Meant to Be

Two of my housemates were watching this film when I returned home and, only the last hour of the movie is able to be reviewed. The song at the end is pretty good after watching only an hour of the movie. As someone who enjoyed Juno, this film surprised me with the way it portrayed the line between what is visible and invisible. Also, as someone who is aware of the profound effect that this decision has on the lives of the people in my small circle, it contains a unique message that is rarely captured at Hollywood film festivals. It is surprising that this made it through. Worthy of watching, especially if you have had an experience with the subject of accidental pregnancy. Full disclosure: One of my housemates liked this movie and the other felt turned off by the last 15 minutes of the film. So, two out of three people in our house liked it!

I gave this movie 10 stars because I believe it is underrated. This movie deserves an 8 at least. The plot at the beginning might seem a little confusing and slow at some points, but the final twist at the end make it totally worth it. I cried so much in the last 15 minutes because it left me speechless. Just as good as October Baby, Safe Haven and those movies with a final twist at the end. At the beginning of the movie my husband told me a couple of times: Honey this movie is really bad. He is a Christian, but loves action movies. I told him to wait that it was supposed to deliver a good message and it was a movie with a Christian message. I thought all along the movie, that the plot was about a boy looking for his mother who had given him in adoption and oh wow was I wrong.

But then I was confronted with my own reality. It touched me deeply because even though I know that God has forgiven me for what I did in the past, I tell my husband I feel like the spirit of my baby is with me. I mean like watching me and almost living with me at home. In that last final part when he says mom, I love you, mom, I forgive you I could not stop crying. And my husband hugged me and was very sentimental because he also was part of my bad decision in the past.

One more thing, I saw this on netflix and at the end when all the screen turns black with some information about the number of abortions in the US, we were about to turn the TV off. When one last part came , so do not turn the TV off until it has really finished with the last part when they show the girl and the decision she took.

I gave this film a 7 for being unique. The acting was, for some, marginal; for others the acting was quality (Della Reis & Dean Cain). It was a very slow movie but many are; so what. Another reviewer insinuated the film has right-wing leanings & portrays post abortive women as evil. As for the right-wing accusation, that's a convenient & lazy label to put on a portrayal of a subject matter one disagrees with. But, yes, it does have a message of life being a gift to protect. So call it what you will. Regarding a portrayal of post abortive women being evil: untrue. I would ask that reviewer through what filter he/she viewed this film. The film clearly conveys empathy & compassion for women/girls who have chosen or contemplated abortion. There is even a scene where a certain type of "prolifer" is criticized for seemingly lacking concern & service toward pregnant mothers facing the choice of carrying to term or aborting their babies. Anyway, I think it's a thought provoking & somewhat refreshing film. I've viewed more films than I could number that have conveyed the message that abortion is good, normal, right, understandable or a highly cherished right to protect at any cost or all of the above. I'm not mad at Bradley Dorsey or the cast & crew for putting together something to the contrary for once. Thanks!

So I just watched the movie without a clue of the plot. I considered turning the channel several times, simply because the music was a bit depressing and at times annoying; the camera person was so wobbly in a few scenes, it was like watching a home movie; and the obvious sales pitch that tends to plague christian scripts is always overkill. However, knowing Dean Cain chose to add his name to the credits was reason enough to press on. He's taken on other low-budget films and one thing they all seem to have in common is a message with purpose, which helps to endure the amateur issues in quest of the hidden nuggets woven inbetween. The overarching value I gleaned from the movie was the unique concept of viewing life from the perspective of the lives 'meant to be' yet unfulfilled through no choice of their own. It's a brilliant viewpoint I've never considered but fully appreciated as well as the power of its truth. It's unfortunate to see reviews that choose to discredit and toss the baby out with the bath water, and the touting 'propaganda', 'right wing', and narrow-minded offenses alike. Will we never be rid of the mean-spirited, bully mentality, and entitled opinions at anyones' expense? We all have a right to speak our view in a respectful manner, and the subject of this movie indeed inflames passionate responses. I think the writers of the movie, 'Meant To Be', made a valiant attempt to represent a sensitive issue on every front with a slant toward presenting a solution for 'two' lives, not just one. It was their dime and free to me, so the least I can offer in return is to consider the effort fairly.

This movie is an entertaining and clever story that uses multiple perspectives to explore unwanted pregnancies. The plot is tight with each scene moving the movie forward and each character having an impact on another, and the acting was great for a low-budget film. For a movie with Christian themes, the messages are inherent to the story without overpowering it.