting the loss of “fun” in my life. I resigned myself to the fact that I would never again enjoy jokes, movies or music.
Leave it to the Kendrick brothers to blow away that notion! One of the highlights of the movie, Courageous, is the side splitting humor sprinkled throughout, all of it clean and gentle. No one’s feelings have to be hurt by sarcasm for a joke to be funny, and gross vulgarities are not only unnecessary, but they truly ruin a good time.
In Courageous, we join a group of 4 sheriff’s deputies and a manual laborer named Javier. These men face daily dilemmas related to job and family and learn to rely on each other and God in this inspiring, but humorous flick. How will they respond when the ultimate tragedy befalls one of them?
But this review is not just about the entertainment value of Courageous, but rather the spiritual value. Let’s use three measuring sticks (you could pick several others, I’m sure), to try to judge the merit of this movie. Ultimately, the question is, should you spend the resources God has provided you with to see this flick? Or would your money be better spent elsewhere…there is certainly need all around us.
On Tuesday, May 10th, together with two co-workers, I headed down to Menomonee Falls, WI to attend a promotional screening of the movie Courageous. Courageous is the fourth production of Sherwood Baptist in Albany, GA. Sherwood’s previous productions are, “Flywheel,” “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof.”
Facing the Giants was Sherwood’s first big hit, followed by the largely successful Fireproof. Each movie has a particular emphasis and Courageous is no different.
Courageous endeavors to present in an attractive manner the theme of fatherhood. The main plot surrounds five men, four of whom are cops. Most are a combination of being mediocre dads, poor husbands or lukewarm followers of Christ. An unthinkable horror strikes one of them, Adam Mitchell, forcing him into a six-week study of God’s design for fatherhood. Mitchell shares the fruits of his study with his friends and unveils a “resolution” he created. All five men agree to live out this resolution and are tested in their resolve.
Accompanying the central plot are various sub-plots that come together to demonstrate the concerns and desires of a father’s heart for his family and society. This message reflects a larger ideology and movement that calls upon men to be authentic witnesses to manhood in Christ, though there is no clearly discernible link made in the movie with this larger movement.
As a Catholic, I must note the lack of a sacramental economy that pervades the movie. Understandably, Sherwood sees through the lens of Protestant theology on sin and grace/faith and works and this intimately affects the plot of the movie. Mercifully, this choice is not as prevalent as it could be and is primarily demonstrated in one scene, though undertones persist throughout the entire film. This danger to faith and good morals might deter some viewers; however a well-catechized Catholic can easily identify these and ward others away from them.
Theological deficits aside, this movie has a lot of potential to arouse noble sentiments within the hearts of men and communicates many valuable conceptions on life and manhood. Personally speaking, I laughed, I cried (sometimes back to back) and at the end, I felt in my own heart that the message had been received. It is said that our culture has largely neglected or forgotten the true meaning of fatherhood. I can say that as I truly felt edified after watching Courageous, I believe that other men will likewise be inspired to seek Christ more profoundly.
Overall, I would give Courageous 4 out of 5 stars as the story is well-written, moving seamlessly between gravity and levity, but the theological deficits are a cause for concern.
love this movie
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