User reviews

Yes, it's a "Christian movie"...and yes, there's a "happy ending" and yes, there's a "message". So what?

In the 40 or so years I have been a regular movie goer, I've seen pretty much everything one can put into a film, from explosions to nudity to every possible combination of four letter words. And I am happy to say we didn't get any of it in this movie. So, if you yearn for a Hollywood blockbuster....pass on this one.

No, I'm no Pollyanna. I like some action and adventure. But I've gotten to where a movie with "less" is better to me in many ways. Yes, in full disclosure, I am proud to say I am a Christian. A Christian dad, too. I'm happy to report that this movie is what every father should see, be they "in the Faith" or not. It's nice to see a movie where there's a strong message of family unity. Even Disney movies have taken to trying to tell us that your average family is a broken one. That may be factual, but why can't we have some entertainment that focuses on people trying to be strong fathers? And that leads to strong mothers, and then stronger children. And in the end, a stronger community.

There's just enough humor to keep the movie moving along. It's not a short film by any means, so you do get your ticket price in viewing. There were a few scenes that might cause a jump or two, but they are part of setting the story. The movie is a nice surprise in a season of movies that will probably be forgotten a few weeks after viewing.

If you have a hard time hearing a lot about GOD and such, pass on this at the local Googleplex and wander into another film. I hope it makes you happy. But, I would gently suggest you try this movie out. Be you a man (or woman) of Faith or not. You just might be surprised. And, you just might wish to spend a little more time with your family.

When I first heard about Courageous, I was intrigued, not because I'm a Christian, but because as a member of a law enforcement family, I can relate to the plot. I wasn't disappointed. The film tells the story of five men and their families, and their decision to step up and face their responsibilities...no matter how hard they may be. Most of them were 'good enough' fathers before, but good enough isn't enough for a man of courage.

Courageous seemed less preachy to me than Fireproof was before it. Most of the acting was much better than I expected (Ken Bevel, in particular, really stepped it up this time). The film was very gritty, very true to life. There were times when I felt like I was watching my family in days past on the screen. Nothing about the reality of job or family was sugarcoated.

My main complaint would be with the plot structure; the story didn't have a clearly defined beginning, middle, and end. There were enough subplots, I thought, to fill two movies, though they all tied together nicely in the end.

Even my sister (who is not a Christian) agreed that she liked it. In the end, I walked away inspired and uplifted, not just by the film's message, but by it's presentation. Fireproof may have been a film I liked and walked away from, but Courageous is definitely one I'll be buying for my DVD collection. As of this film, I am a definite fan of the Kendrick brother's films, and I can't wait for more.

This is the second movie this year I've seen that frequently mentions God in addressing issues of faith, the first being The Grace Card. This one concerns four cops and one laborer being tested on their beliefs. At least one of them has an addiction and another is challenged before a possible promotion. And one more has a family tragedy. But, for the most part, they managed to survive and become even stronger from their decisions. Quite inspirational and occasionally funny too. And, yes, there are some heroic action scenes as well to keep things exciting. Really, I wasn't initially sure I'd really like this one especially when I was able to predict some scenes and lines but, overall, I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good drama with a fine lesson.

'Courageous' is in the top 10 of my favorite faith-based movies. It really is a tremendous uplifting film that leaves you in tears from the very beginning to the very end. And it's all attributed to God. Kudos to Alex Kendrick for being in the film and giving a terrific performance! I give Courageous a 10 out of 10 My top 10 faith-based movies of all time are: 1) Ben-Hur; 2) Suing the Devil; 3) Soul Surfer; 4) Facing the Giants; 5) Chariots of Fire; 6) End of the Spear; 7) The Climb; 8) Gospel of John; 9) Time Changer; 10) Courageous You're missing out if you haven't seen these films!

God is working through these films.

Reality TV is not really real. I mean, I have no friends who've been stranded on an island or locked in a house (nor, as far as I know, has that happened to people who don't like me). In contrast, the movie, Courageous, truly reveals the reality of life. This highly entertaining film is about the struggles of fatherhood. Which of us guys hasn't struggled with the boundaries between work and home?

The story centers on a group of law enforcement officers and is filled with action, outstanding humor and at times, some tough emotional moments. At the show I attended, everyone cried. They cried at some tragic moments and at some moments of great relief. At my side was a good buddy who is a successful business pro and strong family man. He & I both walked away with some deeper awareness of how we could be better fathers to our kids and to our brides.

