What If...

Regardless of the critical comments I was very moved by this film. Can it be that such messages are not understood or well received? That is the main theme of this film, namely: "don't tell me anything, it's 'my' life", "I can do what I want", etc.

The usual problem with themes that contain personality changes is their believability. Ben's resistance to such a change struck me as quite realistic. The transition to his desire to change was a hard task the film had to accomplish.

But for all the fathers out there who remember the time they first held their baby son or daughter....that is a life changing experience. So this man took awhile. But Ben was surrounded by 'his' children and wife. Some fathers do take time to adjust to a new life role....ergo a believable transition.

The Christian themed messages were very well delivered. Even Ben's second, post conversion sermon was actually quite good and fit in well with the films' script.

My only criticisms: the few times the camera was bobbing about...come on guys, use a tripod, and there were some syrupy sweet parts that were a bit much. Otherwise when I'm in tears during a film then it's good enough for me.

Family Entertainment. You know, the feel-good, wholesome, honest, "take your child to without risking embarrassment" entertainment that is becoming popular once again. Professional cast (who would think of John Ratzenberger as an angel). Tried and true plot (but then how many truly original story lines have you seen lately?). Humor without being a comedy. Serious without being overbearing. Nice without being sticky-sweet. Christian without being overbearing (disclosure, I am a Christian). No blood, gore, bad language, bare-bodies or other objectionable content.

A solid presentation. Intellectual enough that you go home thinking about the plot, not the special effects or love scene. At the same time, not so complicated that your child cannot follow.

Highly recommended.

This is a total rip-off of 'Family Man'

The producers of 'Family Man' need to sue the writers.

The writers also ripped off other Christian filmmakers of 'God's Not Dead'.

This is a very serious problem in the body of Christ.

I could not believe how much this story is a Xerox copy of the Family Man with Nicholas Cage and Tea Leone. The only difference is the story puts God in the story. You might think that the theme is It's a wonderful Life, but once you see Family Man. This movie is the Nicholas Cage story. Maybe the Family Man took the theme of It's a Wonderful Life, but What if...? copied Family Man. I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it. I read here on IMDB that it seemed like it was a combination of It's a Wonderful Life and Family Man. I rented the Family Man movie. It is so similar that it's scary. I highly recommend the movie but the storyline is Family Man. They just added God and put an angel in the story. I would recommend see this and Family Man and you decide.

I thought this was a very well written, well acted movie. The film is about a man who gets a chance to see what his life would have been like if he had not made the choices he did.

The story has a Christian viewpoint (disclosure: I am a Christian and agree with the beliefs expressed in the movie), but is not heavy handed at all. I believe people of all faiths or who have no faith will agree with the positive message of the importance of family and serving others.

I have watched a lot of movies by Christian filmmakers and this is definitely one of the best. John Ratzenberger is one of my favorite actors and does a great job in the movie.

As I mention above, the story is similar to the Family Man, but What If, is much better acted and more family friendly that that the Nicholas Cage movie. There is no swearing, violence or sex, but the PG rating is accurate as there are some intense moments . I would not recommend taking small children. I think it is a great date movie.

The movie is in limited release and my wife and I had to drive about 30-40 minutes to get to the theater it was in. I hope it will stay around for a while.