Movie Review: “Breakthrough” is well intended but heavy handed

Movie Review: “Breakthrough” (PG-13)

“Breakthrough” is bound to be one of those movies that will cause debates between believers and nonbelievers. For nonbelievers, large portions of this movie will certainly cause them to roll their eyes. Those eye-rolling reactions will most likely prompt believers to suggest that the nonbelievers can’t warm up to the reported true events that inspired in “Breakthrough” because they’re cynical and lack faith. Of course, both sides are entirely welcome to their opinions, because this is, after all, a movie. And a pretty heavy handed one at that.

Based on a true story that would inspire Joyce Smith to write a book about it, “Breakthrough” weaves its spiritual tale around John Smith (a solid Marcel Ruiz), a soul-searching adopted teen who, while messing around with his friends, would slip through the surface of a frozen lake. After being underwater for several minutes, John is eventually pulled from the lake by a rescue crew and rushed to a hospital where a very determined staff would attempt, unsuccessfully, to revive him. After being determined clinically dead, a miracle would transpire culminating in the seemingly impossible: Somehow, John regains a pulse, leaving certain members of the hospital staff including a medical expert (played by Dennis Haysbert) virtually flabbergasted.

It would be an uphill climb, though, as John would remain in critical condition, prompting his fiercely faithful and loyal mother, Joyce (Chrissy Metz), to be a barometer of hope during a very desperate time.

“Breakthrough” is in the beloved tradition of recently released Christian films like “Miracles From Heaven.” This is to say that this movie has plenty of heart and compassion, but those attributes are often undercut by a steady stream of often overbearing sentimentality and moments in which the only answer to a given question is divine intervention. Of course, that’s sort of the point. This is, after all, a movie about a miracle.

Metz (of “This is Us”) is effective as a mama bear who refuses to let any sort of negativity enter the equation while she’s on watch. But is this genuine positivity and faith at play, or is there a little fear to speak of? Clearly, it’s all of the above. Metz convincingly displays the emotional turmoil Joyce is going through, but she also showcases this woman’s flaws, and props are in order to the real-life Joyce Smith for not shying away from these flaws. Be it her judgmental attitude towards affable and loving pastor Jason Noble (played by a very appealing Topher Grace) or her inability to be honest with herself and those around her, including her frightened but immensely concerned and supportive husband (Josh Lucas), Metz is to be commended for bringing a level of complexity to the proceedings.

As adapted by Grant Nieporte (“Seven Pounds”) and directed by Roxann Dawson (“This is Us,” “The Americans”), “Breakthrough” offers plenty of compassion and a refreshing lack of cynicism. But at the same time, there’s no doubt that this film is heavy handed to a fault. Furthermore, there are potentially intriguing aspects of this picture that feel brazenly skimmed over, including a “why me?” scenario in the final act and a subplot involving a nonbeliever who may or may not have heard the voice of God when setting out to aid in the rescuing of John Smith from the bottom of the lake.

“Breakthrough” was co-produced by the legendary Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, and this is completely evident by all the playful Curry ass-kissing going on in the early goings of this movie. Rightfully so, though, as this faithful athlete is one of the most prolific shooters the NBA has ever seen. Alas, while reasonably well acted and harmless, as a movie about faith, “Breakthrough” simply poses more questions than its willing to answer and while that is part of the point — miracles and all the things surrounding them are often unexplained — the heavy-handed nature of the proceedings was ultimately a bit too much for my tastes.

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