On Wednesday evening, I had the opportunity to attend an advance screening of the The Genesis Code prior to its nationwide release in February. The movie was directed by C. Thomas Howell, and the cast includes former Presidential candidate Fred Thompson (Law and Order), and Academy Award Winners Ernest Borgnine (Marty) and Louise Fletcher (One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest).
In the movie, Kerry Wells (Kelsey Sanders) is a college journalist and the daughter of a local Protestant minister who is struggling to find her place in an increasingly secular world as a devout bible Christian. Blake Truman (Logan Bartholomew) is the college’s newest and very popular hockey superstar who secretly spends his nights at the bedside of his comatose, terminally-ill mother. What happens when Kerry gets assigned interview Blake? The Genesis Code tells the story of Blake’s grudging conversion through his interaction with Kerry, his own suffering, and his grandparents’ decision to “pull the plug” on his Mom. Sounds at least somewhat compelling, doesn’t it? Here are 7 things you should know before deciding to go see it.
- Christian moral themes and family values are heavily featured. Early in the movie, Kerry boldly and comfortably asserts that she is saving herself for marriage. Other scenes include family dinner and group prayer. Non-Christian characters and activities are generally portrayed rather negatively.
The clash between Christianity and the “new” atheism is real and present on college campuses. This theme is largely the foundation of the movie. Regardless of how well or poorly this might be presented, The Genesis Code does highlight this reality. If you doubt this, I encourage you to read The Loser Letters by Mary Eberstadt.- Much of the dialog is awkward and contrived. When Kerry rejects Blake’s initial advances and asserts her chastity, he replies, “I suppose you’re probably a believer.” How did believer ever become a synonym for Christian, as if it doesn’t really matter what you believe? Does anyone actually use that word, aside from self-described believers? In another scene, Kerry’s academic adviser strongly encourages her to put aside “your outmoded, childish notions of absolute biblical truth” so she can “take your place among the elite class in the new world order.” Seriously?! These are just two examples; nearly every scene left me thinking, “People don’t talk like this.”
- The movie is very ambitious. The Genesis Code attempts to tackle many themes: chastity, euthanasia, the power of prayer, collegiate secularism, scientific atheism, Darwin evolutionism vs. fundamental biblical creationism, etc. Simply, it’s way too much.
- The story takes a backseat to the agenda. The plot never authentically develops and is interrupted at one point by a very contrived An Inconvenient Truth style “tutorial” presented by three college physics students, including Kerry’s brother. The purpose of this is to show that “science” can explain how the creation story in Genesis could have actually happened in six days. This is presented as a real, genuine explanation, but the science is at least partially fictitious and uses terminology that is never explained. However, since the characters buy it, you’re supposed to buy it, too. It goes on way too long and effectively kills any shred of plot development.
The ending is …. Okay, I won’t give it away in the event you decide to see the movie. However, the movie could have partially redeemed itself with a different ending. Instead, it goes for the obvious and predictable.- The theology is weak. By trying to present a mock-scientific rationale for the literal biblical creation story, the movie effectively dismisses faith in favor of knowledge. The premise essentially reduces to God to something we can know without actually having a relationship with Him; it takes the “god” out of God. Isn’t faith supposed to surpass all understanding? The movie defeats its own purpose. Supernatural realities cannot be explained purely by natural reason. I wonder if there are plans for a sequel called The Gospel Code, which explains away the resurrection.
Hi Joel,
Regarding the use of “believer” it is used quite a lot by those Christians wishing to distinguish themselves from the other lot of Christians who don’t believe. I know, it sounds crazy, right? It’s basically saying, “Yeah all those people you knew in high school who went to church but still led horrifically sinful lives, I’M not that. I believe what the Bible says AND I DO IT.” Looking at it from the outside in, it seems very much like how the Pharisees treated Jesus and his disciples. From the other side, though, there’s a huge sense of pride in knowing you’re a believer and they’re not.
I suppose if this hockey player had run into a lot of girls who brushed off his advances and told him, “It’s because I’m a BELIEVER,” he could have said it – especially if he went to any type of a private, non-denominational/Reformed/Presbyterian college. :)
You don’t ever talk to people about taking their place in the new world order?! I do all the time! That’s why I’m becoming Catholic! Join the newest trend that’s only 2000 years old! :)
Okay, now I’m just being facetious…
I saw the movie and thought it was pretty good. I have seen many “Christian” movies and most are so cheesy that they are an embarrassment when taking friends. Not to get off topic, but until the making of Veggie Tales, Christian cartoons were a joke. Now I am not sure if I like all the ways that Bob the Cucumber and Larry the Tomato portray sacred scripture, but I have to accept that I am not the only person watching. Sometimes, I have to accept that something can still be good if it is not perfect.
The debate about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin should serve as an example of Christians debating fine points while the world around us slides further into sin. The movie was not theologically precise nor was the science that great. The problem is that there are Catholics who fall on all points of the creation vs. evolution spectrum. Now I could argue who are the “real” Catholics are, but then we would be in the same place as we are on dozens of other issues like pro-life.
The movie is done professionally and actually looks like a Hollywood movie. There are real movie stars doing the acting. That in itself is a major step forward. It also brings to light two major issues that are very relevant. The “sex can wait” movement is huge and growing in High schools and colleges. Just as important is the emphasis of hostility to Christians on college campuses. There is a culture war going on and Christian have been losing for decades. I think this movie and others like it are powerful tools to start discussions.
How many movies and television series portray euthanasia from a Christian perspective? Has anyone seen House lately? This is not the greatest movie ever made. It may be shaky on theology and science. But it does suggest that we challenge the idea that faith and science are opposites and enemies. This is something the Holy Father has pointed out on several occasions.
My recommendation is to go and enjoy the movie. Considering the other movies we see that are totally secular and put money into the hands of those pushing a negative world view, I think seeing this movie supports the fight in the culture war.
Thanks for the review Joel.
“The story takes a backseat to the agenda.” It’s unfortunate that so many Christian films do this. I wish it wasn’t the case. For a movie to truly make a dent and convince, it has to be the other way around. The story has to so captivate you that you’re drawn into it that, in the meantime, the message penetrates into your brain. All the great ones do that. Sometimes it’s even indirectly Christian but the themes are definitely there.
Although, sometimes it’s fun to have an unabashedly, in-your-face Christian movie as well. ;-) But those won’t convince or attract non-Christians and get the message through. Presumably those are the ones you want to convince with something like that.