What If? Movie Review

The storyline is simple. Wendy and Ben have plans to spend the rest of their lives serving the Lord, but when Ben leaves to establish a career, he gets sucked into an entirely different life—one filled with money, prestige, and nice things.



As Ben climbs the corporate ladder, he becomes arrogant, cocky, and down-right aggravating. But he's good at his job and it shows. Fifteen years pass, and Ben hasn't given God a second thought, let alone Wendy. His reasoning, "you don't look back."

On the day Wendy sends Ben a note to meet up (which he ignores and instead instructs his secretary to send her a check), he proposes to his girlfriend—a woman who is clearly in the relationship for the money and the prestige, alone.

As Ben drives to the airport to meet his fiancée, his car stalls and the airbag explodes, knocking him out. When he awakens, he's met with a tow truck driving angel who tells him that God has other plans for him.

Next thing we see is Ben living a parallel life. A life that could've been his if he had chosen to stay and marry Wendy; if he had not turned his back on God.

At first, Ben does everything he can to get out of that parallel life, including alienating those around him, delivering a horrible sermon, and taking money from a child in hopes of making it back to his "real" life. But when he discovers that he cannot outrun or beat God, he caves and decides to see where things take him.

Review

When I was approached by Pure Publicity to watch a screener of What If? I was both ecstatic and leery. Ecstatic because it's been awhile since I've seen Kevin Sorbo in a film, and leery because most of the Christian films I've watched have disappointed me.

You see, I have never understood why Christ-based films have to be so over-the-top when it comes to sharing Christ's message, why they have to be so exaggerated and mushy with the storyline, or why the acting has to be sub-par. If God is real, and He is, why not portray Him as such?



Why not create a film that feels so real that you cannot help but believe God exists and that He has a message for us? Why create a film that has people thinking, "Oh brother, you've got to be kidding me" when what you really want to create is a film that says, "Oh, so that's what God's really about? That's how I can reach Him, and Him me."

That being said, I chose to watch the film with an open mind—after all, it has an all-star cast: Kevin Sorbo (from Hercules), Kristy Swanson (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the movie), John Ratzenberger (from Cheers), and Debby Ryan (from The Suite Life on Deck).

As soon as the film began, my husband instantly asked, "Is this a Christian film?" Yes, the tone had been set.

Surprisingly, though it didn’t' stay there long. The storyline picked up, humor was inserted, and for a brief moment, I had forgotten that I was watching a Christian-based film.

Then we hit the middle of the film and the tone returned. Though Kristy's acting as Wendy was fantastic, I found Wendy's no-nonsense approach to Christianity irritating and a huge turn off. She made it seem as though things with God were either black or white— as though there was no middle ground, no room for mistakes or individuality or life outside of ministry.

But that message is quickly discounted when Ben owns his mistakes and gives a powerful sermon, and when his blotched marriage counseling session turns out to be the right message for the young couple after all.

Then as soon as the tone returns, it disappears again. And we're left with a feel-good movie that has you questioning God's role in your own life as well as the choices you've made and the direction your life is headed.

Is the storyline unique? No. Can you predict the outcome? Yes. Is it a show worth watching? Quite possibly. It all depends on your personal likes and dislikes when it comes to Christian films. Personally, I would watch it again.

But I do have to warn you, What If? felt more like a made-for-t.v. movie than it did a big theatrical release; like something you'd watch on Lifetime or Disney (if Disney allowed Christianity in their storylines).

You can learn more about the movie here: http://thewhatifmovie.com/

The Last Song Starring Miley Cyrus

The Last Song is more than a tween romance. It is a coming of age story. It's a story about accepting what cannot be changed, of forgiveness, of self-sacrifice, and yes, love.

First, we have Ronnie, the bitter, pouty, pissy teenage girl who has yet to forgive her parents for the break-up of their family. Then we have Ronnie's brother, an adorable, charming young man with a heart of gold who isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Next, we have Will, the son of a well-to-do family who is struggling to deal with the death of his brother and the broken family that was left behind. Finally, we have Ronnie's father, who was diagnosed with cancer and a death sentence.

Throughout the film, Ronnie jumps back and forth from being a sweet, loveable teenager to being an angry, self-absorbed brat. Throughout the entire film she struggles to get a handle on her emotions but when it matters most, she's there, ready and willing to lend a hand, willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to make things right.

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of Miley Cyrus, the actress. Though she tries, bless her heart, to show a wide range of emotions—something always seems to be lacking; there's still much development needed.

That being said, I cannot help but watch the films she's in because as much as I dislike her acting, I love the plots to the movies she chooses to act in. And so, I hold out hope that with each movie, her acting will improve.



As for The Last Song, the film, I think it's an endearing love story for tweens with just enough heart to get them thinking but not so much depth that it leaves them confused and dazed—or hurting.

For adults, however, the storyline is lacking; so many of the important details that made the book a success and gave the storyline true heart and soul were left out. Unlike The Notebook, where the audience gets the back story and grows to love the characters, we are left with a film that moves at a rather fast pace and jumps from one point to the next without building a connection with the audience.

And yet, I cannot help but recommend The Last Song because it has a strong message—a message that allows parents to open up the doors of communication with their own children; a message that reminds us that love isn't perfect but it's so worth it!

The Last Song (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.