DO YOU BELIEVE
PG-13
120 Minutes
Director: Jon Gunn
Writers: Chuck Konzelman, Cary Solomon
Ted McGinley, Mira Sorvino, Sean Astin, Alexa PenaVega
CAST
Mira Sorvino...Samantha
Sean Astin...Dr. Farell
Alexa PenaVega...Lacey
Delroy Lindo ...Malachi
Ted McGinley...Matthew
Andrea Logan White...Andrea
CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C
I had to see it for myself. Ted McGinley, starring in his own movie. Usually, he's the guy that shows up, right before a sitcom goes into the woods to die. Ted hasn't done his own movie since REVENGE OF THE NERDS. But was DO YOU BELIEVE better than REVENGE OF THE NERDS. No, but what movie is? Ted played the best, dooshy frat guy...ever, and I'm including Ryan Reynolds. Because this frat guy is really a self-hating nerd in denial; as we find out in the made-for-TV movie, REVENGE OF THE NERDS IV.
I could write a whole article on Ted McGinley. What can I say, he's a fascinating character. Ted did an adequate job on MARRIED WITH CHILDREN, and that one episode of PERFECT STRANGERS (Larry's brother). But when you show up on HAPPY DAYS, after Ron Howard leaves, people aren't going to be too fond of you. Scott Baio likes him though; the day Ted showed up to the set, miraculously, people stopped picking on him.
And Another Thing
Why couldn't they get that dad from 7TH HEAVEN to play the pastor...what's that...pedophiles can't play pastors. Well I beg to differ.
Cut Them, Mash Them, Put Them In A Stew
Sean Astin has really fallen on hard times. In this movie, he plays a doctor who hates religious types (mostly Buddhists). That's his entire character. 'Doctoring' and killing the hopes of the faithful among us. Oh, and his attorney wife, she only cares about money. Well money, and the separation of church and state. That bitch!
Wasn't I Reviewing A Movie?
Not that long ago, one religious film was released a year...max. Before this film, there were six trailers for religious movies. DJ Tanner (from FULL HOUSE, not the disc jockey) is in one of these movies. Just look at the demon children Kirk Cameron has spawned. There is no stopping him. SAVING CHRISTMAS was the least successful, and the worst movie of 2014. Yet the American public is inundated with countless bad religious movies. Men who inspire this type of madness should be banished to the Island of Misfit Mascots.
Judgement Day
I was expecting to see something unapologetically bad. But aside from the Jesus stuff, most of the content was merely bland. Surprisingly, DO YOU BELIEVE is not the worst religious movie you're going to see. Sure it was preachy, but not too preachy. And there were interesting characters and situations, but there really wasn't enough suspense. While most of the characters lives were in serious peril throughout the picture. But you knew that most of the good ones would be okay. Only two of the twelve main characters died. A thug and an unwed teenage mother. I could've told you that without actually seeing the movie. Because after all, God created a just world.
Final Verdict: 50 out of 100