I'm Catholic and I love that Marky Mark made this, and did such a quality job. I don't think it really enriched my faith or anything, and nor do I believe it will get through the force-fields of many non-believers. But it's relateable, engaging, pretty funny, and moving at times; and at least it's given us a film where, as in real life, Christians are normal people, not zealots or Nazis - it's just that they're people who see the meaning of their lives coming from faith.
I once said on IMDB that Hollywood couldn't do religious films - pietistic ones yes, but not films with authentic spiritual content. This one has proved me wrong, and it's because it is real and doesn't try to hit you over the head with its holiness. If I was looking to be critical, it would be better if it were a little shorter; and it's true that there a few moments, not just one, where it is not quite an accurate reflection of Catholic practice - eg, apart from the incorrect liturgy, we don't usually hold hands to say grace or say 'alleluia!' when we agree with something. Either the writer / director is not herself a Catholic, or she wanted to reassure the audience by making the whole thing look a little more like mainstream American Bible-Christianity.
The soundtrack of country, blues and Gospel is pretty good, too. A strong 7, edging up towards 8.
I once said on IMDB that Hollywood couldn't do religious films - pietistic ones yes, but not films with authentic spiritual content. This one has proved me wrong, and it's because it is real and doesn't try to hit you over the head with its holiness. If I was looking to be critical, it would be better if it were a little shorter; and it's true that there a few moments, not just one, where it is not quite an accurate reflection of Catholic practice - eg, apart from the incorrect liturgy, we don't usually hold hands to say grace or say 'alleluia!' when we agree with something. Either the writer / director is not herself a Catholic, or she wanted to reassure the audience by making the whole thing look a little more like mainstream American Bible-Christianity.
The soundtrack of country, blues and Gospel is pretty good, too. A strong 7, edging up towards 8.