Today my parents and I took the the girls to see a movie. This is always a highlight of the annual grandparent Christmas visit- the trip to the movies. We do not see many first run movies in the full price theaters throughout the year as a family, just because the price for a family of five is pretty steep. But at Christmastime we usually get in two movies at the AMC Southlands, so it is a magical time indeed. Ainsley Kat wanted to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, Chipwrecked, but she was (unhappily) out-voted by the other animal movie, We Bought a Zoo. By the end we all loved it, even her.
It is not often I see a movie inspiring enough to blog about...I can think of two others in the past year. This one was great on so many levels. It was real- based on a true story, which always gets high points from me. I love stories, and the ones we actually live are the best ones. I haven't researched the story, so I do not know which parts are real and which ones were added in for extra oomph. But it all worked beautifully. The pain expressed in the movie was real too. So often in "family-friendly" films, the writers, or perhaps producers, feel the need to sugar-coat the painful parts of a story. Or worse, sermonize them. Truth: pain doesn't always have a deeper meaning we can see instantly. Sometimes it doesn't have a greater meaning at all. Sure, we can learn and grow from it, but that doesn't necessarily mean that was the point of the pain, those are just after effects. The characters in this story lived their pain daily, struggling to find hope and new beginnings. There are awkward moments, when a character is not exactly sure what to say, just as we would all be in similar circumstances. The movie doesn't smooth over the rough edges of life and I respected that.
Despite a few heart-wrenching moments, the movie is filled with light, joy and some great laughing moments. What I loved most about the film was all the courage- it's stuffed full of it. Matt Damon, who plays the lead character Benjamin Mee, says to his son:
"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."
So true, isn't it?
The ending of the movie ties everything together perfectly and truly brings a final layer of understanding to the main character. This is a story of enduring love, hope, courage, and the the great blessing of families, related and found. I loved it and hope it hits the Elvis so I can watch it again on the big screen.
Peace dear readers.
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