Square Pegs movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Square Pegs

This heartwarming film is now playing on VOD on sites like Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 51 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

The screenwriter reached out to me to take a peek at his film, and I was more than happy to do so! I love bringing attention to new writers and filmmakers. His name is James Houston Turner. He explained that he has lived much of the film’s journey, himself, and noted that he wanted to toss his characters into the same “deep end of the pool” where he had been.

James told me, “My intention was to create a scenario where I pushed a father-daughter duo out of their comfort zones. I think many of us have struggled with unforgiveness. I certainly did, and my doctors said it was the reason I got cancer, which resulted in a tumor the size of an orange in my jaw. Me getting cancer stumped the experts, because I had never chewed tobacco or betel nut, which are the primary reasons people get my kind of mouth cancer. The reason, they finally concluded, was emotional trauma, which in my case was bitterness and unforgiveness. I, therefore, wanted to create a film that wrestled with those same issues.”

James continued, saying, “Having had cancer and a diagnosis of eighteen months to live, I know what it’s like to face the prospect of an early end to life (I was 44 at the time). My own dad was hit by lightning when I was thirteen, and after living through that, developed emphysema and had to be hospitalized for an operation. I drove home to Kansas from Texas to be with him (where I was attending seminary and working in a church while also working in a bar), but because I was unrepentant about what I thought were his failures as a dad, thought I had all the time in the world to sanctimoniously carry a grudge, only to have him die suddenly without me ever having forgiven him … or asked his forgiveness for my part in that ongoing feud. So, I open the movie with that same scenario, but resolve it differently with a “second chance” at reconciliation being given to Mac and Jodie.”

James shared with me that he had studied theology and how to preach, but discovered through experience that people generally do not respond as well to preaching as they do to acts of love. There was a line by Althea that got cut from the movie that said, “Theology in a bowl.” (referring to Mac’s new-found role as a cook instead of a preacher). To James, that embodies what Christianity is all about (so long as we do not substitute secular altruism for practical expressions of faith)

I also love the idea that church is not where we go, but who we are.

The touching film was directed and produced by Bill Rahn but he passed away before the film was launched. We get to see him in the movie as the deliveryman!

Already, the film has won several awards for the Best Screenplay and Writer at various film festivals! Kudos to the team!

THINGS I LIKED:

I love the visual logo of Ruby Rock Films. Christians will respond very well to it. Yes, this movie has a Christian worldview, yet anyone with family squabbles will be able to relate to it.
I hadn’t see anyone in the cast before. The leading roles went to Meggie Jenny, Jermi Little, Catherine Trail, Alex Graff, Loretta Pistole Durden, Julia Fournier, and Wayne Deloriea. All of the characters seemed like very real people.
I’ve always loved movies where the main characters change places. We all would have plenty to learn when placed in other people’s shoes. If we carefully considered others’ feelings and situations better, we would judge less and have more empathy.
The movie was filmed entirely in the state of Georgia. I lived in that beautiful state for 15 years!
I loved everything about it except for three things: all of my family lived on the west coast, the humidity was brutal, and the fire ants were insane!
Keep watching during the rolling credits for a bunch of bloopers made during filming. Every movie should have a blooper reel. I love those!
Woowee! Would you want to eat one of those spicy eggs? It made for a cute running gag in the film.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some of scenes felt like actors reciting lines. There are some very stiff acting moments.
Since when is a daughter owed half the value of a house that her parents bought and paid off after years of their own hard work? The daughter’s entitled attitude affects her relationship with her father, as well as with Bob, the owner of the bar she wants to buy. She seems to think she runs the place because she has a contract to purchase, yet she hasn’t paid a cent yet. What an annoying character.
The daughter’s attorney says her request is reasonable to get half of the house’s value. It’s not reasonable and it’s not a request; she’s actually suing her father like a spoiled brat. Her attitude is terrible and reminded me of the unfortunate common attitude of entitlement we see in the world today.
Some details are just not correct when it comes to the plot. For example, the daughter had absolutely no legal case to put a lien on her father’s house.
Sometimes, it’s hard to understand what Catalina says because of her thick accent and she speaks quickly.
There are some overly-melodramatic moments.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored because the movie has a lot of adults talking and arguing in it.
Lots of alcohol and drunken behavior
Some Spanish is spoken without subtitles. One of the Spanish-speaking waitresses says, “God help me” in Spanish.
Talk of a deadly car accident
A man has a gun and points it at people in a threatening way.
Someone gets shot. We see blood.

THEMES:

Forgiveness
Reconciliation
Faith through action
Family
Court cases and judges
Blame
Love and loss
Empathy: Understanding other people’s lives and situations

FUNNY LINES:

None. The funniest part of the movie was the collection of bloopers at the end of the movie.

INTERESTING LINES:

“How can you represent the best interests of your clients when they don’t even know what their own best interests are?” – Judge Florinda Thomas (Catherine Trail)
“Life has an expiration date, Jodie, and none of us knows when that is.” – Judge Thomas (Catherine Trail)
“Don’t let another tragedy divide you permanently.” – Judge Thomas (Catherine Trail)
‘I’m the one who needs revival.” – Mac McCoy (Wayne Deloriea)
“Drive off the top half of your tank, not the bottom.” – Mac McCoy (Wayne Deloriea)
“That’s where God lives: in the messes of our lives.” – Althea Cummings (Loretta Pistole Durden)
“We’re all on the road to who we are and where we belong. Sometimes, it’s not where we think.” – Althea Cummings (Loretta Pistole Durden)
“Finding out where you don’t fit can lead you to where you do.” – Judge Thomas (Catherine Trail)