I Can Only Imagine

Religious based films are often as subtle as a 2x4 across the back of the head in their cinematic message of forgiveness, redemption and accepting Jesus in one's life. This story is about the making of the contemporary Christian song by MercyMe which became the most played song of the genre, even crossing over to pop and country charts. Directors Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin , with a script by Alex Cramer, Jon Erwin, and Brent McCorkle, centers around the lead singer, Bart Millard, who wrote the song about his relationship with his father. It's a feel good film, with a strong message that doesn't, fortunately, feel heavy handed and manipulative.

Broadway actor/singer J. Michael Finley plays Bart Millard who after years of abuse by his father Arthur (Dennis Quaid), finds the strength to leave home where he joins the band. The movie begins of him telling the story about how his iconic song which may have been written in a couple minutes, but it encapsulates the years of trauma and rediscovery of his early life. As a child, Bart's mother left the family having had enough of her abusive husband, leaving Bart alone with his dad. Brody Rose plays the young Bart who finds support and love from his Meemaw (Cloris Leachman) and from his friends. Discovering he can sing Mrs. Fincher (Priscilla Shirer) the choir director asks Bart to be the lead in the high school musical of Oklahoma. When he leaves home he joins the band MercyMe when one of their members leave them in a lurch. They play churches, and small venues hoping to be discovered. Trace Adkins is Scott Brickell, who becomes their manager, sees something in them but tells them they are not quite there yet. They need to find their voice. Even after to cutting their own self produced album, music producers weigh in heavily that they don't quite cut it. Frustrated Bart decides to take a break from the band and go home to take care of his dad who is dying of cancer.

It's amazing that Bart was able to break the cycle of abuse considering how he was treated as child. He faced life with self deprecating humor and tried to look at the positive. But that unresolved trauma in his live leads him to break up with his long time girlfriend Shannon (Madeline Carroll). Coming home, his father, who has found God, and is remorseful for the way he treated his son. Bart finally comes to terms with his father before he passes. When he comes back to the band, the song "I Can Only Imagine" comes to him from his notebooks that have that phrase written all over them. It was a song that apparently touched everyone's life in a meaningful way to become the all time best selling contemporary Christian single to this day.
(Review by reesa)