Overcomer 2019

     Unexpected news cause changes overnight for Coach John Harrison.  His high school basketball team and state championship dreams are possibly going away?  The largest manufacturing plant shuts down and hundreds of families leave the town.  John questions how he and his family will face an uncertain future?  He reluctantly agrees to coach cross-country.  John and his wife Amy meet an aspiring athlete, Hannah Scott who’s pushing her limits on a journey toward discovery of herself.  She has a troubled past but she can run and run fast!!  She lives with her grandmother and she’s unhappy.  John  becomes inspired by the words and prayers of his new friend he met in the local hospital.  John is the least likely coach helping Hannah the least likely runner.  They will attempt the impossible in the biggest race of the year!!
     The central theme of this film is forgiveness.  It is demonstrated on many levels.  There is also compassion, humility and the importance of communication.  There is a character with past drug use and there a reference to a young mother who died from a drug overdose.  There is a teen who steals items like headphones and cell phones, parents that were meth-addicted and a father who leaves his baby and the mother.  Some of the reviews object to this film being too churchy?   The Kendrick brother produce church movies, what else can I say.  You need to know that when you start watching or you don't watch!!  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)   
  
119 min, Drama directed and written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick with Sahri Rigby, Aryn Wright-Thompson, Alex Kendrick, Cameron Arnett, Priscilla C. Shirer, Ben Davies, Holly A. Morris, Bruce Marchiano, Jared Staley, Kendrick Cross, Elizabeth Becca, Elijah B. Moore, Caleb Kendrick, Myke Holmes, Denise Armstrong.

Note:  Imdb 6.5 out of 10 with 2,516 views, Rotten Tomatoes 50% with 16 critics 98% audience score with 7,213 ratings, Common Sense Media Tara McNamara, age 10+, 4* positive, 3* role models, 1* violence, 1* consumerism, 3* drinking, drugs & smoking, Roger Ebert Mark Dujsik, Metacritic 17 out of 100 with 5 critics (0 positive, 1 mixed, 4 negative) 6.9 out of 10 with 40 ratings (26 positive, 4 mixed, 10 negative), Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 1907 reviews, Facebook 5* out of 5* with 2,617 opinions, dove.org 5* faith 5* integrity 1* sex 2* tension, there stealing, death, grief and a heated confrontation between a woman and a couple, Letterboxd 2.7* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Columbus and Columbus State University Georgia, Albany Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee.  Other films by the Kendrick brothers are Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous. War Room, The Grace Card and Unconditional.