God’s Not Dead MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +2

Pure Flix Entertainment will release God’s Not Dead on over 600 theater screens nationally March 21, 2014. It features Kevin Sorbo (Soul Surfer, Hercules), Shane Harper (High School Musical 2, Flipped), David A.R. White (Six: The Mark Unleashed) and Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman). The film also has special appearances by Willlie and Korie Robertson from Duck Dynasty and the aforementioned, Newsboys.

FILM SYNOPSIS: College freshman and devout Christian Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper) finds his faith challenged by a dogmatic philosophy professor (Kevin Sorbo) who requires his students to disavow the existence of God on the first day of class or face a failing grade. Not willing to sign such a document, Josh is challenged by his smug teacher to debate God’s existence through a series of classroom lectures. And Josh finds that there’s a price to pay for taking a stand…and also a reward.

PREVIEW REVIEW: What a scary proposition: college professors making their students sign a note saying God doesn’t exist. Most of the founding universities in America were established by men of faith who asserted their religious principles. And now that the masters of matriculation have “progressed” in their views, the option to believe or not to believe is being threatened out of existence. Or, at least out of their classrooms. Even more frightening is the fact that many young people will stay quiet, fearing a grade loss, rather than stand up for their religious upbringing.

The Genesis Code was a straight-to-DVD release that addressed the issue of God’s existence. In that production, the question was raised, “Could science and creation both be right?” By that film’s end, nonbelievers certainly had to consider what the faithful already know – God created science. I’m happy to report that God’s Not Dead takes up where The Genesis Code left off. It’s kind of a dramatized sermon, but despite some clunky contrivances, the storyline and dialogue resonate with truth.

I won’t say this production is aimed at the teen market alone, because while it will attract younger viewers due to the setting and the appearance of praise rock group Newsboys, I also was quite moved and entertained by the production. And I’m certainly no teenager!

This is a thoughtful, perceptive and enlightening faith-based film that intelligently argues for God’s existence and makes clear that He loves each of us. In an age when the Big Bang and Evolution are central teachings found in academia’s science classes (and many philosophy classes), this is a film every Christian student should see. Indeed, it may be the most important film they’ll see, for it reminds them that they need to study God’s Word (and ask questions of mature followers of Christ) in order to confront detractors of God’s truth.

“The most important film students will see this year.” Phil Boatwright, Preview on Line.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Pure Flix Entertainment