Courageous – A Sony Pictures’ Release

http://www.courageousthemovie.com/

DVD Release Date: January 17th, 2012

Rated PG for some violence and drug content

Running time: 129 minutes

Alex Kendrick (dir.)

Stephen Kendrick (writer)

Alex Kendrick (writer)

Mark Willard (music)

Alex Kendrick as Adam Mitchell

Ken Bevel as Nathan Hayes

Ben Davies as David Thomson

Kevin Downes as Shane Fuller

Our reviews below:

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Courageous DVD Review By John C.

**1/2 (out of 4)

Adam Mitchell (Alex Kendrick), Nathan Hayes (Ken Bevel), David Thomson (Ben Davies) and Shane Fuller (Kevin Downes) are police officers working in the town of Albany, Georgia.  Trying to take down an increasingly violent drug ring, the four men struggle with trying to make time and money to support their families.  But through their faith and in the aftermath of a tragedy, the four men and their mutual friend Javier (Robert Amaya) all resolve to rediscover what is truly important in their lives.

The film is a little long at 129-minutes and could have used some editing, but Courageous is ultimately an honest and even noble effort from the brotherly team of Alex and Stephen Kendrick.  The characters are believable, and there are some well-timed moments of action and suspense, and even a few touches of humour.  The themes of reconnecting with your family are admirable.  Those wanting a wholesome and well made drama with strong religious themes, are sure to find exactly what they are looking for.

The Blu-ray includes commentary with the Kendrick Brothers, deleted scenes and several featurettes.

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Courageous DVD Review By Erin V.  

*** (out of 4)

From Alex Kendrick, writer/director of Fireproof, Courageous tells the story of five men, (four of whom are police officers working together), who each are pushed to re-examine their roles as fathers and husbands when tragedy strikes.

As we meet each of the five main characters in turn, by default we find out more about the others as well.  The edits and intertwining of their stories is clean and believable, with ample screen time provided for each.  The main character if you will, is Adam Mitchell (played by Alex Kendrick), as it is his story that sets in motion the themes and ties together everything that changes in each of the other’s lives as well.

Although made as a small town production (the credits list almost everyone in the town in the special thanks categories), Courageous is well made and with its good messages about fatherhood would be a perfect film to watch around Father’s Day.

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Courageous DVD Review By Nicole

**1/2 (out of 4)

Created by the same team as Fireproof, Courageous follows a group of police officers as they vow to spend more time with their children.  The movie revolves around Adam Mitchell (director Alex Kendrick), a father of two.  When a tragedy strikes, Adam makes a pact with his fellow officers and with God to be a better father.

Courageous touches on many issues, including loss of parental influence and the resulting consequences of poverty and organized crime and, of course, faith when times are hard.  The film is well written and well acted, never delving into melodrama or cloying sentimentality.  Courageous is a decent Christian drama that will go over well at Church groups, senior centres and for anyone who wants a clean movie with a nice family message.  A great gift idea for Father’s Day.

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Courageous DVD Review By Maureen

**1/2 (out of 4)

Courageous follows four law enforcement officers as they find the courage to become better officers, better fathers and stronger Christians.  Written and directed by two brothers, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, with Alex playing the lead character, officer Adam Mitchell, Courageous is a well-written and nicely done drama with a good balance of action, suspense and honest emotion.  All the characters are believable with solid performances from the entire cast.

The values and the messages in the storyline are openly Christian.  Thankfully, the dramatic elements in the movie never feel like melodrama, although the running time at just over two hours is a little long.  But Courageous is a nice change of pace from many mainstream movies.  Those wanting to celebrate the important role of fathers in today’s world, especially from a Christian perspective, may want to check this one out on Blu-ray or DVD.

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Courageous DVD Review By Tony

**1/2 (out of 4)

Courageous shares the lives of five fathers. Adam (Alex Kendrick), Nathan (Ken Bevel), David (Ben Davies), and Shane (Kevin Downes) are small town Georgia cops. Javier (Robert Amaya) is an honest hard working Hispanic tradesman. Adam, Nathan and Javier are solid God-fearing family men, while Ben and Shane are non-religious and non-custodial. A sudden tragedy leads to a pledge that they all make to live up to their obligations as fathers, since the absence of fathers is a serious cause of perpetual poverty and crime. A local gang and other temptations challenge their commitments.

Though they have been popular in the evangelical community since 2003, I was unfamiliar with the films written and directed by the Kendrick brothers (Alex and Stephen) of which Courageous is the fourth. As a ministry of the Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany GA, in which the Kendricks and Ken Bevel are pastors, their production company appears to include the whole congregation, if not most of the town, as the closing credits attest. With a cast that lacks big names and a largely volunteer crew, the result is remarkably decent, given the integrity of all involved. The evangelical message, culminating in an inspiring Kendrick sermon, does not get in the way of a good, well-paced story that allows us to know and like the characters, with some exciting police action along the way.

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Consensus: Written and directed by the Kendrick Brothers, Courageous is well made police drama with believable characters and an honest message about the importance of faith and family.  **1/2 (Out of 4)