Review of Believe

Believe (I) (2016)
3/10
Uneven script, unrealized plot, unbelievable characters
17 December 2018
I'm not motivated to review many movies, but here a good premise frustrated and disappointed me. I wanted to like this movie, but in the end it was undone by an uneven script, unrealized plot, and unbelievable characters. I even like Christian movies when done well, but unlike other reviewers I don't believe that factor alone merits a blind 10 stars.

The film begins with a confusing flash-forward, necessary apparently to get you to develop sympathy for the protagonist. He is a poor business owner who, like Job, is saddled with one adversity after another. You're sympathetic for him at first, but he's appears hapless and directionless for 90% of the movie.

He befriends a woman whose son seems to have ADHD on overdrive, so energetic as to be irritating and a distraction. For some reason he's attracted to this kid and his mother, although there is about 2% on-screen chemistry between them.

I kept waiting for this movie to realize it's potential. For example, there's a bar scene where the conspirators' scheming is obviously overheard by an individual nearby, but nothing comes of it. You think the new woman friend with her accounting skills will unwind the plot against him. But she mysteriously can't find anything wrong. The mayor talks conspiratoratorily with an antagonist, but you're never sure which side he is on. The protagonist captures some thugs on his phone outside a bar walking, which proves... what? Job - I mean the factory owner - gets hold of a bunch of random transactions, which are evidence of something nefarious, but never revealed.

The director could have done a much better job with the script.
9 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed