Three years after “Fireproof” grossed more than $33 million and proved that audiences are starving for faith-affirming, family-oriented movies, Sherwood Pictures has created another masterpiece, “Courageous.” While “Fireproof” focuses on God’s design for marriage, “Courageous” focuses on God’s design for fatherhood, and it has a tough message for Christian men.
The movie opened in theaters on Sept. 30. It was written by brothers Stephen and Alex Kendrick, who also wrote “Fireproof,” “Facing the Giants” and “Flywheel”; Alex Kendrick directed “Courageous,” and Stephen Kendrick produced it.
“Courageous” traces the lives of four police officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, Shane Fuller and David Thomson, who work in Albany, Ga. When they are on duty, these men are lionhearted and equal to their task. They make a fearsome team as they encounter gang violence and undertake drug busts, and they receive the respect of their peers, along with some good-natured teasing. But when these men go home, they fail as dads. Adam spends minimal time with his kids; David does not know his child at all.
After tragedy strikes the Mitchell family, Adam becomes determined to step up as a father. Searching the Scriptures for insights into his role, he composes his “Resolution,” a document outlining the ways in which he commits to act as a godly husband and parent. He shows his Resolution to Shane, David, Nathan and construction worker Javier Martinez, and the five of them decide to hold each other accountable as fathers.
Later, one of the officers reneges on his commitment, and his friends bravely but sorrowfully reprove him. Meanwhile, the other fathers become more active in their children’s lives, and their children blossom. At the close of the movie, Adam exhorts his congregation about fatherhood and calls out the “men of courage” among them.
The central theme of “Courageous” is that rather than being heroes at work and bystanders at home, fathers must demonstrate valor, servant-leadership, righteousness and love in their families and in every aspect of their lives, and they must rely on God to do so.
Sherwood Pictures, a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church, has matured in its filmmaking. Overall, the acting in “Courageous” shows marked improvement over that of the church’s previous films.
This movie was also more action-packed and dealt with a more complex storyline. It is rated PG-13 for some violence and drug content.
