To Save a Life (2009) is a great example of audiences loving it while critics were not so kind. It's a small budget Christian genre film (let's face it, Hollywood will never be kind to these). I actually saw this film in theaters and just recently viewed it again. To me, this flick is one of the best in its field, so read here why! Spoilers may follow.
This story immediately starts out dismal. Jake Taylor's childhood friend takes his own life, and this makes him question everything. Could he have saved him? Is his current relationship the right one? Is there a God?
It's no secret that many of these films have below-average actors. However, this is not one of those. Randy Wayne is the protagonist Jake Taylor. You can tell from his look that Zac Efron's High School Musical was a major influence at that time hence the hair cut.
Wayne's performance feels as real as it gets. He has everything going for him including being an all-star athlete, scholarship to Louisville, a loving girlfriend and more, yet something is still missing. He begins to have a crisis of conscious. He's not sure he's actually doing everything he's supposed to be doing. Maybe he has a gift that's not being utilized. Someone who has the ability to easily approach people is not all that common, and I envy that in many ways.
One small connection I felt to the character is how he dealt with grief. In the funeral scene, he stands there staring blankly ahead not saying anything. I deal with grief similarly, so it's a small thing I connect with.
Other quality performances come from Joshua Weigel as Chris, Sean Michael Afable as Jonny Garcia, Deja Kreutzberg as Amy, and Kimberly Daugherty as Andrea.
There is one particular actor I feel I must point out. Currently, he's the most popular figure from the film because he has millions of followers as a late-night host. It's Steven Crowder as Doug Jones. Being a mug clubber, it's like seeing a meme alive, and I can't help but smile when I viewed his scenes. His character is a complete tool, but he's not the worst guy in the film. That honor goes to the preacher's kid who calls in a fake bomb complaint.
Whether you're a believer or not, the morals instilled in this film are far-reaching. Everyone can benefit from simply caring about what happens to other people. Jonny was a soul in peril, and a little kindness from Jake and Andrea saved him. Hence, the name is To Save a Life.
Every now and then, a couple of lines fall flat for a negative. Also, the bullying in the film can be unbelievable at times. This isn't the '90s when all high school films did this. It's 2009, and bullying like that had thankfully been largely cracked down upon.
In the end, it's one of the best in the genre. When considering my grade, sometimes how a film makes you feel and its intentions can help overshadow issues. It's worth the watch. My film rating is B+.
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