A movie that wears its Christian faith proudly yet isn't ham-fisted is welcome indeed. It does drive home the point that each one of us has a race to run and every one of us will be tested and face devastating set backs and trials. THAT is this movie's strength...showing how faith provides a reservoir of strength and ultimately hope when faced with those trials. The movie itself is dry to start and very vanilla. Yet, I like the right amount of vanilla. It hits its stride with the Christmas moment and peeks when the brother's relationship is fully fleshed out. The performances were masterful by the actors playing the brothers. What seemed strange to me was the ending. After seeing this at the theatre I went home and immediately looked to see if this was based on a true story. If it were, than that ending would have fit. However being a fictional account, I really don't understand the "downer" ending. Yes, for those of true faith it's not really morose but it just isn't the way to end a message film.
Still, well worth seeing.
Still, well worth seeing.