Here’s the trailer:
I got to watch this movie over Thanksgiving break as Meg and I took our nieces and nephew to the theater with our oldest 2 to watch it. We were pleasantly surprised with the quality, story and overall positive message this movie propelled. Here are three things:
1) The movie “felt” like other Disney classics. I, for one, grew up singing Lion King, Little Mermaid and Aladdin songs. This movie delivered that classic Disney feel with soaring melodies, fun songs and memorable characters. I even purchased the soundtrack and enjoy remembering the movie’s highlights.
2) The movie helps us get past bitterness. Ok, a little deeper thought, but by and large people can tend to not open up about problems they face. Unfortunately, this can be seen in church culture especially at times. One subtle message brought home powerfully was the danger holding all of this in and how it wrecks you. The Bible speaks of bitterness as a damaging root. The bitter root of the older sister helps drive the plot of this movie and drives the plot of much of what we read on Facebook or other places where we tend to hold our problems in. Don’t be given to such things, but be open and move ahead in progress.
3) Finally, and most encouraging is the clear Gospel message. Trevin Wax quoted Gene Fant’s piece and I could agree more. He writes: “The film’s world had been plunged into the deepest darkness of winter, families were torn apart, evil was sneering and shameless, everything was falling apart and when the young woman dies, it looks like all is lost. Then something amazing happens: We realize that her death was the antidote for all that was wrong. She returns to life. And spring returns. And relationships are healed. And evil is exposed and brought to justice. And joy returns. In our theater, the audience erupted into cheers. I was dumbfounded by the movie’s final twenty or so minutes. It was an astoundingly clear parable of the Christian Gospel…”
So, take in this tremendous film. Enjoy it. But be mindful of how it points to something greater: the true and better sacrifice of God’s Son so that people can relate rightly to God the Father.