Descendants, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -4

George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Mary Birdsong, Nick Krause. Written Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne. Directed by Alexander Payne.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Matt King (George Clooney) finds his life suddenly dysfunctional. His adulterous wife is in a coma, he’s lost that Papa connection to his two troubled daughters, ten and seventeen, and his relatives want him to sell the land that has been in their family ever since the days of Hawaiian royalty.

PREVIEW REVIEW: There’s so much good about this film, from the beautiful locations in the Hawaiian Islands to the insightful story to the engrossing performances (look for Clooney and Woodley to get Oscar noms). He’s a father who doesn’t know how to get his children on the right tract and he’s hurting for not being a better husband and parent. He wants to do both. And as the story progresses, you see that he is a man ashamed of his faults, one who wants to be a better person and do the right things. Sadly, if you’re trying to develop your spiritual walk, the film’s characters don’t really offer much of a lasting solution. Understand, we can learn from the mistakes of others and even learn how to behave towards our fellow man from those who aren’t necessarily religious, but for those of us pursuing a deeper relationship with God through Christ, a humanistic approach to life’s struggles will most likely seem unfulfilling.

This is a family that has little regard for authority and everyone freely curses, using both obscenities and an irreverence toward God. It’s always interesting to me, though sad, that the only acknowledgement for God or Christ in many movies, is by way of misusing their names. In a way, it’s revealing. The only purpose for God or Christ is to utter a damning pronouncement or as an utterance for fright and frustration. Otherwise, these are a people who don’t have a true awareness of the Creator or the Savior.

It’s a good film in that it reminds us that family relationships must be worked on daily, that we can’t get so caught up in job or self that we forget the daily needs of others. But how do I recommend a movie to you wherein the ten-year-old gives the finger to people on two occasions, the older girl uses the f-word throughout and George Clooney once again profanes God’s name. I like Clooney, I think he’s a real movie star and a potent filmmaker, but he’s made very few films where the G-D- phrase isn’t used. No matter the genre of film, or the class of character he plays, this profanity is used to define both the character and his own nature. It has become a disregard for Christian viewers an more importantly, the Almighty. I know some may be rolling the eyes at this declaration, but show me in the Bible where it says it’s okay to show irreverence to God?

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Fox Searchlight