The Way Home - a Gospel Music Channel Movie Premiere

MOVIE REVIEW

The Way Home

Network: Gospel Music Channel

Original Air Date: October 1, 2011


CAST:

Dean Cain ... Randy Simpkins
Lori Beth Edgeman ... Christal Simpkins
Sonny Shroyer ... Ed Walker
Tom Nowicki ... Sheriff Tony Reeves
Brett Rice ... Chief Gary Thomas
Jay Gill ... Bud Benefield
Jackson Walker ... Terry Walker
L. Warren Young ... Sergeant Bert Smith
Jackie Prucha ... Mary Simpkins
Bruce McKinnon ... Larry Simpkins
Laura Carol Griffin ... Deputy Steed
Dwayne Boyd ... Carl
Dianne Butler ... Faye Gibson
Jill Jane Clements ... Sylvia
Michael Cumbee ... Cash Clerk

PLOT:

Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) stars as Randy Simpkins, a husband and father torn between the demands of his job and commitment to his family. Asked by his wife Christal to watch their two-year-old son Joe for a few minutes, Randy is distracted by work and Joe disappears. Racked by guilt, Randy joins Christal in a desperate search for their missing son alongside hundreds of others from their church and community. Randy and Christal's strained marriage must now weather the ultimate test - the potential loss of a child. The Way Home is the story of Randy's powerful spiritual journey back to love, faith and a Godly understanding of what must always take first priority in a man's life - his family.


Movie Review:

This is a touching movie. I was intrigued from the very beginning over this simple little story of such great emotion. It is deeply moving how much this family loves their little boy, Joe, and how desperate they are each to find him. The Father and Mother are both dealing with their own emotions of losing their child and blaming themselves and one another for him being gone. As they each fight their own mental feelings of anger, regret, and hopelessness, they come to lean spiritually on the Lord for their son's safe return - knowing, as time goes by, they need divine intervention and cannot do it alone. It is beautiful to see the local towns people come together to search for this little boy - many are local community friends, and some are complete strangers - just wanting to help.

My favorite scene is when ... the father, Randy, (Dean Cain) goes out looking for the little boy, Joe, often alone on his 4 wheeler. At one point he gets off and falls down in the dirt, to his knees... then we see a dream-like sequence in his head of future events to come - if they can find their son... Graduation... Marriage... Bringing home their Grandchild... and then, we see Randy crying out and praying for his lost son. It is truly powerful and beautifully portrayed.
It's an inspiring story of a family ... finding renewed strength in their faith, friends, and fellow man... when they need them the very most.


See or Skip:

See!

I, however, do not recommend this one for younger viewers due to the dramatic nature of this film... Maybe 10 years and up - depending on your child's maturity.


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