especially not one that is rated PG-13, but I have to make an exception for a
movie that was in theaters this past fall and is coming out January 13 on DVD.
The movie is Courageous. It was made by the same group that produced
Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. They are all
good, exceptionally clean movies with a moral and religious tone to them. The
Kendrick Brothers, who wrote, produced and acted in the movies, are from a
Baptist church in Georgia, so some of their theology is askew, but the emphasis
they put on family, faith, marriage, and parenting (Fatherhood particularly,
especially in Courageous) is worth the problems in acting skill and
cinematography, etc.
Flywheel was about a hypocritical car salesman who decides to turn
his life around. It was never rated and never widely released in theaters.
Facing the Giants, a story about a struggling football coach who puts
his trust in God, received a PG rating because the coach has a discussion with
one of the players about Jesus and choosing to follow Him. They decided that
some people might be offended by the conversation and so they wouldn’t give it a
G rating.
Fireproof is a story about a firefighter who is struggling with his
marriage and also received a PG because of the dramatic firefighting scenes.
If you haven’t seen them, I would recommend any of them as good family
entertainment with a teaching edge. Just keep in mind that they are from a
denominational viewpoint, which is also true for the newest movie they
produced.
Courageous is a movie I think every father in America should see (men
who expect to be fathers someday, moms, and young ladies who are looking for a
man to be father to their children and pretty much anybody else that I haven’t
covered.). Some will ask why it is PG-13 if it is such a good, clean,
religiously-themed movie. Quite simply, it is about police officers and their
lives are not G-rated. There is NO foul language in the film even though there
is a gang and drug dealers. Even though there are drug references it is not
portrayed in a positive way like it is in many movies that Hollywood produces,
rather the pain and suffering that it causes is highlighted. There is NO nudity,
sexual scenes or even immoral innuendo. There is some mild violence including a
shoot out between the police and drug dealers, but there is no blood and guts
gore.
Watching this movie made me realize the shortcomings that I have as a father
and encouraged me to work on being a better father. If you make it through with
dry eyes you are a more heartless man than I am.
If you haven’t seen one of these movies put it on your list, and put it high
enough that it will get done.