Road to Redemption

A truly enjoyable film for the entire family. A must-see movie with a valuable message of hope. In a very creative and fun way, the movie sets out to show the spiritual road to redemption through the means of a crazy road trip full of mishaps and adventures. A truly refreshing film that makes you feel good and glad that you saw the movie.

Julie Condra gets a hold of some mob money and goes on a spree. But when the syndicate finds out she's forced to flee. Her only hope is her grandfather who has put away a few shekels in his life to give her the money to pay back what she owes. She can only hope they'll forgive her, but these are not known to be forgiving people.

It's a Christian movie put out by the Billy Graham Ministry so expect the usual Christian parameters involved. Pat Hingle plays the grandfather and he's always good. There's an interesting role for Wes Studi an American Indian who has brought his tracking skills to the mob. They do pay well for his services I'm sure.

But if you want to see a really good film about someone who got a hold of syndicate money and is trying to shake them, watch Walter Matthau in Charley Varrick.

Amanda is just a bit in debt. Her car is about to be repossessed, causing her live-in boyfriend Alan to suggest that she ask her boss for a raise. Trouble is, the boss man is a mobster and Amanda gets cold feet. However, she is put in charge of a shipment soon to arrive. Although she is instructed to file the package in the safe and close the door, the box falls apart in her hands. Hey, there's a quarter of a million dollars here! The A & A team go to the racetrack and end up losing it all. The mob is upset. But, wait. Amanda has a rich grandfather she hasn't seen for years. Could she hit him up for the money? This is a cute movie with great messages. Julie Condra, as Amanda, gives an inspired performance as the girl with her priorities slightly askew. Pat Hingle, as the grandfather, also gives a sweet turn as the man who found Christ and wants to share his faith with his long lost granddaughter. And, teach her some valuable lessons. As the pair go off to reclaim a vacation spot they shared long ago, the hit men come after them and the trip is fun, fun, fun, with bikers and a Partridge Family loving mobster thrown in the path. Thus, the script is inspired in more ways than one. If you love road trip movies, you'll feel dandy after watching this film. But, more important, if you want to share the Christian faith with anyone, including church camp crowds, this would be a great choice. It supplies the laughs at the same time it provides the road to ultimate salvation.

I stumbled across this gem while late night channel surfing, entering at the scene where Amanda and Nathan take the "detour" which lands them behind a pigeon truck. I'll admit what caught my eye was Julie Condra's beauty, but the story was intriguing because I knew neither how it started nor that it was a Christian film. The bad guys were caricatures, her boyfriend was pathetic, and the medical details poorly researched (hey, I'm a doc - I notice these things!), but it was fun, engaging, and mostly well acted and well written, with a message that did not feel forced or contrived, and with what felt like a natural relationship evolution between Nathan and Amanda through the film.

Perhaps the best evidence that this is a film worth watching: after it ended, I channel surfed a bit more, and came across a Girls Gone Wild adfomercial and VH1 music video. The contrast between the peaceful spirituality of the final scene in R to R and the raucous tawdriness of GGW and VH1 was stunning. I prefer the former. Much more.

I don't understand why this movie is getting some negative reviews. My wife and I borrowed it from a friend and loved it. I get so tired of movies being full of nudity and profanity, especially using the Lord's name in vain. This was a fun, clean movie, has great morals, and gives the plan of salvation. Was it predictable? Yes. What's so wrong with a funny, predictable movie? Not every movie has to have a surprise ending or a twist to be good. I have seen a couple of other movies from World Wide Pictures and enjoyed them as well. I recommend this film to anyone who would like to see more movies where their children don't have to cover their eyes or close their ears.