-Written by Kyle Bain.
After losing everything, a music promoter, David Smallbone (Joel Smallbone) and his family are forced to move from Australia to Nashville. With six kids and no money, the American dream seems impossible–and David and his wife Helen (Daisy Betts) must overcome all odds in order to save their family and their new life.
Unsung Hero is a hard-hitting drama that is underscored by religion. Religion exists not in a pushy way–but one which has the potential to resonate with viewers. I’m not one to run to the theater to see a religious film–and I’ll be honest, I was skeptical when I sat down to watch Unsung Hero. Though, as I mentioned, it’s clear that Directors Smallbone and Richard L. Ramsey were conscious of the hurdles that they needed to overcome in order to find success–and they effectively weaved religion into the film in the best way possible. They get their message across, they tell the world how important God is to them and their story, and they never ostracize a single viewer along the way.
What I found really interesting about Unsung Hero is the fact that I was never looking forward to the film’s conclusion–I never really yearned for what was to happen to the family, and this isn’t a complaint. Ramsey and Smallbone engross viewers in their film, allowing them to remain present in the moment, enjoying and appreciating exactly what is going on at any given moment. I was able to remain present as a result of the film’s pacing and the way in which this team chose to tell the story.
I have two complaints about Unsung Hero: one really has no bearing on the film as a whole, and the other has the potential to be detrimental to the film’s success. I have to comment on the wigs, as there were two that stood out to me throughout the course of the film. I either cringed or laughed every time I saw these wigs–and they honestly did become a bit distracting. This doesn’t ruin the film, but it’s worth noting. Then there’s the length of the film–and that’s an issue. While I expressed that I was engulfed in each moment of the film (rather than looking toward its conclusion), I felt that there were scenes in the film that were meant to serve a purpose, but belonged on the cutting room floor. Unsung Hero is nearly two hours in length–and I feel that there could have been nearly twenty minutes cut from the film, with little to no ramifications. As a result of the film being so long, there were moments in which I found myself fading, when I struggled to remain focused.
Unsung Hero was far more entertaining than I had anticipated going into it–and my hesitation and doubt came from the fact that I believed it would be a film steeped in religion, hindering its ability to be successful in the grand scheme of cinema. I was wrong, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the theater, following this family through their journey and ultimately having to fight back tears toward its conclusion. Unsung Hero is an enjoyable drama that uses religion to guide it, but never to hinder it; and to quote Patrick Newell from Noblemen Studios “...it’s for everyone.”
Directed by Joel Smallbone & Richard L. Ramsey.
Written by Joel Smallbone, Richard Ramsey, & Richard L. Ramsey.
Starring Daisy Betts, Joel Smallbone, Kirrilee Berger, Jonathan Jackson, Lucas Black, Candace Cameron Bure, Paul Luke Bonenfant, Diesel La Torraca, JJ Pantano, Tenz McCall, Angus K. Caldwell, Terry O’Quinn, etc.
7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE
