I typically don't see or review Christian faith-based films, not because I am anti-Christian but because they tend to be melodramatic character dramas and I don't care for that genre. I think there are absolutely excellent films that deal with religion, belief, and faith that are careful explorations of philosophical leanings and community. Unfortunately, there are a lot of other films that seem to only exist as propaganda for ideologies that divide, alienate, and ostracize people. Breakthrough falls somewhere closer to that end but is so milquetoast, it'll be forgotten completely by the end of February.Joyce (Chrissy Metz) is concerned about her son John (Marcel Ruiz) shutting her out as he grows into being a teenager, in that he has basically stopped talking to his parents and only lives for basketball and his crush. All of her attempts to pull him closer only succeed in pushing him away. Then John accidentally falls through thin ice and spends 45 minutes without a heartbeat, despite the best efforts of first responders and medical personnel. Joyce is told that her son is dead, asks permission, and prays over his body. John's pulse returns. From there, he becomes a catalyst for Joyce and his community at large to band together and pool their faith towards his recovery.
The caliber of acting is all that raises this above a Hallmark movie. The cast is predominantly white, male, and upper class, despite having a female lead; there is a lot of interpersonal conflict that is supposed to stand in for internal conflict; the main character has no growth through the course of the film; pop music dominates the soundtrack; and the overwhelming message is that people with faith continue to have faith in the face of adversity. Fine. It's very much not my type of movie but there's clearly an audience for it.
The Oscar-nominated song is played over the ending credits. It's written by Diane Warren, a songwriting legend, and sung by actress Chrissy Metz. It's a very basic pop song
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