Summary
7 tech score
“Small Group” (Lime Soda Films)
Over the past few years there has been a ton of faith based movies released to the movie screens of America. Some have been huge hits, while others have played to a small base of devotees and no one else. Now we have “Small Group”, a faith based film which is reminiscent of the early movies created by the Kendrick Brothers, and that is a good thing. “Small Group” gets its point across concerning its primary Christian message but does it with equal balances of drama and humor.
The early part of the movie sets up its plot which is that of a southern born documentary filmmaker returning to his Georgia roots to make an expose’ of Christians. Scott Cooper (Sterling Hurst) goes undercover, in a sense, to film Christians at their worst. His wife Mary (Emily Dunlop) abets in this conspiracy. After a few visits to a variety of churches they end up at one that has “small groups”. These groups consist of four or five couples who meet regularly to discuss their faith.
The person who invites them to join a small group is Shane Baxter (Matt Chastain). He has a huge personality and is quick with the jokes. He provides Scott with some of the rawest footage that does not sound completely like a Christian should sound. He makes jokes about some serious Christian subjects as do others in the group.
As the movie moves along the funny part of the “undercover” adventure transitions into more serious areas. This is where “Small Group” rises above the average faith based film. The audience begins to really care about all of the members of the group and doesn’t want Cooper’s film to destroy them.
There are no name actors in this film but all of the ones who are utilized by director/writer/co-star Chastain are fully capable of making you believe they are who they are portraying. The fact that they are blank slates upon which to write their roles is a plus rather than a minus.
It also helps that the movie is not a totally preachy one. There4 are moments when the Christian message is laid out a little heavily, but overall the movie is about ordinary human beings living their ordinary lives. That is the mainstay of the film and a reason to enjoy it.
The movie is rated PG-13 for some violence and adult situations.
Matt Chastain shows real talent a s a moviemaker. He lays out his story with passion and appeal. He has accumulated a cast of actors whop throw themselves into their roles. He has crafted the movie to be appealing to the mainstream without alienating his Christian base or by totally playing to the choir. For those reasons I hope this is just the first of many movies to come from him.
I scored “Small Group”” a gathered 7 out of 10.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
