Courageous: Film Review

NEW You are able to - This belief-based drama may be the latest and many ambitious effort from Sherwood Pictures, the filmmaking offshoot of Albany, Georgia's Sherwood Chapel. Similar to their previous independent hits, Facing the Titans and Fireproof, Courageous appears well poised to make use of a theatrical market starved for such fare, with increased possibility of DVD sales. Another collaboration between siblings Alex (director, co-author, actor) and Stephen Kendrick (producer, co-author), the film is occur the little capital of scotland - Albany and concerns the interactions among four sheriff's deputies along with a Hispanic immigrant eager for work. The theme - hammered home frequently - is fatherhood, and also the duties that include it. Courageousreveals the duo's growing expertise as filmmakers using its skilled mixing of moving drama, subtle comedy and many impressive action sequences, together with a well-staged feet chase along with a harrowing shootout between your cops and criminals. The figures are complex and well-attracted, battling with assorted personal problems that test their belief and character in credible ways. However the episodic and sometimes melodramatic story consists of enough occurrences and subplots to fill a whole television season. A vital story element -- including a mans figures pledging to sign a "resolution" re-inifocing their fatherly responsibilities as well as their belief in God - appears both artificial along with a cribbing in the "Love Dare" featured so conspicuously in Fireproof. The performances work throughout with director Kendrick quite relocating the central role of Adam, the veteran officer, who suffers a terrible family tragedy that sets a lot of the film's plot moving. Non-Christian audiences might be delay through the endless proselytizing displayed, which feels more attracted out and overt here compared to the church's previous films. However the generous laughter, cheers and applause produced through the crowd in an opening day screening demonstrate these enterprising Baptist filmmakers clearly know their audience. Opened up Sept. 30 (TriStar Pictures) Production company: Sherwood Pictures. Cast: Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, Kevin Downes, T.C. Stallings, Rusty Martin. Director: Alex Kendrick. Screenwriters: Alex Kendrick, Stephen Kendrick. Producer: Stephen Kendrick. Executive producers: Michael Catt, Jim McBride. Director of photography: Bob Scott. Editors: Bill Ebel, Steve Hullfish, Alex Kendrick. Production designer: Darian Corley. Music: Mark Willard. Ranked PG-13, 129 minutes.