NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Friday, August 23rd. Thank you for tuning in to WORLD Radio to start your day.
Good morning. I’m Nick Eicher.
MYRNA BROWN, HOST: And I’m Myrna Brown.
Next The world and everything in it: A new film with a religious background.
The Kendrick Brothers are best known for their films Fireproof, War Room and facing the giants. This weekend her latest film hits theaters. Reviewer Chelsea Boes tells us the pros and cons of The Forge.
CYNTHIA: Isaiah. I love you. But if you live here, you’ll pay me rent here. You won’t spend all your graduation money on sneakers and video games.
CHELSEA BOES: The Forge follows Isaiah Wright, an angry young man abandoned by his father and unable to navigate the world.
ISAIAH: Rent? You want me to pay to live in my own house?
CYNTHIA: YOUR house? You’re my son. But I’ll give you a month to find a job.
Priscilla Shrier plays Isaiah’s mother Cynthia, who stands by her son and supports him during a difficult time. Isaiah, played by Aspen Kennedy, sets out to find a job with a bad attitude. But despite his anger and disrespect, young Isaiah catches the attention of business owner Joshua Moore, played by Cameron Arnett. Here the Kendrick brothers lay out the main theme of the film: discipleship of men by men.
JOSHUA: In what ways do you want to develop in the next year? What kind of man do you want to be? And what do you want people to think when they see you coming?
If you’ve seen other Kendrick Brothers films, you’ll recognize this film’s familiar, family-friendly tone, as well as its squeaky-clean characters. Moore gives Isaiah a job, some tough love, and mentoring sessions teaching forgiveness and the golden rule. Isaiah eventually becomes a Christian and is inducted into Moore’s conclave of Christian men called “The Forge.”
JOSHUA: We pray together, encourage each other and make it important to follow Jesus.
The film describes circumstances that really Do happen and should move us – men encouraging each other, spiritual conversion, and answered prayers. There are many characters reading and reciting Bible verses, and there are popular sermon themes: discipleship, prayer, turning away from idolatry. And a prayer group meeting gives the film some really funny, true moments.
MISS CLARA: We cannot treat prayer like a spare tire that you only take out in an emergency. No. Prayer must be more like a steering wheel.
For some viewers, the Christian aspects of the film will be reason enough to recommend it. In the end, Isaiah finally gets his life together: he pays the rent, mows the lawn, goes out to eat with his mother, does push-ups, gets baptized, reads the Bible, and attends mentoring sessions. So the moral is: if someone is in Christ, they are a new creation.
But The Forge is not a film, but a thinly veiled, non-denominational sermon, and it is populated by caricatures rather than real people. The story springs from the message, not the other way around. That is a recipe for a cheesy story, no matter what message it conveys … and The Forge is no exception. Scenes of the men’s meetings are drawn out and the third act drags. In his favor, however, The Forge tugs at the heartstrings at times and offers a satisfying reveal. The performances of Isaiah and Joshua make the most of a predictable script.
ISAIAH: How can a young man remain pure? By obeying Your Word. I have tried hard to find You. Do not let me stray from Your commandments.
Isaiah probably senses God telling him to clean up his life, and he paces his room, throwing away magazines, putting down video games, and deleting apps—choosing between God and earthly pleasures.
And that is the problem with The Forge. Just as Isaiah uses his magazines and video games to serve the Lord, this film is just another Christian film that uses history to preach.
I’m Chelsea Boes.
WORLD Radio transcripts are prepared under time constraints. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programs is the audio recording.
