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Facing the Giants By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Facing the Giants" (Samuel Goldwyn) is a faith-friendly sports drama, the overtly Christian message of which has a distinct evangelical stamp. Set in Georgia, the story centers on a football coach, Grant Taylor (Alex Kendrick, who also directs), at a Christian high school where he's posted a losing record six years straight. His best players transfer to different schools. The ones that stay are disheartened, and their frustrated parents meet in secret to discuss a replacement for him. Things are just as bad for him off the field, as his car keeps breaking down and he and his wife, Brooke (Shannen Fields), find out that they are unable to have children. Turning to his faith, Taylor inspires a "never give up" attitude in his players, encouraging them to play for God's glory and not their own, win or lose. The team starts winning games, eventually making it to the state championship against the vaunted reigning champs, the Giants. Without giving away the ending, the real giants they must face are their own fears of failure. The narrative uses a standard underdog formula. As if the David-versus-Goliath analogy isn't clear enough, the team's undersized placekicker is named David (Bailey Cave). Given the film's almost entirely nonprofessional cast, the earnest performances are surprisingly competent. The movie's look has a reasonably professional polish -- especially the football sequences, which are all the more impressive for the meager budget. But while the movie's heart is in the right place, its positive theme about trusting in God is handicapped by a prosaic script, written by Kendrick and his brother, Stephen, that tends toward the preachy. The film contains some mature thematic elements, including discussions about infertility. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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