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Reel World Reality 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 MAR2011.128  (2011), PG [G-PG*] (1hr 55min) 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.)
 Production (US): PureFlix Entertainment, Jenkins Entertainment Distribution (US): PureFlix Entertainment Director(s): Dallas Jenkins Producer(s): Jerry B. Jenkins, Harold Cronk, Matthew Tailford, Cary Solmon, CHuck Konzelman, Russell Wolfe, David A. R. White, Michael Scott, Dallas Jenkins Written by: Cary Solomon, Chuck Konzelman, Andrea Gyertson Nasfell Story by: Dvid A. R. White, Michael Scott Cinematography/Camera: Todd Barron Music: Jeehun Hwang Film Editing: Frank Reynolds Casting: Billy Damota Production Design: James R. Cunningham Viewed on PureFlix Home Entertainment DVD  Ben Walker (Kevin Sorbo) left his girlfriend, Wendy Beiderman (Kristi Swanson) in the bus depot in Clearville on his way to a lucrative career in the big city as an investment banker for a large firm. Ben promised Wendy he would be back shortly, that it would be best for him to establish himself in the secular business world even though he was a good preacher. Fifteen years later ... without Wendy ... Ben seals a deal that made him a partner of his firm and a wealthy man. In celebration of his promotion to partner Ben does two things: he asks Cynthia (Kristiin Minter) to marry him and go with him to Paris for the weekend (before marrying him) and buys a very expensive car. On an undefined ride to somewhere, just outside of his boyhood home of Clearville - how he got there he does not know -- Ben's brand new car sputters to a stop for no apparent reason. Not only does the car sputter to a stop, the steering wheel air bag inflates and knocks Ben unconscious. As Ben wakes up a strange man, a Christian man named Mike (John Ratzenberger) drives up with his tow truck and proceeds to hookup Ben's car for a tow to Clearville for repair. Mike is not your average tow truck operator. He claims to be an angel there to help Ben straighten out his life. Suddenly, Ben Walker is no longer the wealthy Harvard graduate investment banker. He is Ben Walker, graduate of Moody Bible College, husband of Wendy and father to adolescent Megan (Taylor Groothuis) and teenage Kimberly (Debbie Ryan). God has intervened in Ben's empty life and thrust him into "a great what if...?" What if he had not left Wendy in the bus station? There are a number of clever quips by Mike the angel. I would like to share one of them with you. Cynthia, Ben's girlfriend from his previous life as an investment banker, is now the girlfriend of Joel, one of the other firm executives. They obviously share an immoral lifestyle to which Mike comments that their application for weeping and gnashing of teeth will be approved. Of those not familiar with the Scriptures, weeping and gnashing of teeth is how existence in Hell is described. I will not spoil any more of the story or plot in case, after you consider our analysis of it, you decide this film is fit for your family. With a final score of 97 the overall magnitude of the content of the film is fully G-equivalent. Even each of the six "fine tuning" CAP content investigation areas found the applicable contents to be G-equivalent. This film earned the rather rare green CAPCon Alert light which means that each of the six CAP content investigation area scores is 86 or above. One hundred and fifteen of the best minutes I have spent on a film. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 88 out of 100 The only matters of the violence are two injuries leading to unconsciousness and two hits to the face. Impudence/Hate (I) - 97 out of 100 If it were not for Kimberley showing disrespect to her parents this investigation area would have been 100 out of 100. [Exod. 20:12] Sexual Immorality (S) - 97 out of 100 Ben planned a weekend in Paris with Cynthia after his promotion as a celebration of the promotion and for her agreeing to marry him. But they would not have been married if they had gone to Paris. Cohabitation while not married is sinful. [1 Cor. 7:1-2] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 97 out of 100 There were no examples of possession of, consumption of or dealing in illegal drugs and no abuse of prescription drugs as well as not one cigarette, pipe or cigar. However, a bottle of champagne or other wine was noted on the nightstand in Ben's hospital room. Offense to God (O) - 100 out of 100 Not once was God's name abused. And there were no findings of Satanism, occultism, demonism, spiritism, necromancy, witchcraft or anything of the kind in the entire 115 minutes of programming. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no portrayals of murder or suicide 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) - 88 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 97 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 97 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 97 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 100 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 |