Breakthrough movie review

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 90 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL: Based on a true story, Breakthrough is an uplifting movie that has been mostly dismissed as another one of those “preachy” Christian films. It will build the faith of believers and give non-believers something to think about.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

The only profanity comes from the boy, John Smith (Marcel Ruiz).
The story will be particularly meaningful to adoptive families. John is a boy from Guatemala who was adopted by a loving American family when they went there on a Christian mission trip.
Three teenage boys are in a perilous situation.

THEMES:

Faith
Pray boldly.
“Love is the most powerful force in this earth.” – Joyce Smith (Chrissy Metz)
“You have a purpose and you are loved.” – Joyce Smith
The worth of a soul.

THINGS I LIKED:

Fans of the popular TV show This Is Us: Season 1 (it’s really great) will love seeing Chrissy Metz in the leading role as the faithful mother. She did a fantastic job and even sings the inspiring song I’m Standing With You. This movie is timed perfectly to open during Mother’s Day weekend in the USA. Oh that we all had mothers as fierce as Joyce Smith!
Topher Grace and Josh Lucas do great jobs as the pastor and the “miracle boy.”
If you’d like to learn more about this true story, check out the book written by the real Joyce Smith with the same name as the movie: BREAKTHROUGH.
Really nice soundtrack by Mercury Nashville features new music from Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Lauren Alaina, Mickey Guyton, Jukebox the Ghost, Pigeon John, Maddie & Tae, Phil Wickham, and Adam Hambrick.
Did you catch Woody Harrelson’s voice as the narrator?
One of the executive producers of the movie is Stephen Curry, who is the point guard for the NBA team Golden State Warriors.
The scene at the church at the end of the movie where everyone stands was really powerful. We really do need each other. Love really is the most powerful force in this world.
I always love it when you get to see pictures of the real people the story is about at the end of the movie.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The pastor (Topher Grace) is kind of a jerk when we first meet him. He bickers over a meeting room with Joyce.
No real humor.
I really wanted Allstate actor Dennis Haysbert to tell the parents, “You’re in good hands….” ha ha
It’s pretty slow moving.
It’s not a spoiler to tell you that the boy survives drowning in an icy pond (the trailer shows you that.) It’s a bit tricky, however, because good parents have lost children they loved for thousands of years. When parents watch this movie, they may feel worse or wonder if only they had enough faith, would their child have lived. While this story needs to be told and celebrated, it’s important to know that God has a plan for everyone and His plan may be very different from ours. Having faith isn’t about always getting your prayers answered the way you want. Having faith is simply trusting God.

INTERESTING LINES:

“Yesterday is not ours to recover but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” – poster at the boy’s school
“Either I’m nuts or God’s talking to me.” – Tommy Shine (Mike Colter)
“Without the power of love, we cannot flourish, we cannot grow, we cannot find our place in this world.” – Joyce Smith

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

Miracles From Heaven