Plot Summary
Andrew was a successful businessman, but when he slowly begins to lose everything, beginning with his career, he also begins to lose his grip on the life he has built. He cannot provide for his family, so his wife walks out on him with his best friend. Andrew turns to drinking to numb the pain, but then he experiences God reach out to him in a way he never expected.
Production Quality (1.5 points)
Though the budget of this film is low, the production is actually mostly average. This includes good video quality and camera work. Audio quality is fine except for some loud background noises and echoes and a generic soundtrack that is sometimes too loud. However, sets, locations, and props are mostly fine, even if editing leaves something to be desired. As a whole, this is an average production.
Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)
Unfortunately, this plot really doesn’t have much potential. It is full of odd message-pushing dialogue that espouses an unusual worldview and force-feeds the creators’ odd version of Christianity and rigid opinions about gender roles. Thus, the characters come off as very blank as they spout trite Christian platitudes and even unnecessary, out of place profanity. The protagonist is almost painted as a victim of circumstance, even though he is clearly not. The plot progression is overall very rushed, even though it is short, as problems are resolved very quickly and unrealistically. Overall, this really isn’t a story that anything going for it.
Acting Quality (1.5 points)
As a small church cast, these cast members show some amount of potential, even if they have moments of awkwardness and unsure delivery. Some lines come off as overly practiced, and emotions are hard to quantify. There are also some unnecessary sequences of yelling and melodrama. However, there is enough good here to make this section average, even if the movie as a whole is not.
Conclusion
Movies like Hope are really not worth releasing, not because of their low budgets, but because their plots are just not dynamic or creative. Small church films with small budgets need to be able to stand out in the market by creating truly transformative plots that can make a difference and can help the church progress into better funding and better marketing. Another flat storyline about a troubled character that contains an odd worldview is just not worth adding to the already-crowded field, unfortunately.
Final Rating: 3 out of 10 points
Box Office Revolution 