Summary: Suffers from being uneven and too long, but excellent performances and some timely themes help true-based drama story work.
The Fall season has become just about ideal for Christian movies nowadays, as it's a quiet time of year. No real big movies to compete against. I've seen several great ones during this time of year (Grace Unplugged, Woodlawn, Captive) and some that were just, ehhh to mediocre (90 Minutes in Heaven, Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas). This year has been a mixed bag for faith-based films, as most of them have lacked a sense of conviction or motivation in their execution.
In comparison to the rest of the 2017 batch of Christian filmmaking, Same Kind of Different as Me isn't the strongest or most motivating, but it's a strong second or third. And in what has been a disappointing year for movies altogether, this one certainly is one of the more inspiring and interesting films of 2017.
Renee Zellweger is wonderful as Deborah Hall, a loving Christian wife who helps the homeless and doesn't give up on her family. Different than what you might expect her to be, her immensely kind-hearted spirit is instantly lovable. She also delivers at all the key emotional moments, perhaps even more so than Greg Kinnear (who is still rock-solid as the lead here). Djimon Hounsou delivers also a stirring performance as Denver, an older homeless man who still lives in the memories of his past.
The cinematography and production values are definitely more reflective of a big studio than what a Pure Flix release might would usually be (Paramount is given a credit for distribution, but even though they made the film, they dropped it before Pure Flix picked it up). Sometimes the countryside views are beautiful. John Paesano's music score is lovely and accompanies the film very well, even if its' not incredibly memorable.
That being said, the movie's pacing is very uneven. The movie takes a major narrative shift in its final act as we shift from helping the homeless and Denver's story to a major character's illness and eventual death. The film also drags out a few scenes. There is uncertainty in where the film will end. And, the film also has one or two elongated silent moments that ultimately fail to carry out the emotional intent that director Michael Carney was probably aiming for.
However, Same Kind of Different as Me carries messages that (while not revolutionary) are still something that definitely might be a calming remedy in this time of division and conflict. Honestly, if more people had the spirit and attitude of Debbie and others in the movie, the world might would be a better place indeed.
The movie makes a point that, even in the midst of our differences, we can still choose to be kind. We can still choose to humble ourselves. We can still choose to serve others even when it might be uncomfortable. Ephesians 4:32 always encourages us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted and forgiving, a message that Same Kind's characters emphasize. At the same time, it lets us know that deep down, we are all different from each other. God created each of us unique, not just through ethnicity or background. But through different talents and gifts. And He shows to use each individual gift and each individual person in His will.
Score: 7.3/10
Content Concerns for Family Viewing: Same Kind of Different as Me is rated PG-13 for "some thematic elements including violence and language". It is not an appropriate movie for younger viewers. Denver's backstory talks a lot about racial division, and people are quoted to have called him the "n-word" at least a half-dozen times. We also see a few images of the KKK, and a brief moment where a rope is tied around Denver's neck and dragged through the dust by a horse. A housefire is witnessed (and a character dies during it).
A character is shown to be diagnosed with a terminal disease and dies. We also hear a half-dozen uses of "h---". One character drinks alcohol a lot, and tries to encourage his son to do the same. There's a conversation that hints at a main character likely having an affair, and how he and his wife haven't been "intimate" in many years. One chaste moment shows a married couple passionately kissing, and then the wife leading her husband off-screen. A stray comment says someone dared another character to eat "bulls' balls".
