- Content: “Overcoming Odds to Motivate Others”
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What You Need To Know:
SOUL ON FIRE delivers an uplifting tale of overcoming impossible odds, often when least expected. The acting is sometimes weak, the script somewhat repetitive and regrettably the movie tells two stories. However, the first story overall is warm and relatable. SOUL ON FIRE has a strong Chrisitan center. SOUL ON FIRE depicts people leaning heavily on Christian faith and prayer. Eventually, it ties all its loose ends into an inspiring redemptive bow. The lead character transforms his physical weaknesses and personal inadequacies with help from loved ones and other people. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children due to difficult scenes about the lead character’s accident. This content includes scenes of severe burns, people on fire and painful recovery.
Content:
Very strong Christian, moral worldview about a boy and, later, a family man, who becomes a motivational speaker who leans heavily on his Christian faith, as do his parents, wife and siblings, lead character often cites Christian principles in almost every aspect of his life, there are many scenes of a church, prayer and praise of God both inside and outside of Christian settings, lead character also recognizes that all the people in his life had a hand in saving his life and, to do their efforts justice and become whole after struggling with trauma and self-esteem, he ultimately creates a wonderful life and wants to share his story to help others embrace gratitude in all walks of life, and it’s clear that God calls lead character to having faith and carrying out his faith;
No foul language, but one scene shows nervous man having to vomit;
Boy burns cardboard and uses gasoline which causes a house fire and severe injury, young girl runs into a burning house repeatedly, boy is shown on fire and siblings pull him out of a house on fire, boy’s brother tries to put out the fire by beating brother with a towel, one scene with reckless driving, and one scene where a man almost gets hit by a car;
No sex depicted, but kissing is shown in a few scenes;
No nudity, but man with burns is shown with his shirt off;
College kids shown partying and drunkenness shown, several other scenes include drinking alcohol, and lead character is known to be a heavy drinker who uses alcohol to cope with personal problems;
No smoking or drugs; and,
Difficult scenes involving painful recovery from massive burns.
More Detail:
Set mostly in St. Louis, the story jumps around between different times of John O’Leary’s life. The movie begins in 2008 at a construction site as a woman pulls up looking for John, who offers to shake her hand with a deformed fingerless hand. Trying her best not to stare as John makes light of his scars, she introduces herself as a local den mother of a girl scout troop. She asks if he would be willing to tell the story of his accident and how he became a successful builder. Taken aback and extremely nervous, John agrees but is clearly a very nervous speaker. He briefly tells the woman and some Girl Scouts with her about his accident. John burned down his parents’ house playing with gasoline, leaving much of his body burned. He was in the hospital for five 5 months, leaving scars and amputated fingers, but now fully recovered and owns a successful construction company. One of the girls asks John if he could go back, would he change what happened?
Cut to 1987 for a full depiction of the accident. John convinces his piano teacher to let him out of his lesson as there’s a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game happening. He explains all games are announced by Jack Buck, the famous announcer for the team.
While riding his bicycle, John sees boys using gasoline to light fires in a dry creek bed. Sad that they won’t let him join, he heads home and sneaks into the garage. He catches himself on fire playing with gasoline and runs through the house. As his parents aren’t home, Jim, his older brother, puts out the fire on John. Jim and their sisters drag John across the street.
Jim runs back into the house to call 911. On the sidewalk, John begs his sisters to kill him. One of his little sisters, Suzie, repeatedly runs into the house for water to throw on his face. In the hospital, a team of doctors work to save John as his parents watch helplessly and pray. The doctor says John has less than a 1% chance of survival.
Later that day, Jack Buck is at a fundraiser dinner and overhears people talking about the boy in the hospital. Deeply touched, he decides to visit. Sitting at his bedside with John wrapped in full-body bandages, he tells John he will live and will keep fighting. On his way out, a male nurse, Roy, tells Jack that despite so many not making it, he has seen this boy decide to live and will not let John die without a fight.
As a janitor sanitizes the room, John overhears the baseball game on his radio. Roy comes in to tell him that he will need to change his bandages daily, but he will help him get through the torturous pain, and he is not alone. Still unable to talk, his parents devise a way to help him communicate, and he asks them, “Why me?”
Cut to a fraternity party in 1998. John is now known for being the life of the party. He meets a girl, Beth, and they dance. She shares that she wants to be an occupational therapist. Despite their connection, he does not kiss her at the door, and she seems disappointed.
Back in 1987, Jack Buck visits again to tell John that they will celebrate with John O’Leary Day at the ballpark when he gets out. Roy insists he will get John to walk. Later, the doctors must amputate all his fingers due to infection.
John eventually is released home. Despite his continued difficulties such as writing or using a fork, his mother pushes him to do things on his own. She mentions to Jack Buck that she’s struggling to get him to write again. Jack sends him signed baseballs as an incentive to write thank you notes to the players.
Back at college, after a talk with his father, John realizes he has the power of cultivating relationships. He and Beth grow closer. Eventually, John is living the life of his dreams.
However, when Jack Buck dies, John harbors terrible guilt.
SOUL ON FIRE initially delivers a tear-jerking, uplifting tale of strength overcoming impossible odds, often when least expected. The acting is sometimes weak, the script somewhat repetitive and regrettably the movie tells two stories, which detract from the drama. The first story of John’s survival against all odds is compelling. The second didactic story focuses on John becoming a famous motivational speaker by retelling his initial story. The dual narrative weakens the overall drama of the movie.
SOUL ON FIRE has a strong Christian, inspiring worldview. It depicts people who lean heavily on their Christian faith. Eventually, it ties all its loose ends into an inspiring redemptive bow. The lead character transcends his physical weaknesses and personal inadequacies with the help of loved ones and other people.
MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children due to some difficult scenes involving the lead character’s accident. This content includes scenes of severe burns and blood, people on fire, and pain in recovery.
“Why me?” becomes a question that leads people of faith to show other people how God can use them in positive ways that helps other people.
