I Can Only Imagine

I Can Only Imagine

Starring J. Michael Finley, Dennis Quaid, Trace Adkins, Cloris Leachman
Directed by Andrew Erwin & Jon Erwin

The Story:
Growing up in 1985, young Bart Millard was subjected to his father Arthur (Dennis Quaid), a physically and mentally abusive man who attacked both the young boy and his wife, and after his mother drops him off at church camp, she leaves for good.  When Bart returns, he finds that it's just him and his father, and he endures growing up with his abuse.  Bart escapes through music, and discovers that he has a great singing voice that he keeps from his athletically inclined father, and he begins shutting himself out from everyone including his girlfriend Shannon (Madeline Carroll).

Chasing his dream, Bart fronts a Christian rock band called MercyMe, and is discovered by manager Scott Brickell (Trace Adkins), but they can't find a record label who will take them, because they're not amazing - they're missing something, and Scott discovers it's Bart who's running away from his childhood memories that holds him back from being great.

Bart returns home to face his father, and finds that he's a changed man, and wants a real relationship with him.  Bart declines until he finds out his father is dying of cancer, and allows forgiveness to take over and lead the two to reconciliation before his father's death, at which point he writes the song "I Can Only Imagine," which will become the most played song in Christian music.

The Synopsis:
I wanted to hate this film.  I wanted with every sycophantic urge in my body to go into this film, wonder why it was made, and write a scathing review about how boring, lifeless, cheesy, and melodramatic it was.  I've seen other Christian-based films (such as "Fireproof" and "Left Behind") that are absolute abominations (and that's coming from a Christian), and the thought of a full-length movie about the writing of one song seemed overkill at best and pointless at worst.  I wanted to hate this film.

But instead I loved it.

I was shocked to find that the film doesn't deliver the lame Christian cheese you find in other films of the genre, but instead a heartfelt story of how the biggest Christian single ever was written - and it's as tragic and redemptive as you could think.

The power of music is something that's undeniable.  You hear a song you've heard in the past and it immediately brings you to the event where you first heard it.  Songs have a way of touching your heart in ways that nothing and no one else can, and it's a mystery how that happens.  Songs become anthems, life mottos, and there's countless posts where people post lyrics to songs in hopes of inspiring others.  We use music to escape our lives, and we never forget a song that leaves a lasting impact on our lives.

"I Can Only Imagine" has touched the lives of countless people, and finding out the story behind the song makes as much an impact as the song itself.  It's not a lazily written song with pointless lyrics and mundane music, but rather a deep, introspective look into the soul of one man - a man who had a troubled childhood, enduring the wrath of a heartless monster he called father, and how he came out the other side.

Sure, there's moments of cheese (such as when Bart meets his childhood idols Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant), but those rare moments can be forgiven since the whole of the film is a heartfelt, emotional, powerful tale of the power of forgiveness and God's ability to change lives.  We see Arthur as a man with a vile nature, who mercilessly beats his child and wife, and condemns his son for chasing his dreams - and then we see him crying, begging for forgiveness, and living a changed life.  Yes, a life-changing diagnosis changes our viewpoint of the world, but there's something much deeper at work in his life than that, and it also affects Bart as well.

Bart's childhood was anything but good, and he's not the perfect saint.  He becomes conceited and egotistical, thinking his band is the best there is, and when he finds out that others don't think so, he goes on a childlike tirade and threatens to quit.  Only then does he realize he's been running from his past and allowing the pain to dictate his life.  He gathers the courage to return home, and when he finds his father in a repentant state, he doesn't accept it.  He is understandably angry and harbors decades of hurt, but when he finds out his father is dying, he realizes that if God can change a monster's heart, God can change his heart too.  What follows is a deeply emotional reconciliation that is the main flux of the film - it could've been corny and forced, but the relationship between actors J. Michael Finley and Dennis Quaid make it seem like you're actually seeing reconciliation going on between a real father and son.

Speaking of acting, this is J. Michael Finley's first big-screen performance, and he delivers like actors who've been on screen for decades.  He showcases emotion through his face that is much deeper than the words he says, and you can't help but feel for him and you're drawn to his story from the start.  Dennis Quaid also delivers an important performance as you see a monster change before your eyes, and you're completely awestruck as to how that could've happened, and it's due to Quaid's natural talent.  The other actors in the film all perform ably, but it's these two men who are the heart and soul of the movie, and they give all they got in their performances.

While this film is pretty much strictly for the Christian market (the song itself topped #5 in the Adult Contemporary chart back when it was released, but very few people outside the Christian community still remember it), I think it's one that even non-believers can appreciate.  It's a film about faith, forgiveness, and the strength to follow your dreams.  

The Summary:
Going into this film, I had very low expectations and thought I would see another cheesy Christian film, but instead I was blown away by the performances, the emotion, and the truth the film told - the power of forgiveness, and how God can change a person from the inside out.

The Score: A