By REY FLORES
When the first God’s Not Dead film was released in theaters in 2014, it earned over $60 million at the box office, signaling that America wants more films that portray Christianity positively and point the finger squarely at a secular world which has made it no secret that it wishes to silence us.
While $60 million in earnings at the box office is a very modest number compared to last year’s Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens which earned $932.3 million, God’s Not Dead made a much bigger impact than films of secular genres; an impact which cannot be measured in monetary earnings.
And God’s Not Dead has made a big splash via DVD and Internet rentals and sales.
People who made the first God’s Not Dead film so popular sent a powerful message to Hollywood and filmmakers everywhere that the Christian film genre is here to not only stay, but to grow exponentially in the next few years — at least that’s my prediction.
Now, God’s Not Dead 2 follows along the same lines as the first film did: Secular institutional authority challenges people’s faith and belief in God, attempts to silence and punish them for sharing those views, creating a battle between good and evil.
God’s Not Dead 2 is a very entertaining film and really keeps its momentum going strong from start to finish. I especially like the villainous ACLU lawyers and how they are realistically portrayed as the smug, know-it-all atheists they are in real life.
The movie pits a student against a bullheaded authoritarian teacher who demanded that students write off God entirely or face a failing grade in their philosophy class. Like most college-age students nowadays, they are under an anti-God academic regime where professors aim to brainwash them away from any belief in God and Christianity that they may have had.
This time around, God’s Not Dead 2 is about a high school teacher who answers a student’s question about Jesus in a historical, factual way, but somehow the student’s parents end up suing the school district and the teacher, creating yet another battle between good and evil.
The film stars television actress Melissa Joan Hart whose character as a high school history teacher conveys a love for Christ, but also an admiration for other peace-seeking historical figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. — whom the fictional high school in the movie is named after.
I really enjoyed actor Jesse Metcalfe who is Hart’s union-appointed lawyer. He delivers a dramatic and clever performance in the courtroom scenes, which reminded me to some degree of actor John Payne’s lawyer character in 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street.
Other familiar faces include the legendary Pat Boone and Robin Givens, and returning from the original God’s Not Dead are David A.R. White (Rev. Dave), Benjamin Onyango (Rev. Jude), Trisha LaFache (Amy Ryan), and Paul Kwo (Martin Yip), along with a special appearance by the Christian rock band the Newsboys, who had a smash hit song by the same name as the movie. The song sold in the millions and gave the band platinum status.
God’s Not Dead 2 is released by Pure Flix Entertainment, opening in theaters April 1 across the country. Take the opportunity to make God’s Not Dead 2 a big hit on its opening weekend.
I recommend this film for families with children ages 10 and up.
Pure Flix has also started an online subscription service offering family-friendly movies for about eight dollars a month, which you can also watch on your television via Roku and Chromecast. It’s a great alternative to the sex and violence that other providers tend to carry in their movie selections.
Visit www.GodsNotDeadThe
Movie.com to watch the trailer, view show times, and buy tickets.
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(Rey Flores is a Catholic writer and speaker. Contact Rey at reyfloresusa@gmail.com.)
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