MOVIE REVIEWS

The Smallbone family live a comfortable life, paid for by the music promotional skills of dad David (Joel Smallbone - real life son) but when a tour he backs to the hilt goes a bit wonky, they find themselves broke. Nobody in Australia will employ him, so he heads to Nashville on the promise of a new opportunity. This is where I was glad he wasn't promoting me. He sells up, then drags his wife (Daisy Betts) and family of six children (with another on the way) all that way only for it to fall through at the last minute. He causes all this upheaval and uncertainty for his family without making sure he had a contract before he left? Hmmm - maybe he won't be troubling the brains trust? Anyway, reduced to sleeping on the floor of their rented home and eking out a living doing odd jobs, gardening and cleaning the toilets for their fairly wealthy neighbours, they manage to get by - until Christmas looms. The kids have expectations and the parents are skint. A chance meeting with one of their new friends (Candace Cameron Bure) in a supermarket might provide a solution to that, indeed to a great many of their problems - but he has pride, and that now proves to be quite an obstacle not just for him, but to the potential career of his daughter Rebecca (Kirrilee Berger) who can hold a tune but can find no way of exploiting it - despite the obvious options on their doorstep. Underpinned by their profound Christian faith, they have no lack of optimism but they just need the lucky break! It's a biopic of sorts so no jeopardy, just a journey - and one that I found pretty unremarkable. The wooden as a washboard Lucas Black - sporting way, way, too much beard - makes the occasional appearance as their wealthy, song-writing, friend but the rest of the acting is pretty mediocre as the drama takes a rather traditionally daytime and sentimentally charged approach to family drama tinged with religion and luck (good or bad). Quite what it's doing in a cinema is anyone's guess - I saw it by myself, and after about twenty minutes, I felt it belonged on the television, with lots of soft focus and rousing strings.

Oh, what an amazing movie! There's absolutely nothing negative to say about it. If you do find fault, you must lack heart. That's my opinion! The storyline was truly fantastic, portraying the challenges faced by a family going from a life of luxury to near homelessness. They left one country for another, only to be mistreated upon arrival in the United States. It's heartbreaking to think this happens in real life, and knowing it's based on a true story adds a deeper layer of sadness. The protagonist's health deteriorated as he endured hardships, ultimately reaching a breaking point. Despite their struggles, the family never lost faith. The mother, a strong and resilient character, held them together. Throughout the film, I was captivated and emotional, shedding tears at every turn of events. It wasn't just my sensitivity; the movie struck a chord deep within, evoking both sorrow for the family's plight and joy as they began to find their footing. The message of hard work, dedication, faith, and resilience leading to stability resonated strongly. Witnessing the family's struggles and the small miracles that sustained them was emotionally gripping. It's a film that everyone should watch. Don't miss out on this incredible movie. Experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen. It's a powerful and moving story that deserves to be shared and appreciated.