Redundant and unnecessary.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry is a subtle movie, that goes ever so smoothly that you never miss a step, it is not filled with the action, and special effects that most believes is required to make a good movie. Here is a movie that just drives off at a pace that it keeps to the very end, driving its message of love and the efforts of one man, whose life was a total testimony of what Christ expects from us when he gave us the great commission.The movie has high ratings from critics, and that made me skeptical, wanting to stay away from it because I know that critics don't really like Christian movies because they see it as a source of propaganda. I felt, "here is a movie that they like probable the message is heavily watered down" but that was not the case in this movie, from the set go it started to preach Christ and it ended with Christ.The movie plot is about a 75 year old named Jonathan Sperry (Gavin MacLeod) in the 70s who befriend a 12 year old boy named Dustin (Jansen Panettiere) and his friends Albert (Frankie Ryan Manriquez) and Mark (Allen Isaacson). Jonathan during his time with the boys taught them about Christ, built them up in Christ and used them to touch the lives of those around them, from a bully to a lonely neighbor.The movie does have some little faults; the kid actors were all not in form, because the class of acting that they delivered was way off base. The adult actors on the other hand did a fine job. Then there is the setting and the dressing, it was said that the movie was set in the 70s but it looked more like the 80s to me, but that is my view. The movie directing was done Rich Christiano and the movie was written by him and his brother Dave Christiano. The two are the owners of Five & Two Pictures, who were also the producers of the 2002 Sci-Fi dramedy Christian movie Time Changer.Here is a Christian movie that many like, and it is for a good reason too, it talks about Christ, and the movie leaves an image in your heart, of a man who spent his life showing the love of Christ to as much as he canHere is a movie for you and the family.www.lagsreviews.com

There is no need to be intolerant or suspicious about The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.If you're uncomfortable leaving your personal bias at the doorstep, and watching how others teach their children by example, then don't watch this movie.On the flip-side, if your children are not quite getting their Sunday school lessons, then this is a marvelous movie for them to watch. Because that's what The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry feels like, a Sunday school lesson.Jonathan Sperry doesn't teach anything out of the ordinary. If you don't want to be lied to, then don't lie to others. It's that simple. It's your choice. Do you need God in your life to follow these simple principles? No. However, some prefer that God be part of their lives.Jonathan Sperry acts as a guide to several young boys in his community. Sperry and the boys all belong to the same church – they all know one another. Jonathan Sperry practices what he preaches. He teaches the children by example; examples they can understand and put forth.We are a society with deep crevices of division – religious, societal, educational, race, and on and on. Sperry takes his little community and one by one, helps to fill those crevices. He passes on what he knows so that hopefully the division will become less and less. So when Sperry's wife dies in a car accident caused by neighbor Mr. Barnes, played by Robert Guillaume, does Sperry hire OJ's powerful lawyers and sue? Does he lament on a daily basis? Does he forever point his finger? Does he cry "poor me"? Nope. He kills Mr. Barnes with kindness. Why? Because Sperry needs to feel better. How does he feel better? By helping Barnes to feel better. And damn, isn't this a concept some people just can't wrap their heads around? Some people call the concept forgiveness. Others call it healing.Sperry's lesson is division within a community, clan, schoolroom, family, boardroom, or society, is not healthy. It causes chaos. Do you need the Bible, or the Tao to teach you about chaos and how to handle it? Well, if you don't have common sense, then perhaps you do.So, when a bully comes on the scene, Sperry shows the boys how to deal with the bully and shows the bully how to overcome what's eating him.I think it's brave, brilliant, and wonderful that the Christiano brothers used their energies and creativity to try and fill in those crevices and make our children's world a more solid place to live in.Gavin MacLeod is a delight to behold. Mr. Guillaume will have you bringing out the Kleenex.The movie is well-written, well-paced, well-acted, and touching.Great job tying up Dustin's loose end with Tanya. Wasn't expecting that one!!

I'd prefer to have seen Davey and Goliath. At least the threat of Hell would not have come into play. Comments about propaganda are spot on.This type of heavy handed religious syrup promotes a blind sense of superiority that has caused more harm than good in the world for centuries. Let's all go on a religious crusade. Look where that has taken us in the world today. Selling religion to kids with lemonade and cake is a pretty lame way to deliver a partially good message. Even so, the "screenplay" is pathetic. Why can't we learn to keep religion in the church amongst the flock? Aren't these many of the same "worshipers" that burn books and control freedom of thought?

I saw a pre-release version about two months ago. As a fan of movies with car chases, explosions, and superhuman exploits, I did not expect to really get into this movie. The story deals with the relationships between characters in a small town in 1970 and feels like a coming-of-age movie as a young man and his friends deal with a childhood crush on a young lady. The boy-meets-girl subplot is a slight of hand before the real plot unfolds. And the resolution of one of the other subplots is the final coup de grace of the film.I found the film moving and well worth watching...again.The film opens today in limited release. My family and I are going to see it.