Really Surprised!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

If you ever have to define the meaning of "cheesy" refer to this movie. It isn't necessarily that bad, it is just overdone. It is a bit too much of everything. Too many problems, too much good behavior, too much sincerity, too much caring for one another, too much "hi it's so great to have you here", too many good intentions. to much working to a good future.For one thing, for a Christian movie it was not bad at all. In some Christian movies, Jesus is pushed down your throat every five minutes, and then again and again and again. This movies is how Christ can help you if you want to accept it. Very much like Fireproof and Flywheel.It is not Christianity that makes this movie over the top. It is the movie itself which is just overdone in every aspect. Don't expect a great movie. Do expect some interesting views into American high school life and how Christians try to conquer people's souls.

I absolutely loved this movie. A friend of mine told me constantly to watch it, and at first i was hesitant to because i've seen Christian movies before and they all tend to have crappy acting, thin storyline, cliché lines, and just be overall cheesy. But after like the 20th time of her telling me i said OK and i watched. Afterwards i immediately thanked her because this movie is incredible. It's not about religion, it's not about coming to Christ, it's not about changing your life or anything like that, but it's about what a Christians true mission in life should be, which is saving lives and impacting the world around you. Jake didn't just become some Christian and then sit at home reading his bible and then go sit at church every Sunday, he acted to make a difference on the lives of the people around him. he did everything he could to let the hurt kids know that he saw them, they weren't alone, and someone would miss them if they took there life. The acting, the drama, the humor, the message, all excellent in this movie.

As a rule I tend to avoid explicitly Christian films like Facing the Giants, Flywheel, Fireproof, and To Save a Life. However every now and then I make an exception to that rule. Most of the time I am merely reminded why I maintain the self-inflicted rule in the first place, but every now and then I run across a movie like To Save A Life and it makes up for all the rest. Well, at least it reminds me why I make the occasional exception. The movie begins with the funeral of Roger, a kid with no friends and no hope. One of the 31,000 teenage suicides that happen in the US each year. At the funeral is Roger's former best friend, Jake. Jake and Roger grew up together but in high school, Jake decided to ditch Roger in order to become more popular. Jake and Roger are broken, and through the course of the movie we come face to face with the frank brokenness of many characters. And this is where the rest of the story unfolds. Tracing lines of brokenness with the looming question of whether anything is capable of making a real, lasting difference. The raw honesty in this movie is refreshing. Its not like the marital fight scene in Fireproof where nary a curse word is to be heard. No. In To Save A Life, the imperfections and frailty of the main characters hit you like a 2x4 between the eyes. Through Jake's perspective we encounter a number of issues including; teen suicide, peer pressure, drugs, drinking, sex, pregnancy, divorce, betrayal, and even cutting. And unlike many movies where the main character undergoes a mostly linear character progression, Jake regresses during the film. Showing us that a mended heart can break itself again. Overall we are introduced to the notion that brokenness is best dealt with in community. But not just any community. Along with various types of characters we are shown varying types of communities. There are the drug addicts, the popular crowd, the outcasts, the youth group, and the Christians. I particularly enjoyed how the movie dealt with the difference between the youth group and the Christians, those performing religious observance and those seeking a genuine relationship with a living God. And even through the youth minister's advice and dialog annoyed me at some points. Overall he proved to be a solid character with a love for those he serves and a desire to see them grow and mature. This is one of those films that should be shown to every teen and pre- teen in America.

I've seen a lot of movies and this is a very good movie covering all the aspects of a tragedy. I've seen some movies that put the 'GOD' factor out there as the end all beat all way to go, but this movie has done it very tastefully and not preach the all mighty too much.There have been lots of movies out there that take tragedies and deal with the human element and not go near the religious side of things, but this movie could have cut a couple scenes on it.What I did like was how well the story dealt with how many children these days are faced with peer pressures and not know how to deal with them or have others out there to turn to. If all families could take the time to see this movie and make the effort for themselves as well as their children to be better people than they might all ready be.Life is full of challenges, but we don't have to struggle through them alone if people would keep an open mind and heart to others.