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A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2011.098  (2010), NR [R-NR*] (1hr 23.8min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Red Stokes Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television Distribution (US): Lifetime Movie Network, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Director(s): Steven Schachter Producer(s): Andrea Baynes, Garth Brooks, Shana Fischer Huber, Lisa Sanderson, James Spies Writing Credits: Anne Gerard, Otis Jones Television Story: Anne Gerard Song: Garth Brooks, Pat Alger, Larry Bastian Cinematography/Camera: Eric Van Haren Noman Music: Steve Porcaro Film Editing: Margaret Goodspeed Casting: Stacey Rosen Production Design: Eloise Crane Stammerjohn Viewed on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  Unanswered prayers? As near as I could tell amidst all the adultery and profanity was that a jilted high school football hero, Ben Beck (Eric Close) prayed for his girlfriend, Ava Andersson (MŠdchen Amick) to come back to him but she didn't ... until now. Twenty years later. That in that time Ben had a wonderful marriage to Lorrie (Samantha Mathis) with a son, Jessie (Tony Oller) and a successful construction business was not answer enough to his prayers? Sounds to me as though Ben's prayers were answered. After 20 years of the good life as a construction company owner and with a wonderful family, Ava returns to Ashland to settle the estate of her recently deceased mother. Now the memories begin to flood Ben's consciousness. Even one of Ben's video tapes of one of his football victories has Ava rewarding Ben with a juicy kiss. But that did not bother Lorrie ... until that clutching girl on the screen showed up in town. Slowly Ben and Ava begin to become socially chummy. Then snuggly. Then ... It is the same old story told by zillions of other films. For me, this was a bad film. Not so much because of the soup of immorality in which it floated and not because of particularly poor performances. It was a bad film because, just a few moments after watching it, I have a hard time remembering any of it well enough to give you a reasonable summary of the story. That is what makes me especially thankful of the methodology the CAP analysis model uses (the Findings/Scoring section). Notes are taken of the content while watching the film (this film took three pages) so I don't need to remember the plot or story to give you that for which we are here: to tell you the truth about the content of entertainment -- truth the MPAA, advertisers, promoters, trailers and previews cannot or will not tell you -- in order that you might be in a better position to make an informed moral decision whether it is fit. Though this film is not rated (NR) its content is fully equivalent to the content of many R-rated films, not so much in the severity or extremeness of any individual example of assault on morality and decency or even because of a few of them but because of the volume of "lesser" examples of assault yielding a magnitude of ignominy equivalent to that of most R-rated films. It is a R-NR* film, meaning a Not Rated film that earned a CAP final score in the range of scores earned by R-rated films (54 and below out of 100) in the comparative baseline database. Just a note for the wise, "NR" on a film does not mean it is clean or safe. The NR means the film has not been rated by the MPAA. Anything goes. Such a film can contain literally anything the filmmakers want it to contain. So, be extra cautious of NR films. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual CAP investigation areas. As always the Findings section of this report is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 96 out of 100 The only violence in the entire 83.8 minutes of the show is football violence. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Twenty-six times someone utters some form of profanity, two of them by a teen. [Eph. 5:4, Eph. 4:29] That same teen ignores his mother's commands and is arrogant toward and defiant of his father. [Exod. 20:12] Ben and Lorrie act rather blaze and even laugh about finding their son in bed with his girlfriend who are belligerent about it. Ben lies to Lorrie and hides things from her. And Lorrie throws a mini-tantrum because of Ben's infidelity. Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100 Ava is Jezebel, the seductress [Prov. 7:25, Rev. 2:20] with the smooth talk and fine sounding arguments to break down Ben's naivety and resistance to her advances [Rom. 16:17 - 18, Prov. 6:32]. Jessie and his girlfriend, Monet (Alex Frnka - no, that is not misspelled and, yes, she is a girl.) are sexually active. Both Ben and Ava are seen nude from the rear as they dive into a quarry. Ben reminisces about his past sexual escapades with Ava and we see his memories onscreen in part as a nude couple making out though gender-specifics are not seen. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 There is a lot of drinking in this film along with a couple instances of drunkenness. Offense to God (O) - 32 out of 100 The three-syllable sentence with God's name trailing it seems to be popular with the writers. But not to God. [Deut. 5:11] With or without the four letter expletive, to use God's name in any way other than in prayer and praise, in responsible discussion and with respect and reverence is in vain. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no murders or suicides portrayed in this film. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 96 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - Zero out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 32 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |