This movie is not only very well made (great acting, good camera work, good directing), it also gives a very honest portrayal of what most evangelical churches are like. I recognize everything that happens here, been there many times.
From the beginning it's obvious that main character Jake has problems. After losing his mother he barely gets by, and he needs pills to do it. After joining the church group they make him feel like he can do anything, as long as he keeps filled by God's Spirit. The only problem is that he has no idea who that God is, and nobody tells him, because all they want is to gather phone numbers.
The group is shallow and impersonal, and they don't seem interested in Jake's personal life at all. The only thing they want is for him to become just like them. This almost seems like a cult. Especially when Jake doesn't feel like answering his dad's calls.
In the end, what has Jake gained from being with this group? Nothing. He's back on the pills and he doesn't feel spirit-filled anymore at all.
What this movie shows is how it's not done. God's message is all about love. Loving people, helping them, giving them what they need. Not gathering souls to play church. The movie is good, but it could have been even better if they had shown how it should have been. Someone should have taken an interest in Jake's life, helping him and really showing him God's love. Then the viewer could have taken a positive message from this movie. That's why I didn't give it a perfect 10. However, this is still one of the best Christian movies I have ever seen.
From the beginning it's obvious that main character Jake has problems. After losing his mother he barely gets by, and he needs pills to do it. After joining the church group they make him feel like he can do anything, as long as he keeps filled by God's Spirit. The only problem is that he has no idea who that God is, and nobody tells him, because all they want is to gather phone numbers.
The group is shallow and impersonal, and they don't seem interested in Jake's personal life at all. The only thing they want is for him to become just like them. This almost seems like a cult. Especially when Jake doesn't feel like answering his dad's calls.
In the end, what has Jake gained from being with this group? Nothing. He's back on the pills and he doesn't feel spirit-filled anymore at all.
What this movie shows is how it's not done. God's message is all about love. Loving people, helping them, giving them what they need. Not gathering souls to play church. The movie is good, but it could have been even better if they had shown how it should have been. Someone should have taken an interest in Jake's life, helping him and really showing him God's love. Then the viewer could have taken a positive message from this movie. That's why I didn't give it a perfect 10. However, this is still one of the best Christian movies I have ever seen.
