The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry (2008)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Am I Missing Something?

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry is a subtle movie, that goes ever so smoothly that you never miss a step, it is not filled with the action, and special effects that most believes is required to make a good movie. Here is a movie that just drives off at a pace that it keeps to the very end, driving its message of love and the efforts of one man, whose life was a total testimony of what Christ expects from us when he gave us the great commission.The movie has high ratings from critics, and that made me skeptical, wanting to stay away from it because I know that critics don't really like Christian movies because they see it as a source of propaganda. I felt, "here is a movie that they like probable the message is heavily watered down" but that was not the case in this movie, from the set go it started to preach Christ and it ended with Christ.The movie plot is about a 75 year old named Jonathan Sperry (Gavin MacLeod) in the 70s who befriend a 12 year old boy named Dustin (Jansen Panettiere) and his friends Albert (Frankie Ryan Manriquez) and Mark (Allen Isaacson). Jonathan during his time with the boys taught them about Christ, built them up in Christ and used them to touch the lives of those around them, from a bully to a lonely neighbor.The movie does have some little faults; the kid actors were all not in form, because the class of acting that they delivered was way off base. The adult actors on the other hand did a fine job. Then there is the setting and the dressing, it was said that the movie was set in the 70s but it looked more like the 80s to me, but that is my view. The movie directing was done Rich Christiano and the movie was written by him and his brother Dave Christiano. The two are the owners of Five & Two Pictures, who were also the producers of the 2002 Sci-Fi dramedy Christian movie Time Changer.Here is a Christian movie that many like, and it is for a good reason too, it talks about Christ, and the movie leaves an image in your heart, of a man who spent his life showing the love of Christ to as much as he canHere is a movie for you and the family.www.lagsreviews.com

There is no need to be intolerant or suspicious about The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.If you're uncomfortable leaving your personal bias at the doorstep, and watching how others teach their children by example, then don't watch this movie.On the flip-side, if your children are not quite getting their Sunday school lessons, then this is a marvelous movie for them to watch. Because that's what The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry feels like, a Sunday school lesson.Jonathan Sperry doesn't teach anything out of the ordinary. If you don't want to be lied to, then don't lie to others. It's that simple. It's your choice. Do you need God in your life to follow these simple principles? No. However, some prefer that God be part of their lives.Jonathan Sperry acts as a guide to several young boys in his community. Sperry and the boys all belong to the same church – they all know one another. Jonathan Sperry practices what he preaches. He teaches the children by example; examples they can understand and put forth.We are a society with deep crevices of division – religious, societal, educational, race, and on and on. Sperry takes his little community and one by one, helps to fill those crevices. He passes on what he knows so that hopefully the division will become less and less. So when Sperry's wife dies in a car accident caused by neighbor Mr. Barnes, played by Robert Guillaume, does Sperry hire OJ's powerful lawyers and sue? Does he lament on a daily basis? Does he forever point his finger? Does he cry "poor me"? Nope. He kills Mr. Barnes with kindness. Why? Because Sperry needs to feel better. How does he feel better? By helping Barnes to feel better. And damn, isn't this a concept some people just can't wrap their heads around? Some people call the concept forgiveness. Others call it healing.Sperry's lesson is division within a community, clan, schoolroom, family, boardroom, or society, is not healthy. It causes chaos. Do you need the Bible, or the Tao to teach you about chaos and how to handle it? Well, if you don't have common sense, then perhaps you do.So, when a bully comes on the scene, Sperry shows the boys how to deal with the bully and shows the bully how to overcome what's eating him.I think it's brave, brilliant, and wonderful that the Christiano brothers used their energies and creativity to try and fill in those crevices and make our children's world a more solid place to live in.Gavin MacLeod is a delight to behold. Mr. Guillaume will have you bringing out the Kleenex.The movie is well-written, well-paced, well-acted, and touching.Great job tying up Dustin's loose end with Tanya. Wasn't expecting that one!!

First of all, I love films where faith plays an important role in the story and where it fits into the movie but is not necessarily the center of the narrative. The latter tend to come across as sermons disguised as movies or books or whatever. This film has too much of that. The only thing missing was the altar call and I don't say that to be overly critical. For being set in 1970 it still comes across as too much like Leave It To Beaver. The 'good' kids seems a little too good and the 'bad' dude seems a little too good, also. In not wanting to offend the 'church' audience they sanitize it to the point it doesn't seem real. The bullies I remember used language that offended and other gestures that conveyed less than holy thoughts. Even good kids didn't always have it together or behave appropriately all the time. While the acting is pretty decent and it has warm fuzzies, it just doesn't come across as a realistic portrayal of the way life happens even to those whose faith is a priority in their life. Is it a waste of time? No, it has its merits and there are several meaningful lessons to be considered by viewers. Many will be inspired by the message of the film. There is nothing wrong with the movie, it's just that I would love to see people of faith concentrate on developing great stories where faith fits naturally into the story instead of developing a message and trying to fit it into a movie. There is a difference and the difference is between a realistic portrayal of life and what we would like to imagine life to be like. This is a film that has a message but ultimately it will probably 'preach to the choir'.

I thought a lot about what I would say regarding this movie while driving home tonight. First, know your reviewer. He does not claim to be Christian, though he strives to be Christ-like. He has been baptized at least 4 times in various denominations, used to be a Church officer in a Fundamentalist Baptist Church, and is fairly well-read and well-versed in the Bible, as well as in many other variously consistent and seemingly divergent spiritual points of view. He has also studied politics, psychology and philosophy at the graduate level. He takes an eclectic approach to the study of the Divine in the Spirit of Matthew 7:1. Yet by definition, I must judge to comment on this movie, so without further ado, I descend into the paradox of life to share my opinion. I would say about 95% of this movie delivered a message that is consistent with Truth and enlightened understanding, based on the Christian ideal of being Christ-like (Love God, Love your neighbor). Yet, there is one particular scene that suggests that those who do not accept 'Jesus' as their Lord and Savior are spending eternity in agony (i.e. Hell). In some ways, this fear-based approach spoiled the movie for me. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18). The Bible says "The Kingdom of God (Heaven) is within you." Well, so is Hell. Heaven and Hell are states of Life, not death, states of one's inner being, and Salvation is ALWAYS possible. Why? Because "With God, all things are possible." In fact, according to scripture, "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me" (John 12:44). In the end, "Death sets all men free" (Faust). That is if we really want to call it death - Remember, all we are is energy and matter, both of which are different manifestations of the same thing (according to Einstein), and neither of which can be created nor destroyed per the first law of thermodynamics. In other words, we've always been here, and we're always going to be here, in one form or another. But, it is still a good clean movie with a well-intentioned message. Of course, if you disagree with anything I have said, then you are judging. If you think anyone is going or has gone to hell when they die, then you are judging. And if I think you are judging then I too am judging. Boy, its a vicious circle, let me tell ya. I guess "wisdom is what's left when we run out of personal opinions."