COURAGEOUS DVD (2011)

SYNOPSIS: As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared fo tackle: fatherhood. While they consistently give their best on the job, they quickly discover that their children are beginning to drift further away from them. When tragedy hits home, these men are left with a newfound urgency to renew their faith and reach out to their own children. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them?

MOVIE REVIEW:

The latest faith-based drama from Sherwood Pictures, the filmmaking arm of Sherwood Church in Albany, Georgia, ‘Courageous’ is notable not just for the fact that it is only the fourth film from Alex and Stephen Kendrick, but also because it is easily their most accomplished. Indeed, when the Kendrick brothers first surprised Hollywood pundits with their breakout hit ‘Flywheel’, their filmmaking artistry was so amateurish it seemed little more than an extended home video. But through two subsequent independent hits- ‘Facing the Giants’ and ‘Fireproof’- they have managed to combine the polish of Hollywood dramas with their own Christian message into a movie that delivers on both fronts.

Like their previous movies, this one is once again set in the small town of Albany where a group of four sheriffs struggle to do good both in their line of work as well as in their families. The ultimate message here is the responsibility that a father plays in the upbringing of his children, emphasised of course by the numerous Biblical references quoted in here as well as the speeches and voiceovers that the characters in the film tend to launch into. In fact, the fathers in this movie band together to sign a pledge which essentially works as a promise to their families and a reminder to themselves to follow God’s guidance in exercising their parental duties.

We’d just say outright that non-Christians need not bother- for even though director Alex Kendrick handles the Christian messaging with greater dexterity than before, it is still likely to come across as preachy by those who do not believe in the faith. Nonetheless, those who do will find much to identify with in the movie- spanning from the reconciliation of parent and child following a death in the family, to the struggle of a parent to put bread and butter on the table for his family, and to the exhortation of a parent to his daughter to recognise the rationale of his strict parenting ways. There is a lot that Christian parents will come to resonate with, and certainly it is with this in mind that Kendrick has made this movie.

Equally noteworthy is the way Kendrick chooses to tell his story. While previous efforts were clunky and uneven, both the pacing and the storytelling is far superior here, and despite its over two hours runtime, there is rarely a dull moment in the movie. Characters are also much more well defined, and the cast of largely unknowns do an excellent job bringing their respective roles to life. Most surprising is the few action setpieces which Kendrick inserts to pump up the momentum, including an exciting foot chase and a climactic shootout across a highway.

It’s no small feat juggling so many duties in front and behind the camera, and so another round of kudos to Alex Kendrick for not just upping his game as the director but also as lead actor in the movie. His is a charismatic turn that fully captures the struggles of a father trying to do the best by his teenage son in order to regain his respect and trust, and it is Kendrick who anchors the film from start to finish. This fourth film of his is also a testament to his and his brother Stephen’s courage, beginning with a modest dream as pastors of the communications ministry of their church to becoming one of the leading filmmakers in the independent circuit- and it will be interesting to see where their divine inspiration will lead them to next. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

As with the DVDs of their previous movies, this one comes packed with a bevy of extras. Start with the Audio Commentary with the Kendrick Brothers, which again features more talk from director Alex Kendrick who shares his experience making his most challenging movie thus far juggling double duty in front and behind the camera. Then top it off with the next featurette, The Making of Courageous, which goes behind the scenes to understand how Kendrick balances both the dramatic and spiritual areas of the movie.

Both Heart of Courageous and The Story of My Father delves deeper into the Biblical aspects, which would most certainly appeal to Christian viewers. Otherwise, some outtakes, bloopers and deleted scenes add to the almost two hour worth of extras here.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, which makes surprisingly good use of the back speakers for ambient effects. Visuals are clean and sharp.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Gabriel Chong