**_Likable micro-budget faith flick revolving around a theater in Tennessee_**
The manager of a struggling theater in a small Appalachian town (Jenn Gotzon) tries to keep it open despite the schemes of a venal businessman (Carey Jones). Her uncle (Donny Richmond) uses his secret celebrity contacts to get Vince Gill & Amy Grant to perform for a special Summer Christmas show while a friend of the family feebly romances her (Jim E. Chandler). Meanwhile a wannabe comedian helps with the preparations (Henry Cho).
“Saving Faith” (2017) is a small town drama that obviously didn’t cost much, but has a big heart if you give it a chance. While there are faith-based bits, they’re so low-key and natural I don’t see it sending non-Christians running away screaming, although the micro-budget acting might.
In short, if you can’t stomach really low-budget Independent flicks, don’t bother. However, if you appreciate them and don’t mind some Christian elements, “Saving Faith” is amiable and encouraging, carried by winsome Jenn Gotzon. She’s such an all-around beautiful woman and married costar, Jim E. Chandler (Frank), after shooting.
All five of the main characters (listed above) do a fine job, considering the budget constraints; it’s mostly when they interact with peripheral non-actors that it seems like the cast just learned their lines 10 minutes earlier. But perfecting dialogue and making it seem natural takes time and time means money in filmmaking, which this production didn’t have.
There are currently two reviews on IMDb with one giving it 10/10 and the other 1/10. This shows that you can go to one extreme or the other in appraising it. I’m somewhere in the middle. I recognize the flick’s glaring limitations, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I love the people and love the message(s).
Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith have brief cameos.
The movie runs 1 hour, 43 minutes, and was shot in Clinton, Tennessee, which is located a dozen miles northwest of Knoxville in the eastern part of the state.
GRADE: C+/B-
