New Hope

Video Release: 10/9/2012

Reviewer: Edwin L. Carpenter
Source: Video
Writer: Rodney Ray
Producer: Christina Porter
Director: Rodney Ray
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 124 min.
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Starring: Ben Davies, Samuel Davies, Perry Frost

Synopsis:
Michael is not thrilled about this family's move to New Hope, a small, close-knit southern town. After all, it is his senior year. He is even less enthused about joining the town's high school basketball team, especially when he begins to bump heads with the team's star player, Lucas.

Lucas is fiercely loyal to the memory of his brother Chase--the victim of a suicide that shook the entire town to its core. To Lucas, Michael is reaping the benefits of everything Chase left behind--an insult he refuses to accept. Jasmine, Chase's longtime girlfriend, still has not found peace a year after his tragic death--until a chance meeting with Michael begins to slowly change that. Michael's faith is tested as he endures confrontations with Lucas on and off the basketball court and through his growing fascination with Jasmine.

New Hope delves into the world of today's teens and the choices that they all must face about sex, drinking, bullying, anger, loneliness and moving on in the face of tragedy. More than just an inspirational movie, New Hope sparks dialog desperately needed by all who care about teens and families.

Dove Worldview:
This drama deals with high school pressure in a gritty, realistic way but reveals that there is always hope when we allow God to be involved in our lives. High School Senior Michael Evans doesn't like the fact his minister dad and mom move him to New Hope from Colorado. He doesn't want to try to "fit in" to a new school during, of all times, his senior year. To make matters worse, a fellow student on the basketball team, Lucas, takes a real disliking to him. Mike becomes interested in a girl named Jasmine who was Lucas' brother's old girlfriend. Lucas' brother, Chase, committed suicide and Lucas does not like seeing his brother's old girlfriend with Mike. He makes life miserable for both Mike and Jasmine. Lucas can't seem to move forward with his life and doesn't want Jasmine moving forward either.

Mike could help the basketball team but has a long way to go in learning how to be a better player. To compound things, Mike's mom and dad invite a new couple over for dinner, along with their son, and it turns out to be Chase's parents...and Lucas! Mike brings Jasmine to dinner and Lucas can't handle it.

This film features various important life themes such as grieving and moving forward, in addition to showing forgiveness and believing in someone when he/she doesn't believe. This is a powerful film and we gladly award it our Dove "Family-Approved" Seal for ages twelve plus, due to its intense themes. Join this family in hope and watch this movie soon!

Content Chart & Description

Rating Descriptions

Sex: A girl tells a young man he could stay with her at her home after her parents leave for the evening but he refuses; a girl gives a young man a condom and we later see the package is open when his mother discovers it but we learn that the couple did not have sex; a young man blows up a condom with his breath, like a balloon; kissing between a couple.
Language: G-1; Sucks-1; Idiot-1; Butt-1; Freakin-1
Violence: Two players on the same basketball team go after each other during a practice and throw some punches; a teen punches the wall in frustration; a teen punches another guy and stays on his case all the time; an angry young man buys several baseball bats and breaks them all on a tree with angry swings.
Drugs: There appears to be a few underage kids at an outside party drinking beer and a main character leaves once he sees the drinking; a photo of a couple of guys with cigars in their mouth, unlit, as they celebrate the birth of a child.
Nudity: mild cleavage.
Other: A student who had committed suicide is discussed in the film; a few teens in frustration make comments that they don't want to hear about God's plan or the Bible and a girl refers to hypocrites at church but they change; a couple receive counseling from their pastor as they are having problems since their son died; a young man becomes rude with people at the dinner table; a teen takes a step toward the edge on top of a building like he might jump but he is stopped by another teen.

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