“Facing the Giants” (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Praise the Lord and Pass – the Football
“Facing the Giants” is a movie created by a Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. The staff at Sherwood Baptist Church wrote the script, directed, and have leading roles in the movie. Other members of the congregation filled in other jobs and other roles. As an “in house” church project the movie should be horribly amateurish at worst, and mildly acceptable at best. Well hold on, this movie is solid entertainment from start to finish and is professional in all aspects.
The plot concerns a football team at a small private school in the South. The head coach, Grant Taylor (Alex Kendrick), fears that his job might be in danger. He also is suffering on the home front as he and his wife Brooke (Shannen Fields) are unable to conceive children.
Each day he gets more and more depressed and his team reflects his attitude. He is in need of some changes in his life and they come about by way of a spiritual awakening. He imparts his spiritual rebirth to his team, and it has a positive result on all the players.
The movie is a film about Christians and the way they lead their lives, but it is not as preachy as you would expect. Faith is a part of these characters’ lives and it is natural they would express that faith in their daily actions and communications. In other words the religious aspects of the film have a natural flow to them.
The actors do an outstanding job in their roles, with Kendrick being a total natural as the coach and Fields being a real find as his wife. University of Georgia football coach March Richt has a cameo in the film and shows he is a natural actor and has movie star good looks to boot.
The film is rated PG for “thematic elements.” I guess those “thematic elements” are Christian themes.
Christians will want to see the film for its spiritual message, while others will enjoy its portrayal of a football team in need of an attitude adjustment. Just as “Invincible” and “Gridiron Gang” sent you out of the theater feeling good about the world, “Facing the Giants” will do the same. It will also cause you to have a smile on your face and perhaps a tear in your eye. This is a rah-rah movie at its best.
“Facing the Giants” is the little movie that can – can entertain you in a big way. Mark it down as one you and your entire family will enjoy. The old song said “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.” This movie sings a different tune. It says “Praise the Lord and pass the football.”
I scored “Facing the Giants” a biblical 7 out of 10.
