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    Movie Review

    I Still Believe combines Christian themes with solid romance

    Alex Bentley
    Mar 12, 2020 | 9:39 am
    I Still Believe combines Christian themes with solid romance
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    In 2012, brothers Andrew and Jon Erwin released their debut feature film, October Baby, their first attempt at bringing their Christian beliefs to the big screen. Since then, they’ve made three other movies centered on Christianity with increasing star wattage and box office returns. Their fifth film, I Still Believe, may become their biggest hit yet.

    The film is a biopic of Christian musician Jeremy Camp (K.J. Apa of Riverdale fame), whose hit song, “I Still Believe,” was inspired by his relationship with his wife, Melissa (Britt Robertson). After meeting at Calvary Chapel Bible College in California, the two develop a will-they-or-won’t-they type of relationship, in part due to Melissa’s strong friendship with another singer, Jean-Luc La Joie (Nathan Parsons).

    But the bond between Jeremy and Melissa is undeniable, and it only becomes more so when Melissa is diagnosed with cancer. Both of their faiths are tested throughout the ordeal, with Jeremy turning to his family, including his father (Gary Sinise) and mother (Shania Twain), and to his music to get him through.

    The biggest problem with modern films with a Christian theme has not been their overt religiosity, but rather their lack of good storytelling. Too often, as was the case in the October Baby, the focus on the message prevented the Erwin brothers from seeing that their filmmaking skills were lacking.

    They seem to have learned from their earlier mistakes, as they simply tell the romance of Jeremy and Melissa instead of pushing an ideology. That’s not to say that faith isn’t front and center — God, the healing power of prayer, and more are invoked countless times. But it never comes across as proselytizing; rather, it’s just a story of how these people’s beliefs shaped and helped them.

    In fact, were the religiousness of the film not so overt, it could easily fit into the box of other recent ill-fated young romances like The Fault in Our Stars and Me Before You. The courtship of Jeremy and Melissa is much more chaste than those films, but it’s told in a way that the love between them can still be felt deeply.

    It helps tremendously to have two charismatic, photogenic, and recognizable actors as the leads. Both Apa and Robertson have proven themselves in other successful projects, and their experience and chemistry keeps the story moving when it threatens to get bogged down. Solid performances by Parsons, Sinise, and Melissa Roxburgh as Melissa’s sister elevate the film, as well.

    I Still Believe is most definitely aimed at Christian music fans and Christians in general, but it’s conceivable that those who doesn’t share the same beliefs can get something out of watching it. It’s a story cloaked in religion, but one told well enough that it never feels like a Sunday School lesson.

    Britt Robertson and K.J. Apa in I Still Believe.

    Britt Robertson and K.J. Apa in I Still Believe
      
    Photo by Michael Kubeisy
    Britt Robertson and K.J. Apa in I Still Believe.
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    Movie Review

    Dark comedy Friendship covers male bonding with copious cringing

    Alex Bentley
    May 16, 2025 | 4:16 pm
    Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship
    Photo courtesy of A24
    Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship.

    Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.

    Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara) and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.

    He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin - a weatherman at a local TV channel - even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.

    Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.

    The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.

    Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, there are many things in the story that go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.

    Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.

    There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.

    ---

    Friendship is now playing in select theaters.

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