By REY FLORES
When it comes to movies today, I am no more a fan of most of computer-generated animation films than I am of the standard bland storylines which lack imagination, attached to them. This past Christmas, Yellow Day changed all of that.
Because of the glut in any quality entertainment coming out of Hollywood these days, be it religious or secular; never has there been a greater need for films to recalibrate the moral compass of a nation the way a mainstream movie can.
No, I’m not talking about the latest Star Wars film, complete with race and gender politics of today’s messed up world. I’m talking about Yellow Day which is a lighthearted, yet refreshing and serious look at what it means to prioritize all of the important aspects of one’s life, mainly prioritizing God and our faith in Him.
Presented in a manner that appeals to people of all ages, Yellow Day is like a good day at Sunday Mass.
The story revolves around a young man and woman and how they discover much about themselves as they do about each other when they end up getting accidentally locked inside a church overnight.
After the young woman leaves before the young man wakes up, they slept in separate pews by the way; the Good Man then spends most of the rest of the film seeking out this mysterious young woman he has fallen in love with.
The lead roles are believably played by actors Drew Seeley as the Good Man and Lindsey Shaw as the Girl in Church, with child actress Ashley Boettcher playing the child version of Shaw’s character.
The film has some serious aspects in the story line of painful familial history and memories; yet it also has a determined positive vibe which helps build its message of hope.
The clever, and for the most part, appropriately utilized computer generated illustrations so common in today’s films works well here as an effective tool to deliver its message as the Good Man and the little Girl in Church intermittently transform from live action to animation throughout the film.
While Hollywood uses animation as one way to sell movie tickets to children and families, Yellow Day doesn’t just exploit the medium, but it uses animation effectively as a way to engage younger audiences in a similar way that the fantastic animated film, The Greatest Miracle, did back in 2012.
While Christian movies have become increasingly popular, the majority of them are made by Protestants and feature Protestant characters, Protestant churches, and Protestant pastors. While Yellow Day doesn’t necessarily do anything obviously Catholic, Catholic viewers will take note of the scenes inside the church where one can see a high altar with a tabernacle, and statues of saints on the outside and the inside of the church.
I am a firm believer and supporter of children reading more and watching less, but with films like this, I am perfectly comfortable letting them watch movies like this.
It is impossible to write anything further about the film without giving the actual story away, but I can assure you that Yellow Day is a day, and film, you will look forward to. I recommend it for all ages.
Now playing in theatres. Visit www.yellowdaymovie.com to watch the trailer and learn more about who and what inspired this sweet movie.
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(Rey Flores is a Catholic writer and speaker. Contact Rey at reyfloresusa@gmail.com)
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