Road to Redemption

Usually, when you know the movie is put out by Billy Graham, no one is going to be converting to Zoroastrianism by the end of the movie. The subplot is usually the same in every movie: Christian befriends non-Christian, non-Christian (and audience) hears the plan for salvation, and non-Christian usually becomes a Christian by the end. There's little suprise in that part.

This movie reminded me a lot of the old "Walt Disney Presents" movies on Sunday night TV. Family-friendly, geniunely funny in some places, a little corny in others, and usually had some pro-social message in the end - be nice to old people, don't shoot deer, listen to Julie Andrews sing and you'll be rewarded by dancing on the celing....whatever. So, I guess you can call old Disney movies "propaganda disgusied as a movie," or whatever the bitter guy said a few posts back.

As a light comedy, it works. The "Bad guys" are silly, the chase scenes are fun, and there are a few running gags that pay off towards the middle and end. Besides any "Christian" comedy that dares to take a swipe at the Partridge Family can't be that bad, can it? The parts that are shaky, as it sometimes is with WWP movies, the "Serious" moments between the granddaughter and grandfather are slow at times, and the scenes at the end are cliched. But, like I said, it's like a Sunday night Disney movie....You know what you're getting yourself into.

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.

Here I am to tell you my opinions on "Road to Redemption". Of all the Christian movies I've seen ("Left Behind", "The Climb" and "The Ride") this is the best one. No one dies and there is no tacky "flash back" that seem to ALWAYS be in Christian movies (*ahem* take note of that please "Climb" and "Ride" script writers) It was a fairly amusing movie not all drama and Billy Grahmn (sp) was BARELY in it! Its a good start for Christian movies, hopefully its the "Keith Green" of Christian movies! =) (By the way: a teacher @ my school always claimed some guy named Keith Green was one of the first Christian singers or something.)

This is a fair comedy that is worth taking a look at. It will not have you in stitches or rolling on the floor, but isn't bad to view once. Pat Hingle plays the charming old man he has so many times before. The lead female does an adequate job too. I walked away getting what I had expected. I feel Christians still have a long way to go in the film making industry. I found "Left Behind" to be very disappointing. If Christians want films to be used as outreach tools, they must realize that Christian movies must be of the same production quality as their secular counterparts. I originally saw this movie back when I was a Christian and found it fair. Despite my change in beliefs, my opinion of it remains unchanged.

"Road to Redemption" is great family viewing material, and it includes the Gospel message! This movie has enough substance that it can be watched over and over. It is entertaining - provoking numerous outbursts of laughter. The conversations between the grandfather and granddaughter are thought provoking, as well as inspiring, giving ideas on how to share Christ with loved ones. The value in this type of film far exceeds the mindless, deceiving garbage that movies usually offer. Although the "Left Behind" movies have an important and necessary message of their own, they aren't suitable for family viewing (for families with pre-teens, that is). "Road to Redemption" is suitable for family viewing, and makes for a great family evening.