Movie Review: Ring The Bell
Quick Plot Summary: A fast-paced sports agent/executive ends up in a small town where he learns what really matters in life.
Rating: Worthwhile
Suggested Ages: 7+
This film is a perfectly fine "family night" movie. It is entertaining enough and has got a little bit of everything to please both men and women, boys and girls. With that said, it also is very stereotypical, has merely "passable" acting, and just plain isn't a "wow" movie. It's one of those that you can see and feel happy that you saw it, but not particularly care one way or the other if you ever see it again. At least that's my take on it.
It's a fairly simple story: A high-profile sports agent who is caught up with life and doesn't have a relationship with Jesus, goes to a small town to try to recruit a star player to come under his management. In the process, he ends up coming to a place of surrender with the Lord and realizing what's really important in life. A musical performance by Casting Crowns (along with a mini-message from the lead singer) are a big part of a defining moment in the film. There's also a few brief appearances by Steven Curtis Chapman, who plays a pastor. In fact, in some ways this movie was vaguely reminiscent of another movie Steven Curtis Chapman was in - a Christmas one called "Christmas Child".
The Christianity in the movie is of the softer, non-controversial, "seeker friendly" type. It's the more generic "surrender to God and He'll meet you in your brokenness and give you meaning to your life" type that's portrayed. It just isn't very "meaty". I didn't walk away with any serious concerns, but I do think this could have been a stronger movie if they had beefed it up some.
I love the whole "big-city guy goes to small town and finds what really matters" plotline in movies and is why I picked this one off the shelf and bought it. But it is SO stereotypical that it's a bit of a put-off - and combined with the merely "passable" acting, it just leaves something to be desired. At the end of the day, although they may have intended this movie to be possibly used as an evangelistic tool, I really think there are better movies out there to fit that bill - this one seems better geared just for Christians (perhaps some back-slidden ones also). But, I could be wrong. As a family-night movie though, this can be a real winner.
Reviewed by Christopher Long,
BodEquip Ministries