Second Chance

from Ben's mom

Recently we watched the movie Second Chance by first-time director Steve Taylor and first-time actor Michael W. Smith. I'll own up to being a little bit of a Smith fan but my big question was "Can he act?"

He performed beyond my expectations. He isn't Oscar material, I doubt he can lose that southern West Virginia accent, he was a little stiff at points, and the role wasn't too big of a stretch for him (worship leader, former pop star, son of a mega-church pastor). But he did well.

And while the film was the work of a novice it was a very good rookie work. The story was thought-provoking and Taylor didn't have any problem stepping on the toes of mega-church fans and exploring the underworld of church politics. The film deals with race relations but doesn't make it out to be a turf war, or throw out unhelpful cliches. And it is real.... No perfect pastors in this film. (Though both of the lead women, one a pastor's wife, the other a pastor's fiance were a little too perfect.)

I thought the core of the movie came about 15 minutes before the end when the mildly retarded church maintenance worker asks a fellow church worker for forgiveness and initiates a foot-washing service in a staff meeting.

Second Chance boldly confronts some of our biggest sins as American Christians: our pride, our love of comfort, our willingness to throw our money at projects but not get close to them. It is definitely worth seeing.