Courageous Movie Review

Courageous challenges.

It asks you as a parent…just how much are you willing to do to as a parent to make a difference, not only in your own kids’ lives, but to those not fortunate enough to have a parent who speaks into their lives?

Tonight I took a group of teenagers that we host each Monday evening at our home to see Courageous.  Afterward, we all stood outside talking about how much we loved it.  Sherwood Pictures really knocked this movie out of the park.

Courageous focuses on the lives and fatherhood levels of five Atlanta men,  led by the main character, Deputy Sheriff Adam Mitchell.  Four of the men work in the sheriff’s department and one is a man looking for a job who enters their lives.

Throughout the movie, we watch these men transformed from so-so Dads who just want a night on the couch when they come home after a long day’s work, to fantastic fathers who actually dive in and participate in the lives of their children.

Each man has a story - there is a divorced father, a man whose own father was  non-existent in his life, a carefree bachelor who impregnated a high school fling four years earlier and has pretended his daughter doesn’t exist, and perhaps the most endearing character (not on the force), a young Hispanic father struggling through job loss and providing for his family during tough times.

The plot centers around these mens’ lives and how each comes to their own realization of just what being an exceptional, not just ordinary, father means.

Through a very special ceremony with their families, each man signs a contract and proudly displays it on the wall of his home to love, honor and cherish his family in the best way possible.

By day we watch them both in the office and out on the streets where action is never missing.

By night, we see them change everyday family time to something new and wonderful.  We watch them grow as men..and we watch the look in their childrens’ eyes change daily from wariness to respect.

A Dad begins to run with his son.

Another takes his daughter to dinner where he treats her like the princess he believes her to be, tells her so, and asks her permission to let himself and his wife help in any decision process she might make in dating.  He presents her with a purity ring to be replaced later by her wedding ring.  I reached for non-existent Kleenexes during the scene.  It was truly special.

Family Impact:  is obviously a major player here.  It challenges both Fathers and Mothers to reassess the role they are playing in the lives of their family.  I was challenged as a Mother to do better myself.  The plot shows that, even in multiple situations, there is always a time to start anew and afresh and what the impact can be in stark contrast to staying at status quo.

Spiritual Content:  is very prevalent in this movie.  We see strong men praying in the living and gathering over BBQ grills on the weekend to discuss and hold each other accountable.

We see Javier and his wife pray to make the decision to trust God even when their finances aren’t there, and we see the main characters take a formal pledge to be Men of God to their families through thick and thin.  Faith is shown boldly in this movie and not disguised. There are numerous scenes where characters are praying, reading their Bible and in church.  There are also touching scenes where men step up for other children who have not had parents and begin to show them God as fill-in Fathers.

Negative Content:    Would only be the violence of police chases, drug dealers etc.  This might not be appropriate for young children but there are no cuss words, or sexual issues shown.

The Bottom Line:  Could be best summed-up from my favorite quote from the movie:

Any fool can have a child.  It takes a man (or woman – *added by me) to take responsibility.

I left challenged to take responsibility. I left challenged to look around me to those who might not have a Mom or Dad and to notice and find out what I could do to help.  As any parent of one or more children can testify to, parenting can be tough.    There are times of great joy, pride and happiness that make your heart swell with love.  But make no mistake, there are many challenges, and things that make you flat-out weary sometimes.

I believe this film can be a wake-up call to parents everywhere by rejuvinating them to why they had kids in the first place.  It takes us from the belief that the basic nature to raise and nurture can be elevated to a new level of caring by watching the tragedy that unfolds in Adam’s life instead of our own. Perhaps our wake up call will not be our own family tragedy to make us see where we might be lacking as spiritual parents.  That’s what this movie was to me.

A parental wake-up call.

I left challenged to do better.  I left with a resolve to not only be a better parent, but with a greatful heart of what my parents have done for me.

I wish I could pay for everyone to go see this movie.  It was worth the $9 ticket!  Go see it!

Watch the trailer now for this fantastic movie!

Katie and her Mr. Wonderful enjoy working with youth, cooking, boating and hanging out with their six kids, one granddaughter and houseful of animals. Katie also writes the blog Dishin and Dishes, where she “dishes” about all things food. Katie also hosts a cooking/restaurant review segment on the local Oklahoma City morning news Program -Rise and Shine Oklahoma!

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