Reviews

I can't really think of anything I didn't like about this movie, which is astonishing to me, as I usually, whether I want to or not, ferret out some major flaw or problem or weakness. Maybe I'm just starved for competent films these days so I over react to good ones, but honestly, I can't think of any major flaw--Good character development, chaotic story and action well played.

This had a great amount of intense suspense, drama, action, unbearable situations, and you are fully immersed into the chaos so that you feel you are part of the family who is trying to escape and constantly thinking along with the characters about what to do next.

The scene where Wilson's character, then later, his wife's character, respectively, are forced to kill for the first time to survive and help their children survive, are really gut-wrenching scenes, as you can see their horror of committing the act, but also can't help but identify and agree it was their only course of action.

There is a lot of brutality in this film with merciless terrorist bad guys killing at will . . . so definitely avoid this film if that sort of gruesomeness bothers you.

Hat's off to the writers, directors, and actors, especially Wilson and Bell.

Well done.

As a Bible-believing Christian, I definitely have bias here, but trying to remain as objective as possible, if this film had been about a struggling family that finds inspiration in themselves or in some form of warm fuzzy feelings about some character going through some transformation without God (i.e. Inside Out), then, probably this would be 5 stars or less in comparison.

Let's face it . . . the best actors, directors, writers, and especially film production studios out there are not Christian and will never make Christian films. So Christians, in an attempt to make more faith and family friendly films, try their best to put out quality films, and give like-minded Christians more entertainment options that are more in line with their faith.

The writing, acting, and directing are competent and above average for the genre but would probably be below average for the film industry in general. Not enough character development, not enough reasons why the family had gotten into trouble in the first place.

It is a heart-warming story, and a good reminder to Christians that prayer is important, powerful, and something we could all stand to do a lot more of.

Most Christians would find this film inspirational.

I doubt however, that this would make very much of a good evangelism tool to the unsaved.

One thing I did disagree with was the old woman and her protégé talking to Satan in the sense of telling him to leave, mocking him, laughing at him, and telling him "he got his butt kicked again" etc. As Christians we are clearly told in the Book of Jude to never pronounce a railing judgment against him as the example set by the archangel Michael tells us to say, "the Lord rebuke you." In this film, they make it seem like it is o.k. to talk to Satan in a commanding, mocking, provoking way. This is a huge mistake and something that no Christian should ever do. Any Christian who finds themselves talking to Satan more than praying to God has taken a serious wrong turn somewhere in their faith.

Other than that glaring problem, the rest of the film I think is very Biblically accurate in the Scripture verses cited and the use of prayer as a powerful tool against the wiles of the enemy.

Adam Sandler and crew don't even try to pretend to try anymore. This film is so bad, that I don't even know if Rifftrax/MST3K would be able to do anything with it. I believe the reviews on the first two pages of reviews are either fake, or paid for by the studio to desperately try to compensate for how bad this film was trashed by critics and users alike. Notice that almost all of them follow the same pattern of saying things like "don't believe the reviews / don't trust the critics / etc." I'd be very suspicious of all those reviews. Think about it, how would a film get so universally trashed by critics and fans alike, and then suddenly there are a bunch of recent 10 star reviews--very suspicious. I don't always care for critics either, but in this case, they are absolutely right . . . this film stinks big-time.

The scene where Sandler's love interest is introduced is so flat and predictable, it literally would have been better if Sandler just looked right into the camera and said to the audience: "is it cool if you all just accept that this is gonna be my love interest in the film, that just happens to also be an adviser to the president? Yes? O.K. so we can skip this scene? Good. Moving on . . ." The scene where Kevin James is introduced as Sandler's . . . 80's buddy who's now a business man? nope . . . 80's buddy who's now a video game executive? nope . . . 80's buddy who's now THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?!?! yep . . . you read that right . . . Kevin James just gets casually introduced as PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! This scene is so pathetically unbelievable that I couldn't even fathom how awful it was.

Keep in mind that I was a fan of Sandler's earlier work, especially Wedding Singer, SNL, and even up to 50 First Dates, when he actually still tried and made an effort. He literally didn't even lift a finger's worth of effort in this atrocity. He doesn't even pretend to try anymore. Also keep in mind that I did like the initial concept of the 80's time capsule being found and the games brought to life as weapons.

I believe that Sandler and crew (i.e. James, et al) simply just decide where they want their next group paid vacation / party to be: New York, London, African Safari (i.e. Blended), etc. etc., have someone write a really cheap, undeveloped excuse for a plot/script, plug in actors from their crew and or friends/relatives of theirs they want to give a shot at stardom, and go on their group vacation / party while kinda/sorta making a movie at the same time.

Dinklage makes an effort, but the writers make his character so stupid and one dimensional that it is almost a miracle that he was able to do anything with it.

The only other actor who makes an effort in this film is Josh Gad, and he has the only genuinely funny scene in the movie where he gets to give a bunch of Navy Seals the "Drill Sergeant" treatment.

Other than that 45 seconds, this film is pathetic. Probably in my top 10 worst movies I've ever seen list.