Courageous

Courageous Review

By: Katie Miller

Have you gone to a movie recently and it was so good, you forgot you were in a theater? Last weekend, I experienced just that. I went and saw the movie Courageous by the independent Sherwood Pictures, with the intent of paying attention to plot, acting, storyline, screenplay, cinematography, and other such important attributes needed for a good and thorough review. Fifteen minutes into the film, I thought, “Oh man I haven’t been paying attention to all of this important stuff”! As soon as this thought passed through my mind, I smiled and said “This is a good movie”.

Courageous is about a group of five fathers who come up with a resolution to do what God wants them to do to be the best husbands and fathers they can be. Four of the five men are deputy sheriffs at the local sheriff’s office. While at work one morning the sheriff read a statistic that was emailed to him. It said children who grow up without a father present in the home, are more likely to join gangs, become associated with drugs, and end up in prison. They really take this to heart.

The main character is Adam Mitchel played by Alex Kendrick. His partner is Shane Fuller (Kevin Downs). Adam is an average guy who has a wife, two kids, and attends church regularly. Shane is divorced and has a son who he only sees on the weekends. Nathan Hayes (Ken Bevel) is married and has kids too. He also attends church regularly. His partner is the young David Thompson (Ben Davies). David is young and isn’t married but, he decides to commit to the resolution for his future.

The fifth man of the group is Javier Martinez. Throughout the movie, he is having trouble getting a job because of the recession. Adam mistakenly hires him for a job and they become good friends. Martinez joins the group who come to Adam’s house often to hang out and fellowship.

Out of nowhere, Adam’s family endures a major tragedy and he is forced to examine himself as a father and husband. After talking to his pastor, Adam decides to come up with a resolution to live by. The resolution is based on the Bible and what it wants him to do and be as a father and a husband. After showing to his friends, Adam asks them to help keep him accountable. They agree.

This film, in my opinion, is considered an emotional roller coaster. It really spoke to me because of the things that have happened to me this past summer. My six year old brother was rushed by helicopter to the hospital after he came off his horse and was kicked in the face. He recovered great and rode the horse three days after he got out of the hospital. A few months after that, I had to put my horse down after she broke her leg while we were out riding. I could have been killed when this happened. This film showed me how precious life is. The Bible says that our lives are but like a vapor, here and then gone. I have taken this verse to heart and have made it a part of my daily life.

This movie also caused emotion. When they laughed, I laughed. When they cried, I cried. The movie sent me home with a message that I am currently and will be thinking about in the future. I have, since viewing this movie, told my family and friends I love them more often. I have applied Courageous and this summer’s past events to the way I will live my life because we never know how much time we have so we are to live each day with the Kingdom of Heaven in mind. Life is precious and should not be taken for granted.

No, the picture quality wasn’t always the best and there were some scenes that were “staged” and some of the comedy was expected or had been used before but, in my opinion, it did not matter. This film spoke to me as a believer in Christ and as a person who has been shown the true values of life, hardship, tragedy and love.