Just in Time

I started this movie not quite sure if I'd finish. The cover photo looked a bit ... hokey to me and the trailer didn't quite reveal whether it would be roll-the-eyes or good. I was pleasantly surprised. While the opening scenes focus on a couple the bulk of the movie really isn't so much about a relationship as it is about life.

I concur with the sentiment one of the characters expressed "there are no coincidences" yet personally I strongly dislike fiction that transforms everything into a complete implausible fairy land. This movie did a great job of weaving in lives and connections for a reason yet without tying up every stray end in an impossible way. The plot worked.

The leads played their roles well and came across authentic to me. The main female lead had her obvious character flaws which I appreciated.

We all have a spiritual journey and hopefully learn truth through what we live, including what we suffer. The gems of wisdom from older characters were especially nice and without giving the story line away I left this movie mulling over one such comment about opening up our hands to receive, and to learn in the long waiting periods of life when we do not yet have or see that for which we long. For me, a movie that conveys compelling truth in a delightful and engaging way is worth 9 stars.

You can't help but find your place in the movie. It's real life shown without the distaste of Hollywood. The final cut from scene to scene needed a little more regarding transitions however absolutely stunning. I myself thoroughly enjoyed it. It's important that parents and families put GOOD movies with morals and values back into their daily lives. What spiritual food are you feeding on? Good music, movies. Make a RADICAL change and see the blessings, weather the storms! If God is for us, whom may be against us! Great job to the cast and crew, production and all that made it possible. It truly blessed me. I know many say if one life is changed, it's worth it!

There are strong spiritual themes related to a person who feels lost finding hope in God. I was ambivalent when Hannah prayed and received an immediate answer, albeit one of mystery and ambiguity. I was afraid that this movie was going to make her spiritual journey overly simplistic. It didn't take long to see that she was going to be led on quest regarding the watch which was going to be the process that led to spiritual solutions. These Hallmark-like quest stories often have deeper implications, but in this case the quest has the underlying spiritual purpose.

Yes, this movie is unapologetically about God. There is even a brief sermon about Jesus. And there is preaching, some by the pastor, and some by the newfound friend, Franklin. The story is really about his spiritual mentor relationship, not nearly as much about the relationship between Hannah and her husband, Rowan.

I watched the premiere on GAF network with an introduction by Candace Cameron Bure. She categorized the story as one about rebirth and resurrection with the obvious tie-in to Easter. While the central focus of Easter is the resurrection, the underlying purpose of it is not a simple rebirth. Romans 4:24-25 tells us that the Father raised Jesus from the dead because he was "delivered up for our trespasses and raised FOR our justification." (My emphasis.) In other words, Christ died a sacrificial death to pay the penalty for our sins, but the resurrection was needed to prove that it was sufficient to that end. And to show that God indeed gives life after death. This part of the Easter message was glossed over by the movie, and worse, there was no discussion of the need for repentance or faith. The message of this movie is incomplete. It would be easy to conclude that this sacrificial atonement applies to all, everyone, regardless of faith.

The acting and script were good. The background score was just as it should be - background.

This movie is very religiously centric. Pray, pray, pray. A husband and wife are looking to conceive. Right before Easter weekend, the fertility doctor calls and says they have an appointment available. Overjoyed, the wife tells her husband. He's upset because they are going to leave that afternoon to stay with his family, and he's sick of the doctor's appointments, telling her she needs to prioritize their families. Upset, the wife says she is prioritizing their family by trying to have a baby. So she asks her best friend what to do...PRAY! So she does, and a stranger calls the next day to say he found a watch on the beach with her phone number engraved on it. He asks her to meet him, and she does. Who meets a stranger simply because he found a watch with her phone number on it? It gets worse after that. You get the gist of how this movie goes. I used to love Candace Cameron Bure, but she is over the top now. GAC is, as well.

I've seen other complaining this isn't a romantic comedy. I never thought it would be. Nothing seemed to suggest it would be. So not sure where they got that idea.

But it's great at what it is, a spiritual journey of a couple who learns the importance of building their live together on the strongest foundation. And how sometimes letting God cut out what's bad for you, no matter how much you think you want it, is Him making room for the greater blessings in store.

I wouldn't normally give this type of movie 9 stars because it still had flaws and I generally save my 9/10s for things I'll watch over and over again. But this is one of the rare movies where I may not watch it a dozen times, it executed a beautiful message about the love of God and His love and plan for His children.