"I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God. I am not gonna be afraid to say the name Jesus"
Brooke (Hayley Orrantia) is trying to get over the sudden loss of her brother. One day, after school, she seeks the help of her teacher, Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart), who witnesses to her about Jesus. A few days later, Brooke asks a historical question about Jesus to compare to Martin Luther King, Jr. After her Scripture-inspired answer, Grace is suspended by the school board for alleged proselytizing. Grace claims she didn't preach, but the school board turns the case over to the ACLU, who have apparently been "dreaming of a case like that", bent on proving that God is dead.
Production-wise, God's Not Dead 2 is more effective than the first movie. The acting is more real and convincing than its predecessor. Hart makes an especially compelling lead. She gives a performance that is emotional and real. She at least is more effective than Shane Harper from the first film, who, while still solid with what he was given, didn't have a lot to work with emotionally in that film. Hart also has a couple of nice scenes with her character's grandfather, played with humor and wit by Pat Boone. I do wish there might have been a little bit more between the two of them.
Jesse Metcalfe plays Grace's unbelieving lawyer, and is great. He pulls off a double-personality by shifting from a nice, skating-by thought process to a serious, take-no-prisoners attitude. Also, Orrantia is very effective in her role. She shows a bunch of emotional gravitas with her role. Finally, Ray Wise makes an effective villain. Perhaps a little more terrifying and intimidating than Kevin Sorbo in the first film, Wise is very easy to dislike and root against. There isn't a redeeming backstory like Sorbo's character, but still, he pulls off his role. Fred Thompson's final role before his unfortunate passing last year is a brief but still solid turn.
The returning actors from the first film are given several moments. The most effective of the returning actors is Trish LaFayche, who returns as the reporter Amy. David A.R. White returns as Pastor Dave, and gives a few moments of humor, while Paul Wok returns to solid work as the new convert Martin. Brief appearances by Lee Strobel and Mike Huckabee are notable also.
Cinematography and editing are very solid here. A little music by Will Musser is nice in places. Newsboys appears a few times and sing a couple of songs.
On the downside, the only thing God's Not Dead 2 doesn't quite get like its predecessor is the slick combining of characters and stories. The first movie's production had many characters but they all kept going between all of the different plots (Do You Believe? did something similar). This movie is basically one major plot with maybe an occasional brief moment with another character. But at the same time, the more focus on the court case makes the story feel more central and focused. With the exception of Brooke, there really isn't much development for the characters.
The first God's Not Dead was a surprise. Even though it was a small release that didn't get good reviews, it was surprisingly effective in depicting the pressure that Christians often feel in today's world. And after that movie was a surprise hit commercially, I was actually surprised that they did a sequel. I mean, how do you add on to that movie?
But God's Not Dead 2 is more a different story than it is a continuation of the first film. There are continuations here and there, but the production team wisely decided to spend more time working with a different case. And for where the original lacked in production values, the sequel improves on in many ways.
What makes God's Not Dead 2 more effective than the first movie is that it feels more real. You feel sympathy for those fighting for their faith. While it may seem predictable, you still feel uneasy and worried as you go through the trial. And the way the case finishes is up is almost very unexpected, and it really made me think about how the screenwriting team pulled this off.
2016 has been a fantastic year for faith-based films, and God's Not Dead 2 continues to add to that strong streak with a suspenseful and well-made portrayal of a real controversy going on today in America. Save for some lackluster character development, everything else here is nailed down near-perfectly.
Don't listen to the critics, folks! God's Not Dead 2 may be overt in pushing its agenda, but in my opinion and basing on my worldview, that's an awesome thing.
Score: 8.9/10
Content Problems Families Should Be Aware Of:
Language: Nothing really.
Adult Content: A few low-cut tops.
Violence: Someone is slapped in the face. Someone passes out in the courtroom.
Drugs/Alcohol: None.
Other: With the exception of Grace's attorney, just about every atheist and non-believer is treated as being angry or not really caring at all. One might could argue Brooke bursting into the courtroom as not being a very smart decision.
