Actor Sees Power of God’s Love Through This Football Coach’s Story
By Movieguide® Contributor
Actor Eric Close believes in the power of God’s love and forgiveness.
The actor stars in the new film AVERAGE JOE, which details the story of Joe Kennedy, a football coach who took his fight for religious liberty to the U.S. Supreme Court after kneeling and praying on the field after each game got him fired.
“I admired his conviction — the willingness to fight for his convictions and for what he felt was right,” Close said of Kennedy. “Regardless of the negative fallout that would come his way, the threats, the loss of work.”
Kennedy wasn’t always a Christian.
“Kennedy was a brand-new Christian when the fight began. An abusive family life led to a rebellious childhood, which he reigned in during almost 20 years as a U.S. Marine. Yet God did not seem real to him back then,” the National Catholic Register reported.
“One of the aspects…that I loved about this film is that every person matters — everybody matters,” Close explained. “God loves; His love is so far and wide and reaches to everybody…Through faith, nothing is impossible; you can overcome these challenges. You never know when that moment might happen when we’re called to step up and stand for something and make a difference.”
The actor admired how Kennedy drew strength from God as he fought.
“He had to get there through lots of different battles and fights in his life that gave him that strength and that fortitude,” he said. “I think the catalyst that took him over the edge and really allowed him to step out there and risk it all for this — for something he firmly believed in — was his faith and trusting that no matter what, God had his back.”
AVERAGE JOE is a creative, well-acted, heartfelt movie based on an inspiring true story. It’s shot in an interview style, with Joseph and his wife, Denise, telling their story. Characters often break the fourth wall. This unique style is engaging and serves as a nice balance between the harsh reality of Joseph’s life before faith, and a testimony to his life as a servant of God. AVERAGE JOE has some scenes of child abuse and other violence. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children.
Kennedy’s reliance on Christ paid off. “…the six-year court battle…resulted in the landmark Supreme Court ruling in June upholding Joe’s — and all public school employees ’— right to pray while at work,” Decision Magazine reported.
The movie hit theaters on Oct. 11.
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