Movie Review: Facing the Giants
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What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that characters face adversity, like
poverty, infertility, and generally not getting what they want.
But the characters also succeed and face their challenges
head-on. The film is heavy on scripture and religious revivals,
which may or may not complement your family's religious
leanings. For instance, students cry in religious fervor and
Coach Taylor makes an example of one team member by forcing him
to carry another team member on his back across the football
field even though he's in pain.
Families can talk about the pressure boys and men face to be strong no matter what. Does that pressure help or hinder Coach Taylor in his daily life? What do you do in your family to deal with that pressure? If Coach Taylor is under pressure to support the family and make his team win, what role does his wife play? Is it fair to put that much pressure just on men? Viewers may also want to discuss your concept of faith. Does it match what you see here? Why or why not?
Common Sense Media Review
Sports teams and rap stars have long thanked God for their
successes. But in FACING THE GIANTS, the ragtag group of
Georgia high school football players take it one step further.
They don't just pray for wins, they pray for their lives. What
results is a heartwarming if overly religious story of faith
winning out against fear.
Coach Grant Taylor (Alex Kendrick, who also wrote, directed, and co-produced the film with brother Stephen) is having a Charlie Brown life: His car doesn't work. His house smells like something crawled under it and died, and his football team can't win a game to save its life. When he finds out that he's also the reason his wife Brooke (Shannen Fields) hasn't been able to get pregnant for four years, he about loses it. His faith is more than shaken -- it's crumbling. "I've tried so hard. Why can't I win?" Coach Taylor laments to his wife. "Brooke, I can't provide you a decent home. I can't provide you a decent car. I'm a failing coach with a losing record. And I can't even give you the children you want. It's me, like everything else is me. What's God doing? Why is this so hard?"
But Coach Taylor does more than shake his fists at the sky. He starts praying. But can prayer be enough to save his failing football team, his job, and his pride? Can God create a miracle for him and his team?
Facing the Giants is a Christian fairy tale, so the answer is obvious. Miracles start to occur that will stir the hearts of even the most a-religious person: Students who got failing grades start getting 100 percents on tests. A rebellious boy becomes respectful of his father. A jalopy is replaced with a big ole truck. A crippled man walks again, and more. This is a celluloid revival, and as such, may alienate non-religious viewers.
There's lots of quoting of scripture, and there's also lots of macho Christianity -- this is more than a call to faith, it's a manly challenge. Is this tough football player man enough to humble himself before God? In the manliest miracle of all, where Coach Taylor once was emasculated, he's now virile. This message will speak to born-again men and their families, but, again, not their less-religious neighbors.
Fans of this movie may want to consider Friday Night Lights and Remember the Titans .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
