The Fighting Preacher movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Fighting Preacher

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 101 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

Remember films presents a family-friendly movie based on the true story of Williard & Rebecca Bean who served a 24-year mission in Palmyra, New York. The movie takes place 80 years after the “Mormons” living there had fled for their lives due to persecution. The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked the Beans to serve a very unique mission there to heal old wounds and attempt to purchase the Hill Cumorah, a site very sacred to members of the church.

I watched this movie soon after I had just taken a trip to Palmyra for the first time a couple of weeks ago, so it was especially meaningful and touching to me. Today, the church hosts an outdoor pageant on the Hill Cumorah for thousands of audience members in the summertime. Here are some pictures from the night I attended. It’s an impressive production and is free to attend! The message of the pageant and this movie is that Jesus Christ is the redeemer of the world and to love others as He taught us.

Directed by T.C. Christensen, the film is geared toward current members of the church, yet offers a universal message of love and faith that everyone can enjoy. He calls this movie “the greatest story in church history that you’ve never heard of.” I hadn’t! It was fascinating to learn more about the miracles that occurred at the Smith home. The movie also attempts to point out that Mormons do not worship Joseph Smith but strive to be true followers of Jesus Christ.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

There is a cute scene when a Palmyra man yells profanities at Mr. Bean but a cow nearby moos to bleep out the bad words.
Some fighting in and out of the boxing ring
Bullying
Name-calling

THEMES:

Pure love
Service to others
“Maybe sometimes the best way to fight is with love.” – Rebecca Bean (Cassidy Hubert)
“Warm friendship, like the setting sun shines light on everyone.” – q saying on the wall that someone had cross-stiched as a decoration.
Rebecca quotes a scripture in the Book of Mormon (Jacob 7:26) that says, “the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream.” The older I get, the more I can definitely relate to that sentiment. Life sure flies by.
Just keep swinging.
Respect for others, even if they have different beliefs.

THINGS I LIKED:

David McConnell plays Willard Bean, the fighting preacher. He’s certainly likable and carries the film very well. I wanted to make him a pie. He actually broke a rib in one of the boxing scenes.
David’s chemistry with Cassidy Hubert (who plays his wife) is believable. She is lovely and seemed noticeably younger than him, but that’s how it was in real life too.
Scarlett Hazen plays their daughter Palmyra and is totally adorable. She did a fantastic job and I hope to see her in more films. It’s both strange and sweet that they named their daughter Palmyra. She takes some missionaries to the Sacred Grove. This is a picture I took of it when I was recently there! It’s beautiful, peaceful, and compels you to look up to heaven.

I loved learning about some of the miracles that occurred at the Smith house during that time.
Director T. C. Christensen has often told epic stories of faith amidst challenges. In this movie, he dives inward into the soul of a man and his spiritual journey to connect with his fellow man and God.
True facts, photos, and video clips are shown at the end of the movie. I always love that.
Members of the Latter-day Saint church will get a kick out of seeing a young Gordon B. Hinckley as a missionary. He later became the beloved 15th president of the church.
Some will say that the movie is saccharine sweet, but many parents will be thrilled to find a family-friendly film that is uplifting and reminds us to be kind to others.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some of the dialogue is very clunky.
If you’re not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you won’t quite understand the significance of several things that happen in the film. It’s helpful to know a little bit about “Mormon” history before watching the movie.
Did it really take the Beans 6 years to figure out that they should just love and serve their neighbors?
Not all of the humor works.
Surprisingly, the movie was filmed in Utah! These are some pictures I took of the real Smith house in Palmyra on my recent trip.

FUNNY LINES:

“I will turn the other cheek if I can hit the first one.” – Willard Bean (David McConnell)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Willard Bean earned more friends in the cause of the Lord than any other man.” – quote at the end of the movie
“Time just has a way of slowing us down.” – Rebecca Bean (Cassidy Hubert)
“They dig even though they don’t believe.” – Rebecca referring to the people of Palmyra who mocked Joseph Smith for saying he found gold plates hidden in the Hill Cumorah, yet they were seen digging on the hill to look for gold too.

OTHER MOVIES DIRECTED BY T.C. CHRISTENSEN THAT YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

The Cokeville Miracle