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25 HILL

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What You Need To Know:

25 HILL opens with a young boy and his father building a Soapbox Derby car together. When the father is killed in Afghanistan, Trey trashes the car, and his grades drop. The principal introduces Trey to the fire chief, Roy, who won the Soapbox derby in the 1970s. Roy is grieving over the death of his son on 911 as a NYC fireman. He’s angry at the United States and at God. Trey goes to the principal’s church to ask why she connected him with the irascible Roy. She presents the Good News of forgiveness in Christ to Trey. One powerful scene after another shows Roy and Trey working on the Derby car and learning how to overcome.

25 HILL is excellent. The movie ends on a powerful high note that affirms faith, courage and patriotic values. The Gospel is woven into the movie in a powerful way. Patriotic values were put forward in a winsome manner that made the audience want to stand up and salute the flag. The acting was also really good in 25 HILL. 25 HILL is a truly great movie about reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration.

Content:

(CCC, BBB, L, V, AA, M) Very strong Christian, moral worldview with several explicit evangelistic moments about a boy getting over grief and man getting over grief and alcoholism, very patriotic elements, strong emphasis on getting the country back on track and the importance of tradition, strong support for marriage and family; brief use of the word “butt”; fireman has horrible accident rushing to get to a fire and must use a wheelchair; no sex scenes but mild marital kissing; no nudity; strong alcohol use and references but man eventually admits he has an alcohol problem; no smoking; and, nothing else objectionable.

More Detail:

25 HILL is a very emotional, compelling story of overcoming grief, with a very strong Christian, inspiring worldview.

The movie’s opening is one of the best ever. Within the brief span of credits, the audience is introduced to the Caldwell family when the father Thomas gives the son, Trey, a kit for a full-fledged Soapbox Derby car. The son is gracious, but also makes it clear he has no skills to build such a car, and he prefers the computer. The mother is the beautiful, loving glue that holds the family together. Thomas gets called up to go to Afghanistan, and, before the credits are over, two Army officer show up at the family’s doorstep, and Trey and Maggie break down. Trey trashes the Soapbox Derby car he and his father had just started to build. His grades drop, and his grief consumes him.

The principal, Miss Banner, takes Trey under her wing. He decides to try to build the car anyway, but his mother is no help at all. Miss Banner introduces Trey to the fire chief, Roy, who won the Soapbox derby in the 1970s. Roy is grieving over the death of his own son on 911 as a NYC fireman. He is angry at the United States, angry at people and angry at God.

Roy and Trey’s initial meeting is filled with honest tension. Trey goes to Miss Banner’s church to ask her why she connected him with the irascible Roy. She presents the Good News of forgiveness in Christ to Trey.

One powerful scene after another shows Roy and Trey working on the Soapbox Derby car, learning how to race and entering the first race. Then, two events almost destroy Trey’s opportunity to race in the national championship race. First, Roy drinks so much that one night, he rushes off to a fire and has a horrible accident. Then, the bank threatens to shut down the bankrupt National Soapbox Derby in Akron, Ohio.

Trey produces a wonderful, heartfelt YouTube video to raise money to try to save the Soapbox Derby. Also, Trey starts pushing Roy to get over his alcoholism.

The movie ends on a very powerful note and an unexpected high that affirms faith, courage and traditional patriotic values.

25 HILL is excellent. The Gospel is woven into the movie in a powerful way. Patriotic values were put forward in a winsome manner that made the audience want to stand up and salute the flag. The villain was the anti-patriot, and his character arc was superb. The acting was also really good in 25 HILL.

25 HILL is a truly great movie about reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration.