The Christian Critic's Conundrum

Sherwood Pictures? Kendrick brothers? "Good if deeply flawed"?
Chances are, if you didn't watch Courageous in the theater last September, you probably read a review of the movie.
Having seen previous Sherwood films, having watched the Courageous trailer, and having heard so much positive commendation for this latest motion picture I was looking forward to viewing it for myself. Anxious to know how it had turned out I eagerly read a review in WORLD Magazine's October 22, 2011 issue. Coming from a popular Christian magazine I assumed that I would be inundated with words of approval and was a bit surprised by what I read.

Megan Besham wrote praise for the film's call to action, compelling fathers to fulfill their God-given role. She also gave the movie due credit for raising $9 million on it's opening weekend though produced with only $1 million. Besham's praise was then balanced with a good dose of what seemed at the time to be healthy critique. Considering how far the Kendrick brothers had come they were ready to "go pro," as she proclaimed in the title of the article.

In Besham's opinion, though volunteer actors were greatly appreciated and applauded, they lacked the convincing art of subtle expression, "Volunteer actors are a wonderful thing and those who have served in Sherwood's productions perform astonishingly well—for amateurs. But as …[award winning] Of Gods and Men, demonstrates, the capacity of experienced actors—to borrow a writer's cliché—to show without telling is invaluable. They understand the art of subtlety and when a fleeting expression of pain will reveal more than all-out sobbing. They trust their audiences to respond without the promptings of enormous indicating gestures, something inexperienced actors like those in Courageous rarely do."
  
Having not yet viewed Courageous, I had nothing to refute these words with and I could only agree that good acting was definitely a key point to any movie's success. Bad acting would be a letdown, indeed. Representing the Christian worldview to the whole world is a hefty burden. Besham could have a point, I admitted. I read on....

"It's a shame given that the presence of editors and producers with years of practice in the Hollywood trenches might have elevated Courageous from "good if deeply flawed" to just plain good." wrote Besham. She also claimed that there were too many emotional climaxes and that, "had the movie dropped at least one of the five fathers' storylines to dig deeper into the remaining characters' lives, the evangelizing scenes that come later would have felt less calculated and unearned."

....then for the finish...

"Christian audiences—starved for anything that speaks to them on a spiritual level—will continue to support Sherwood Baptist films for those elements that work while charitably overlooking those that don't. But what a gift it would be to those same audiences, as well as to viewers who aren't as likely to forgive shortcomings for the sake of message, for the Kendricks to build on their God-given talents and make a movie of such quality it requires no caveats."

Bracing myself for a cheesy Christian flick I went to see Courageous with a few friends. "What was so terrible about the movie that it should garner such a review?!?!” I then wondered. The acting was better than any of the previous movies by Sherwood Pictures. In fact, it was far better! It was wholesome, humorous, entertaining ...a true family film. What a rarity in today's world!!!

Granted, Megan Besham wrote a critique and was of course purposing to expose the points where improvement was to be had. I allowed her that much. ....until I read her next movie review. Suddenly, there was no more criticism to be found as Basham's review sang accolades on October Baby! (December 3, 2011 WORLD Magazine issue) Though I have not, to this day, viewed October Baby it doesn't take a discerning eye to recognize the obvious hints towards October Baby's overall, superior quality as a Christian film compared to (although kindly failing to name) Courageous.

Stating that viewers would be surprised at how "polished" October Baby is, Besham wrote, "Christian moviegoers have grown accustomed to overlooking some of the more common faults of films targeted at us: OK, the acting wasn't great, the dialogue was corny, but the message was good, the intent was good, and it may impact lives."
Now you may suspect that I write out of wounded pride and that I really am just another Christian that is "starved for anything that speaks to [me] on a spiritual level." Maybe I can't accept the truth?

Ah.... not so hasty to conclude, let us consider this matter a bit further. 

I have no doubt that October Baby is a touching flick. Its pro-life theme would be one that I would enthusiastically support. It probably has great lessons that can be gained by the viewers.

(not including the weird –and possibly inappropriate?- relationship that Besham mentions, between the main character and a guy friend along with “the har-dee-har-har antics of her stoner-esque road trip buddy [that] would have been better left on the cutting room floor.” Besham is apparently not too worried about blatant, negative influences that she sees as “minor quibbles set against the impact of the whole.”)

....but here it comes. The real motive.

About October Baby, Besham writes, "The Erwins get the biggest thing right: telling Hannah's story—and just Hannah's story—simply and sincerely. Perhaps their most significant accomplishment is that they demonstrate how liberating and joyous forgiveness is—both giving it and receiving it—without putting implausible, sermonizing dialogue into their characters' mouths. They trust their audience to recognize that they're seeing the heart of Christ without shouting that that's what they're supposed to be seeing. The closest the film comes to preaching is when a priest offers Hannah some Bible-based advice that is both affecting and appropriate to the character and the scene."

Standing alone, Besham's review on Courageous isn't bad at all, but compared to her review on another Christian film one sees the real heart of the matter. It's not so much about the filming superiority as it is about Christianity. A deeper understanding of individual characters was more important to Besham than open examples of Christ changing lives and a solid salvation message (which Besham describes as "evangelizing scenes" that seemed a little too "calculated and unearned"). Quite clearly she was implying that you wouldn't want too much preaching in your motion picture and that some "Bible-based advice" from a priest is more than enough to suffice.

If we assume that everyone we meet should be able to see Christ through our lives and if we "trust" that by watching us unsaved souls will be led to Christ, we will be gravely mistaken. Sometimes conveying Christ to others requires us to boldly and courageously speak the truth in love.  (Ephesians 4:15) If you are witnessing to somebody it’s likely going to feel childish and it’s likely going to be awkward and those who aren't interested in Christ will scoff at your “foolishness”.  

1 Corinthians 1:26-29, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

It is no coincidence then that a Christian movie might seem amateur (childish) when compared to a more worldly movie. Megan Besham's clear lack of desire for sincere Christianity is, sadly, a mirror of so many people today. When did professing to be Christians but still living like the rest of the world become o.k.? (Romans 6:1) Whatever happened to the boldness that the Apostle Paul spoke of in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."?

         "The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter--'tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."

Mark Twain surely spelled it out for us. The difference between the right word and the almost right word is vast indeed. Therefore we ask ourselves, could this difference also apply to other matters? Like perhaps the difference between one Christian movie and another?

I think so.