So there are also some distinct learning moments that makes this film much more than just an escape from reality. How often do you have an opportunity to take someone to a movie that has trailing impact on your life? I'll suggest you get some Dads together to watch Courageous and sit down for a meal afterward to talk about what it showed you were doing well, or right - and what you could be working on to better build into your family and their future. Powerfully-told story with an outstanding cast.

This movie was excellent and far surpassed my expectations. There is a definite message to it but it does not feel like a lecture. There is lots of action and lots of emotion. Everyone in the theater was both laughing and crying throughout the movie. The movie was well written and well acted. The movie addressed difficult relevant social issues without being judgmental. The role of fathers in today's society and how many fathers do not live up to their responsibilities was the main theme of the movie. Although this is a Christian movie there is lots of action and does not come across as preachy. Recommend seeing it regardless of your faith and beliefs in God.

This is definitely a religious movie that has a positive message. It's about a group of cops and one of them, Adam, has a daughter that is tragically killed. It makes him realize he needs to be a better father to his other kid and get right with god. He gets his friends to get behind him and they make a pledge to do right.

The quality of the film making is good considering it was such a low budget film. You really can't tell it was that low budget. There's no special effects just real people acting.

FINAL VERDICT: If you are looking for a film with a good message, then this is the one for you.

I believe this could've been a great movie had it not been so preachy and exaggerated. It started pretty good but then I became kind of bored. The story was beautiful, it was touching sometimes, it had a great message, but they didn't deal with it the right way. The performances felt forced (sometimes it looked like a soap opera) and very unrealistic. Halfway through it I felt like I was in a church listening to a preacher. If you're a Christian and you believe that praying solves every problem, maybe you can identify with this movie and give it full credit. I say maybe, because I am a Christian, but I know that's not how life works. If, on the other hand, you're not a Christian, don't bother watching this because you'll get upset pretty soon.

I have to admit that Courageous is similar to the other "Christian movies" (as they are commonly called). The acting isn't the best and it gets "preachy" in parts (which was fine for me, but will be uncomfortable or annoying for some non-believers), but the message is one every father (and mother, and child) should hear. There are some really funny, laugh till you cry, scenes and some very emotional, "get the Kleenex" scenes and even a few tense, action scenes. (some issues are to intense for young viewers, like death, drugs, gangs and fight scenes...hence the PG-13 rating) If you liked Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel, then you will love this. It's made by the same guys. Bottom line is that with all the junk out there now-a-days, this is a descent film, with a moral lesson, and unless you are anti family values and God, you will find a nugget of wisdom, a hope and a prayer for everyone, in My Humble Opinion! 7 stars from me Oct 2011

I don't want to write a comprehensive review of this movie. Instead I will make a quick list of the positive and negative points so that people can make their own mind up.

Positive. 1. No CGI, no fancy special effects. 2. Great filming, the cinematic experience was great. It shows both the best and worst of middle America in a non-bias way. The detail and lighting was done in a warm and clear way without being too arty. I enjoyed watching the movie from a pictorial sense. 3. The story line. 4. The moral of the story.

Negative. 1. Substituted religious messages for actual dialogue. It could have been much more creative in getting the message across (and still be Christian). Instead the movie had an almost cult feel about it. 2. The movie could have been easily 15-20 minutes shorter and still had the same or more impact. The repeated message about God was starting to feel like brainwashing. (see point 1). 3. Most people who are not Christian would have turned the movie off after the incident that brought the fathers together. The message seemed to really drag on after that point. 4. It started to feel very Cliché.

Who should watch this movie? People who are interested in some of the best things that Christianity has to offer. People who have turned their back on the Church or have no faith should probably steer well away from this movie. If you want to watch a good story, with some great filming and don't mind a religious message then this could also be for you.

I went to a preview expecting a good movie with a great message. Courageous turned out to be a great movie with a great message. My emotions ran from exhilaration to tears as the movie went from police action sequences (that were very well done) to scenes that brought out tears.....and I'm not usually a crier. Lots of great acting. Bad buys were very bad, good guys were flawed. I would definitely recommend this. The audience I was with loved it. Both men and women. Not a chick flick but any lady that does not want her man to be "Courageous" need not see this. This movie is about being a man, a godly man, father, and husband. It was worth the money which is hard to say about a lot of what comes out these days.

First off, this is a Christian film. There has been no effort to deceive anyone about that. If you are an evangelical Christian (or are at least open to Biblical morality) you will love this movie. Particularly if you are a Christian man who would like some encouragement and hints on how to be a great father and man- run, do not walk to see this. If you are not a Christian and are hostile to hearing about Jesus, save yourself and everyone else the angst and whining by NOT GOING TO SEE IT.

