King's Faith in Theaters Today

The theatrical film King’sFaith rolls out today with big appeal to the youth and faith/familyaudience. I had a chance to preview it, and I give it a thumb’s up. If I had toassign a grade, I’d give it a B+.

It seems that with every new film, producers of Christian content improve in their storytelling abilities. We still have a ways to go, but we’vecome a long, long way from “A Thief in the Night” and “Left Behind.”

This movie, which contains some not-safe-for-the-whole-familyscenes and thematic elements (gang violence, abortion, drugs), follows thetrials of an older teen placed in his eighteenth foster home following a fewyears in prison. Having come to faith while behind bars, he wants to make a newstart, but his old gang keeps showing up, making threats, and hurting people. Andthe girl to whom he’s attracted has an overpowering boyfriend along with a big secretthat keeps destroying her closest relationships. Complicating matters, the maincharacter’s foster family has some unresolved issues of their own—one of theelements I most appreciated about this movie.  Finally, we see seeing rounder, better-developed(flawed) Christian characters.

Cons: I dislike the in-your-face title, King’s Faith—King being the surname of the main character.Something more enigmatic, such as “18” or “Ten Percent” (you’ll have to watchthe film if you want to know why) would have helped keep it from sounding somuch like “one of those Christian films.” And in a few places, mostly near thebeginning, the dialogue sounds clunky. (Three different characters startsentences with “Look, …”) Also, in one place—again, near the beginning—theaction grinds to a halt as the foster dad leads a Bible study at the schoolwhere he teaches, so viewers sit and watch the talking head deliver a shortmessage.  

Pros: The film has decent cinematography and believable characterswho can actually act. It stars Emmy Award winning actress Lynn Whitfield (Eve’sBayou, The Women of Brewster Place), Crawford Wilson (Judging Amy, Zoey 101),Kayla Compton (Entourage), and James McDaniel (Malcolm X, NYPD Blue). And theactors’ ability makes the story all the more believable. The plot, though attimes predictable, also has some surprises, and it reaches a satisfying end.Additionally, the setting is varied and King's Faith contains some beautiful camera work.

The film, produced by a Lutheran church in New York, prompts audiences to consider questions with whichmany, especially young people, struggle today: Where do I fit in? How can Istand firm in my faith when challenges put me to the test? Can someone findtrue forgiveness from wrong choices?

In the sense that this film hasredemptive elements, it is “very good.” I expect my teen will love it.

If it’s not in a theater near you, ask for it.