Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters

If you like comedy which exaggerates, especially about all the humorous pitfalls of meeting the family and wedding planning, then you will love this. I don't. I have a particular dislike for that time of comedy. I don't think Bart Johnson as Steve, the bride's dad, helped my outlook on this movie. I think he was over the top even for this kind of movie.

I expected something that would emphasize how a strong and loving father helps a daughter to grow up strong. That theme was definitely there. I just didn't expect it to be in a movie where families from two different cultures meet and plan a wedding.

The story follows a lot of the usual lines for that type of movie. The comedy is about dad embarrassing himself, not to mention being unreasonable and demanding. I guess it did that well enough. Then toward the end, as you'd expect, it turns serious and half the characters change their personalities 180 degrees.

I enjoyed the movie overall, and can still understand/support some of the criticisms of other reviewers.

The premise of the movie is true to the summary: a father has a hard time giving his grown daughter his full support (blessing) to get married in what he perceives as a 'whirlwind' decision.

In reality, the couple have known each other for 7 months, and it sounds like they spend most days together, which (in my eyes) boosts how well they know each other. I can also see the father's feelings, but the movie's premise identifies the Dad as being a little overly attached.

The strengths of the movie are the dedication to family it seems to portray. Thanks to the teen sister (rebel), there is a realistic sense of the push/pull that even the closest of families must endure; her role seemed to serve the purpose of showing that this family is not perfect, and even the most dedicated parents fall out of favor with their headstrong children.

The other strength was a sense of hope, because lines of communication ultimately stay open (a rarity in this present era). I liked how Abby was always respectful, because had I been in her shoes, I'm not confident I would be.

The downsides are that I wish the two sets of parents were more bonded, or that Oz (groom) had been given more screen time with the Dad. Seeing the 'enemies' grow closer naturally would have been a greater joy, and boosted the value of Christian perspective as well.

I personally disagree that the Dad was portrayed as deferring entirely to his daughter. He turned to prayer as his guide, and continued to have a backbone when challenged by his other daughter (Zoe). The latter story line served an important purpose, which was to highlight that there is a time for parents to stay strong in their decisions, and there is also a time when they have to realize that their child is independent - and let go.

The last scene of the father smiling as he reflects on the entire situation was long, and could have been game-changing by having a little montage of memories showing his daughter's transformation from child to woman (like a replay of her life in the span of 10 seconds). It probably would have made me cry.

I loved the small scene when Bridget (littlest daughter) asked Dad about divorce, mentioning her friend's parents getting a divorce; the dad actually says "i'm sorry they are going through this" -- it just made me happy to hear him acknowledge the pain of others, rather than bypassing that detail. That showed me that the character wasn't selfish.

I appreciate the efforts to bring faith and our current world together; nothing can be perfect, but this movie was an easy watch for me.

Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters teaches important lessons about family values. This family-friendly movie doesn't only benefit children, it also teaches fathers about letting go of their daughters, and to know when to step in to ensure a positive future. Based on the bestselling book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by author Dr. Meg Meeker, the movie shares heartwarming values that make the whole family comfortable watching it together.

Actors Robyn Lively and Bart Johnson play Connie and Steve, the parents to Zoey, Abby, and Bridget in the movie. The movie starts with Abby, the oldest daughter, coming home from a business trip and surprising the family with the fact that she's engaged. Not only is she giving up her career path at her dad's office, but she is also running away to Africa with her future husband to care for the poor as missionaries with the church. Steve struggles with finding a way to let Abby accomplish her own dreams and start a new path, instead of continuing the dream they have always had together, even the dreams of what her future wedding would look like.

Robyn and Bart who play the believable role of husband and wife, are married outside of the movie, it turns out! I can imagine how this would add more depth to their roles. Abby and her fiance Oz are played by Carrie Wampler and Brandon Prado. While these are the main characters, other actors that are important to the movie include Kayla DiVenere (as Zoey), Arden Myrin (as Crystal), David Barrera (as Carlos), and Maria Canals-Barrera (as Bella.) This movie is funny to watch, and the set design is exciting and colorful. Learning about the Mexican culture through the bright colors and fun decorations was also very interesting. The writing seemed predictable, though, without too many major twists. Not to give any spoilers, but I could imagine how it would end from the beginning.

The message of this movie is that families can persevere to solve different problems and to build strong futures together. Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters has alcohol consumption and breaking the rules with social media. In one scene, a daughter sneaks out to a party with boys against parent permission.

I give Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can watch it on Pure Flix starting on August 1, 2022. By Samantha P., KIDS FIRST!

This was a good movie that's been ruined by terrible acting. Bart Johnson was intolerable and was just trying too much throughout the entire movie. I have personally loved the cinematography and the storyline but this is one of those movies that are decent but just ruined by an amateur (aka coach Bolton) being put as the main cast.

Excellent! Well done. Cinematography, acting, set, storyline. All well done. Lively and lovely. Definitely a must see. Family film. Great job! Well done. Must see. Excellent!