Hidden Secrets

I try hard to give a lot of 'grace' to films from such a tight genre. The Christian movie scene has been glutted with really BAD films. But since Sherwood Pictures came along, there seems to be a marked improvement. When I saw that John Schneider had jumped into this I thought it had to be as good as Facing The Giants or Flywheel. BOY WAS I WRONG.

About every cliché Christian situation is going on here. The acting is HORRIBLE. Schneider is really good - the rest of them just climbed out of the choir loft to help out.

Some questions: Who roofs a house in their nice slacks and dress shoes? What church in America features that many different races? What church member in America is so vocally obnoxious during a worship service? Why is Building 429 playing at a secular bar? Why is "the big chill" band reunion just an overdub of Building 429? The same band that just finished singing? I could go on.

I went to the test screening - was audibly laughing out loud at the sorry quality of the film. Fortunately there was only 3 other people there.

Come on Christians - you don't have to sacrifice proper evaluation just because the movie is on our side. Be real - this one was an embarrassment.

I agree with Pat Chris. This was probably the finest Christian film I've ever seen. I was so involved with the real life circumstances that I didn't even bother to critique the film-making.

It's real life movie making. Outstanding. I hope I see many more like it.

In hindsight, the structure of the "working out" of the issues weren't as fluid or as realistic as one would hope to see, but there's only so much time in a movie and they did what could with what they had.

I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to see "reality" in Christian film-making yet without the unnecessary garbage of inappropriateness. I have added it to my collection.

Update:

I've seen the movie a couple more times and its weaknesses are a bit more evident, but nevertheless, the acting overall was quite good and the messages in the movie are so practical and just as importantly, it doesn't have that "lame Christian movie" look and feel that so many have.

If you relate to that moniker, and would like to watch Christian movies that are a clear step above, then I think this will not disappoint.

Given the rise in more aggressively made, and marketed, conservative films, many of which see Christ as nothing more than an excuse for a dollar sign, there's something almost admirable about the aims of this film. The characters have genuine conversations. They aren't there.to rant and rave. They go to great lengths to skewer a character whose excessive bitterness and judgmental behavior mirrors much of this movement today. And the performances are, for the most part, fine - certainly no worse than you'd see in many higher budgeted productions.

You do have to wonder if the film is trying to reach new audiences or is just preaching to the choir, but I can't exactly criticize the film for not being mealy-mouthed and instead being honest about its views on any number of hot topics (abortion, homosexuality, Judaism, a wife's role in a marriage, saving yourself for marriage).

There is one particular moment where the propaganda is unsure enough of viewer response that it needs to double down. The film's token gay character (well-played by Corin Nemec) gives a speech about being celibate and the difficulties in avoiding temptation. You're left being somewhat impressed with the restraint...until there's a few lines letting us know he was abused as a child, and another brief moment late in the film letting us know he'd almost killed himself a few days earlier. I'm sure the idea is meant to be comforting, and if people do find comfort in the character, I'm happy for them, but the pile-on.of trauma and loneliness serves as a reminder of just how demoralizing what is intended as an inspirational message can be.

Correctly identified as a Christian version of The Big Chill, Hidden Secrets tells of high school friends who get back together in their early 30s after the death of one of their group. This is not a homemade movie, in which the local pastor directed and the youth minister and his wife starred. The cast includes Bo Duke (John Schneider) and Reginald Vel Johnson of Family Matters. The acting, production values and music are professional throughout. It does indeed manage to capture much of The Big Chill's sense of poignancy balanced with sentimentality and still add a Christian message or two. My biggest problem in the ensemble production was telling people apart. Much is made over the fact that Sherry and Rachel look alike. They do, especially when both have their hair up. It usually takes a smile to tell young Jennifer Anniston look-like Sherry (Tracy Melchior) from Rachel (Staci Keanan). The problem is, the guys are also almost indistinguishable on first viewing. Schneider and David A.R. White are virtual doubles and Corin Nemec and Gregg Binkley even bear enough resemblance to each other to cause confusion on first viewing. It took me three viewings to feel like I was 100% sure who was who at all times.

The story sees members of a high school band and a couple of other friends returning to their home town to bury a central figure in their group. Chris, the recently departed friend, was apparently the glue that held the friends together and had helped most of the others through personal struggles. Now his death helps them all come together and deal with some important issues once again.

The group stays with Sherry, Chris' sister, who is getting ready to open a bed-and-breakfast. She had also been virtually engaged to Jeremy (White) until a dark secret caused her to break it off 10 years before. Many of them have been drifting for years: Jeremy and Sherry since the breakup, Anthony since a knee injury ended his football dreams and Herald, whose success as a Christian author has been severely tempered by his marriage to obnoxious Rhonda. Autumn Paul as Rhonda adds much spice to the film, although I think she is a bit of a cardboard villain. Many of her sanctimonious actions I have witnessed first-hand (usually from new believers). She goes so far as to make her actions questionable, however. I can believe her saying "I wonder how many of these people would go to Hell if they died today" with a relish that makes it obvious she enjoys the thought of them getting their just deserts. We even find ourselves on Gary's side when he refutes her heavy-handed attempt to witness to him through an Internet script. Sadly, most of us have known non-believers whose company we vastly preferred to the brother or sister who tried to witness to them. What I cannot believe is any Christian, no matter how pompous, NOT wanting sinners to come to their church. I think any Christian I've ever known would be thrilled to have Asama bin Laden (after going through a medal detector, perhaps) in a pew, hearing one's pastor preach the Word, just on the CHANCE the Lord might snag him. To me, Rhonda's character veered off into cardboard J.R. Ewing/Snidely Whiplash villainy at this point.

This seems to be the main message: A bitter, judgmental Christian is going to drive more away from Christ than he/she will ever lead to Him. The other message is that Christ's blood is sufficient to cover all sins and that it is not too late to follow His will. Both points are well presented within a framework that is an enjoyable, engrossing movie that does indeed capture much of the warmth and charm of The Big Chill.

This movie is a must see for those on the fence Christian people who are not just sure what to make of God or Christian thinking. I heard my wife play this while I was on my computer, came in to watch, and almost left, but something about the way these people presented the issues, and topics, I couldn't leave, and am I glad I didn't; the end was phenomenal, and I could not of asked for sweeter tears! It covers some very controversial issues in today's world, not all mind you, but it does cover them, quite well, and with amazing clarity. I was amazed at first with John playing such a part, but he was better here than in The Duke's of Hazard. Hope everyone sees this movie!