RING THE BELL
Director: Thomas Weber
Cert. PG
Running time: 96 minutes
This is a Christian film from America newly out on DVD. It is heart-warming, a bit cheesy and fun.
The story begins when a high-powered sports agent, Rob Decker, having threatened to sack one of his employees for wanting to give time to his family rather than the business, takes the assignment on himself and leaves the big city to sign a high school baseball superstar. Pursuing his journey, his car runs into problems and he finds himself stranded in a place which epitomises small town America.
Contentment meets ambition
Here he soon runs into the local pastor and meets people who value community, wholesome happiness and faith rather than money and success. This stands very much in contrast to the fast-paced, win-at-all-costs attitude of the sports agent’s mindset. In particular, he comes into contact with a very gifted brother and sister who run a home, very much along Christian lines, for boys from difficult and deprived backgrounds. The significance of ringing the bell, which gives the film its title, will have to wait, as to explain it would give the game away.
The film features a concert by the Christian band Casting Crowns and in which there is a powerful presentation of the love of God for broken people. There are also appearances by well-known baseball players — but, not being a fan, these were lost on me.
This is a clean-cut piece of entertainment which a family could watch together and might help parents and children to talk together about the Christian faith. I can imagine it might go down quite well at a film night for the church young teenagers group. There’s a bit of comedy, a bit of romance, a bit of sport, but most of all the film does get its viewers to think seriously about their values in life and which way they want to live. Will it be with Christ or without him?