I think this genre of films is maturing and getting better with each effort. The cringe-worthy Christian films of the past seem to be giving way to better quality, better acted offerings. Is this going to win the Oscar for best picture? No. But is it an entertaining, uplifting and memorable film? Absolutely. The story is compelling and applicable to real life. The action scenes are just as good as any cop show. The emotional scenes are well acted and not distractingly cheesy. I loved it.

My only few gripes: One of the main child characters is cast with a stunning little girl who is very obviously of partially African-American heritage yet is cast as the child of two white people. There is one actor in a prominent role who is very distractingly bad but you don't see her for long stretches, so it's tolerable. My biggest complaint- that men like the ones in this movie do not exist in real life. I know that the goals the men set in this movie are attainable and are what God calls men to do. I believe that every Christian man would benefit from applying the concepts discussed in this film to his life. Sadly,in my experience, men like this are as much of a fairy tale as Prince Charming. That's not the movie's fault, though.

This is quite simply a superb movie about faith, love, family and what is really important in life. A must for all fathers and would be fathers. The movie weaves real life adventure and problems into a compelling police-based story and delivers solutions to those problems that can be used in our lives. Sure, some of the jokes are a little corny, but they are all in good taste - a rare exception to Hollywood's sex, sex and more sex mentality. The acting is really pretty good - there's no Brad Pitt here, but there is plenty of heart and soul from the entire cast. Hard to believe a movie with this much drama, acting and pathos was created with only a one million dollar budget! It is not only entertaining and funny but didactic as well. Don't miss this one - do it for yourself - do it for God!

What a great movie. It is entertaining, exciting, draws you in an keeps you, stirs your emotions, and leaves a positive message. Most other Hollywood movies are shallow and leave you exhausted and wanting for more substance. My time and money is too valuable to just be "amused." It was fun seeing so many people that I have not connected to in a long time. I would go to more movies, but the are very few that have any substance. I hope people can spread the word about this movie. I think our society could turn around if dads took a greater role in the lives of their children. It is not hard, it takes courage to go against the modern culture of "if it feels good, do it" and chasing after the trappings of success, like money and possessions.

I bought a ticket for this film knowing nothing about it other than it was new. When I arrived at the theater it was packed ... something I have not seen in a very long time. The audience really responded, and gave a standing ovation at the end. Like a breath of fresh air and a key time in our nation's history. Watching the credits closely, it was clear that this was a Christian production all the catering, for example, was done by churches). I have no particular religious agenda, but I found this film balanced and never felt as though I was being subjected to religious propaganda. It is an action-packed story, and is carried by the weight of the events that all ring true. All on and off screen work is first rate, and even the children are solid and credible. Technical details and production value is all highly professional.

A movie with a strong Christian message usually doesn't have strong acting and a good story. This one does. Alex Kendrick is to be congratulated.

The IMDb reviews of this film totally fooled me and I sat down to watch what I thought would be a good film.

It started OK, dealing with a small sheriffs dept. Gradually God creeps further and further into the plot until the film descends into some quasi-spiritual evangelistic bible belt rubbish. As soon as I saw the little Mitchel girl and her direction I knew what was in store for her. From that predictable event the film spirals into a sack of religious bullshit.

It then became more and more difficult to watch without retching. Having said that, the action scenes were OK and about the only relief from the mind numbing churchy script.

If you go to church on a regular basis, preferably protestant evangelical, you might like this. As for being a good dad, there are a thousand films that send the same message without talking down to you from a pulpit.

Unless you're bulimic I'd give this one a wide berth.

The main question here is, can non-believers enjoy the film? In all honesty, Courageous boasts high production values, and frankly its cop moments where the characters go on foot and car chases and shoot-em-ups (yes), so it has all the typical ingredients that go into a decent police action thriller. But of course it's not always about the action, and this film is rather steeped in its drama, spending significant time fleshing out the households of each of the four major cop characters, plus a friend they get to know along the way. So if you're up for a feel-good film that has its fair share of conflict and tragedy, and a story about how the characters dug deep and overcame the various adversity along the way, then this would be for you, if you can get past how they each have to turn to God, or count their blessings each time for a fortunate turn of events swing in their favour.

