Movie Review: Amazing Love
Quick Plot Summary: Some youth group kids go on a camping trip where they learn the Biblical story of Hosea and Gomer - and discover that it applies to them.
Rating: Worthwhile
Suggested Ages: 11+
This movie is basically two stories in one and shows them intersecting. A small group of youth group kids go camping with their leader and wife and experience some inter-personal conflict. The leader starts to tell the story of Hosea and his wife Gomer from the Bible. When this occurs, the movie switches to actually show that story unfold. Periodically, it comes back to the kids discussing what they're hearing before jumping back to the story. When it's all done, the impact of the story has an effect on the kids as they discover the depth of God's love for them and how they should extend that love to others. I found the way that this movie was done to be an excellent way to tell the story of Hosea.
Before going into this movie, I kind of expected it to be a bit "cheesy" and the acting to be poor. I must say that, although at times it seemed to skirt around the "cheese line" a bit, it never actually crossed it, and the acting - while not great - was "doable". This definitely has a "lower budget, t.v. movie" type feel to it.
All things considered, I felt this was a perfectly fine movie for what it was - and I left it feeling encouraged myself in God's love for me. I think this movie could be especially worthwhile to be shown to youth groups - as I actually thought the kids' performances came off reasonably well and I think other youth group kids will be able to relate. Because the Hosea/Gomer story does involve Gomer's unfaithfulness to Hosea, this may not be the best for really young children, but for appropriate ages, I think this could maybe work as a "family night" movie also.
Reviewed by Christopher Long,
BodEquip Ministries