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FLYWHEEL

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Content:

(CCC) Very strong Christian worldview with lying, stealing, and cheating clearly rebuked; no foul language; no violence; no sex; no nudity; and, nothing else objectionable.

More Detail:

FLYWHEEL is one of those rare, low budget movies that totally captures and entertains the audience through the quality of the story.

Jay Austin is a selfish used car dealer who over-charges, bilks and lies to his customers. He has taught his employees to do the same. He mocks church and owes the bank a considerable amount of money. His wife, Julie, prays for him and tries to witness to him, but he is rude to her. He ignores their son and thinks he’s fulfilling his role as father and husband by bringing home the money.

One day when he overcharges the pastor of his church, the reverend prays that God will treat him, that is Jay Austin, as well as Jay Austin pretended to treat the reverend. The pastor means this innocently, thinking he got a good deal, but Jay realizes the implications and is brought to his knees literally. The events that immediately follow the pastor’s prayer make clear to Jay that he is in big trouble.

What could have been the end of the story becomes the beginning of the heart of the movie. Jay comes to Christ and decides to charge honest prices. His employees walk out on him in disgust and all seems lost. However, an undercover operation by NBC news discovers that he’s one of the few honest used car dealers. He even decides to pay back the people he cheated. Regrettably, another network talks to his former employees and entraps Jay with the question, “Isn’t it true that you used to cheat your customers?” Is he destroyed or will God intervene?

FLYWHEEL is a compelling movie despite the fact that the camerawork and production quality is very low. Alex Kendrick does a terrific job as Jay Austin. He also does a good job directing the movie. Some of the actors are weak, including the wife, but overall the story, which is extremely well written, commands the audience’s attention, and in fact, keeps you on the edge of your seat. What is truly amazing is that this was produced by a church.

With a little polish, FLYWHEEL could be a contender in major release. It is worth a bigger budget.