God's Not Dead

In this forgettable but also unlikely maudlin melodrama, Shane Harper stars as Josh Wheaton, who is enrolled in a philosophy class taught by arrogant Professor Radisson (Kevin Sorbo). As Radisson outlines the atheistic philosophers they will be studying, he insists that each student sign a pledge asserting that “God is dead.” (Reality check: no teacher at a legitimate academic institution would ever make that demand, or tie it to a threat of failing the course.) As a devout Christian, Josh naturally cannot comply, despite protests from his girlfriend (Cassidy Gifford, daughter of Kathie Lee and Frank). When Professor Radisson demeans religion as “primitive superstition,” Josh decides to defend his principles in a mock trial with fellow students as the jury. While Josh's support of God's existence is intelligent and thought-provoking, little time is spent on actual theology since the film is hell-bent on portraying the non-Christians as loathsome and self-centered, including a corporate exec (Dean Cain) who ditches his cancer-stricken girlfriend (Trisha LaFache) and refuses to visit his mother who is suffering from dementia; and a Muslim father who banishes his daughter (Hadeel Sittu) for her beliefs. Directed by Harold Cronk, this contrived and amateurish melodrama—featuring a cameo by Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson—is not recommended. (S. Granger)