Courageous

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect.

The sheriff's in Albany, GA try to balance work with their personal lives.  The sheriff encourages his deputies to spend more time with their families, based on crime statistics.  Four of the deputies: Adam (Kendrick), Shane (Downes), Nathan (Bevel), and rookie David (Davies), form a tight bond both on and off the job, and spend time together.  Adam employs Javier Martinez (Amaya) to help build a shed, and the two quickly become friends.  Soon the deputies embrace Javier, and his family, into their group.

Adam's 9-year old daughter, Emily (Lauren Etchells), is killed in a car accident.  As his family struggles to process the loss, Adam turns to the Bible for answers.  He realizes he has been lacking in fatherly duties, settling for "good enough," when he could do some much more.


This is the fourth film written and directed by Alex Kendrick (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof).  Like his other films, the majority of the cast is comprised of volunteers from Sherwood Baptist Church, where he serves as a pastor.  As such, the film is well done... but the acting (and occasionally the camera work) leaves much to be desired.

The filmmakers chose to focus on the spiritual / faith based aspects of the film.  As a Christian, I appreciate a wholesome family that  portrays Christians and Christian families in a positive light, unlike Hollywood.  However, it is made for the people who already agree with it... everyone else sees it as a too-long, preachy film that is behind the times, which is unfortunate.

The focus of the film is on the role of Christian men in their families.  It challenges men to step up and lead their families... As a single woman, I could appreciate the core of the film, but could not relate.  In between the somber moments there are police chases and moments of laughter between friends.

A good movie that men / fathers should see... especially as they evaluate their duties as a father, husband, friend, worker, etc.

Courageous (2011) 129 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and drug content
Director: Alex Kendrick
Starring: Alex Kendrick as Adam Mitchell
Ken Bevel as Nathan Hayes
Ben Davies as David Thomson
Kevin Downes as Shane Fuller
Robert Amaya as Javier Martinez
Angelita Nelson as Carmen Martinez
T.C. Stallings as T.J.