Ken Bevel opens the film as new cop transferee Nathan Hayes, who saves his infant child from a carjacking incident, that sets the stage that the community he is about to live in, has its own problems with teenage crime, gangs and drugs. And also having to deal with a growing daughter who sees no wrong in going out on dates, save for the apprehensions he as a father tend to have in suspecting every young man who comes knocking at his door. We're then introduced to corporals Adam Mitchell (Alex Kendrick) and his partner Shane Fuller (Kevin Downes), as well as Nathan's own rookie partner David (Ben Davies), all of whom are fathers in their own right, and all facing different challenges in their family lives.

For instance, Adam has to grapple with not spending enough time to connect with his daughter Emily (Lauren Etchells) and son Dylan (Rusty Marin) who wants him to run the 5 mile together, save for Adam knowing his own fitness level and refusing to train nor participate. The story also deliberately crafts vastly different families dealing with different issues so that an entire spectrum gets covered, from divorcée's to those running away from responsibilities. Then there's Javier Martinez (Robert Amaya) a mutual friend of the cops who is seeking to get out of the poverty circle, and amongst the group has the best of luck in having God answer almost all his prayers.

It helps when almost everyone happen to be God fearing men, but if I may read into the film a little bit more, are men who are clueless in knowing just what to do in bringing up their children the "correct" way. The sheriff of the town pins rising crime statistics squarely on felons not having a proper father figure when growing up, so you'd know just what this film is about - the importance of fatherhood and how fathers become that shining beacon for good behaviour if they know how to instill proper discipline, care, love and respect in the children they are responsible for. Some may not agree with such a sweeping statement made at least twice in the film, but that's one of the key objectives the film has for its intended audience.

And being a religious film of sorts, there are scenes crafted subtly, and not so subtly, involving how people with crucifixes are first to the scene to render assistance to a crime being committed and to helping with the injured, how a BBQ cookout is alcohol-free, references to the scriptures on being a father, and of course more explicit ones with the reading of the Bible, and cell group like prayers being conducted. As the film wore on, especially once past its crucial turning point of a tragedy that woke everyone up into being committed to signing a commitment, or a covenant of sorts to vow on the proper upbringing of children and looking after the household, such scenes became more pronounced, as with the thanking of the Lord for good fortune smiling their way.

These Resolutions became the centerpiece in which the narrative will revolve around, since the pastor duly warned that each would be tested against what they have signed on paper, leaving the rest of the hour mark to deal with just that. with temptation put along the way with tests of integrity. To make it realistic and to avoid the syndrome of everyone being holier than thou, some folks have to take a fall, but it's a fall that's cushioned with redemption toward the end, just like the way the religion preaches about that, and forgiveness. Some moments did come off as slightly creepy though, especially with Nathan's presentation of a purity ring to his daughter which I thought was a little bit overdone and could have been read in a very different light if taken out of context.

If you're part of the intended audience, then Courageous will be that enjoyable mainstream film that has religious sensitivities, with nary a swear word or vice on display, with the bad guys all getting reached by the long arm of the law. Frankly it's a little bit refreshing watching a film these days that's sans a swear word being uttered. But for those who will roll your eyes at any hint of being preached at, then Courageous would not be your cup of tea though I'd still recommend it if you're up for a film with squeaky clean values, and isn't that shoddy in its production terms.

To keep this review short (Don't want to waste too much words on it) I will describe it in short. This movie is a typical American faith-religious movie that describes the relationship between dad and child. The makers did a decent job at following this plot. Unfortunately it is completely unrealistic, boring, the acting is terrible and also the script is also very, very stereotypical. This movie is made for an American market, this can be reviewed in the subject of the movie as well as the screenplay. I can image some may find this movie useful in some way, but movies should be made for entertainment in my opinion. It is certain that viewers outside of the US will see its true entertainment value, which is, close to zero. A moderately overrated movie.

Though I am a Christian, I do think Christianity is not well advanced by this preachy film which uses a veneer of family relationship drama as a cloak for sermonizing at the audience. It is marketed deceptively as an action-relationship film but even I felt like I had paid my money to be lectured at by holier-than-thou script inserted for religious rather than theatrical reasons.

The film has a sound message (men should step up to the plate and be good fathers) but overrides this with the usual Jesus is the answer message. This comes from a dogmatic point of view which would also hold that men who do step up to the plate and are outstanding fathers, but who do not accept Jesus, are going to hell. That is, it is a dishonest film in this respect. Christianity is better advanced by a film which asks the hard questions, not just the apple pie and fatherhood easy questions.

You will see a lot of rave reviews here from people who like sermonizing and want to induce others to see a film of this sort. I just think that if it were marketed honestly, then people who see the film would not feel manipulated and tricked.