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A service to our youth through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR22046 Life or Something Like It (2002), PG-13 Analysis Date: April 26, 2002 CAP Score: 60 CAP Influence Density: 0.72 MinMax: -75 |
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LIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT (PG-13) -- Yes, there is intercourse in this PG-13. Soap opera caliber... Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Director(s): Stephen Herek Producer(s): Kenneth Atchity, John Davis (I), Toby Jaffe, Ric Kidney, Arnon Milchan, Jeffrey Wetzel, Chi-Li Wong, Teddy Zee Written by/Screenplay: John Scott Shepherd (story), John Scott Shepherd and Dana Stevens (screenplay) Cinematography/Camera: Stephen H. Burum Music: David Newman Film Editing: Trudy Ship Casting: Sharon Bialy Art Direction: Helen Jarvis Chubby Lanie Kerigan grew up in a less-than-warm family. So she thought. She was not happy with herself and felt her sister was abusive of her. But time was good to Lanie who became a bright star for KQMO news of Seattle, Washington. So bright that AMUSA in New York was looking for a new "face" and Lanie's boss decided to submit her for the position. But, as with any formula story, a dark cloud found its Lanie-stationary coordinates directly over her head. The dark cloud was prophet Jack (Tony Shalhoub), a local homeless man who had the gift of hearing God speak to him with news of events yet to happen. While I will not slight the idea of God giving the gift of prophesy to man, even a homeless man (John the Baptist was "homeless") -- God has given the gift of prophesy before and will probably do it again -- I do have a problem with the way the movie presented a prophet as a street corner quack preacher without credibility. The way to tell a true prophet from a false one is by the accuracy of his/her predictions. Only a true prophet will predict with 100% accuracy. 100% accurate unambiguously, not like the portrayal in *Life or Something Like it* which had the prophet soft-shoeing by saying "An angel will fall from the sky" to predict an Angels baseball player dying in a plane crash. On a sidewalk interview assignment, Lanie interviewed prophet Jack who had three predictions. One, that a football game that afternoon will be won by the Seahawks 19 to 13, that it will hail the next morning when the weather forecasters predict clear skies and that Lanie will die the following Thursday. Well, the Seahawks win by 6 points in a decision by the referees that the opposing team's (I wish I could remember which team it was) "winning" touchdown carrier stepped outside the boundary. So what that one prediction came true under precarious conditions? Anyone could guess that. Then the sobering blow came the next morning as hail pelted Lanie's balcony. Now Lanie is concerned and starts to contemplate her mortality. She begins to relish each moment of life. She dumps her shallow baseball star boyfriend, Cal Cooper (Christian Kane) and tries to set things right with her family and all those with whom she has experienced discord. One of them was "the I don't like to show look" Pete (Edward Burns). Pete is the ace cameraman for KQMC studios who has been assigned to partner with Lanie. Lanie and Pete had a falling out some time earlier and neither has kind words for the other. And there is another formula story -- falling outs being foreplay. Yes, there is intercourse in this PG-13. Soap opera caliber with no nudity revealed but intercourse is undeniable implied as Pete starts to strip Lanie with the next scene showing the two in bed together, obviously nude under the sheets and his arm (and the rest of him) in a place not acceptable by God's standards for unmarried people [1Cor. 7:2]. Sexual improprieties, presences and innuendo almost rule the content of this movie. Following in a close second is Drugs/Alcohol as the writers have the characters depending on booze/drunkenness to drown sorrows and forcing booze to be the remedy for a hangover [1Cor. 6:9-10]. Next in the queue of ignominy is, of course, foul language [2Tim. 2:16, Deut. 5:11]. While these forms of ignominy in entertainment are condemning of the movie as any kind of wholesome entertainment, it is certainly lite in the areas of violence, crime and murder/suicide which there were none. Therein lies the utility of the CAP analysis model for the parent and grandparent: to reveal the areas of concentration of ignominy using Rock-solid standards of investigation, namely His teachings and expectations which DO NOT change with the tides of modern morality. The CAP thermometers, scoring distribution and listing of findings (the Findings/Scoring section) give you all the information you need to make an informed decision whether a film is fit your your kids and/or yourselves by your own standards of entertainment acceptability. There is much more to the story but the purpose of this service is not to tell you all the details about a movie but is to tell you what you need to know about a movie without having to see it to make a decision whether it is fit or not. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will provide that information. Any positive features of a movie are left up to you should you decide the level of ignominy revealed by the Findings/Scoring section is acceptable. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. *******Food for Thought******* As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W): Impudence/Hate (I)(1): Sex/Homosexuality (S): Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O)(2): Murder/Suicide (M)(3): |
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| NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example from the sinful display or the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them the truth about movies using the Truth. |
| "There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our nearly seven years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
