Published in: Indie Film Reviews

Indie Film Review “Mission Improbable”

Author OneFilmFan

Published on: February 29, 2016

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

First, the Recap:

Life’s intersecting roads. When we take a look at the world at large, it can be most uncanny how circumstances and seemingly random occurrences can end up drawing people from different walks of life into connection with each other. For 40-something woman Susan (Juli Tapken), it’s finally realizing the escape she needs from an abusive relationship, though running to her mother (Kimberly J. Richardson) isn’t the easiest solution. Perhaps it’s the plight of Shane (Collin Alexander Brown), a down and out loser stuck in the local drug trade, hoping the mess he’s now in can be hidden from via his brother Frank (Ken Dohse). Maybe it’s about Matthew (Mike R. Tinker), a highfalutin, elitist pastor whose successful church and loads of money seem to be his true love. God, however, has other plans.

A dream Matthew experiences, telling him to become involved with faith-based rehab facility in Tennessee, much to the chagrin of his equally uptight fiancé Elizabeth (Valorie Neal White), begins the path for he as well as Shane and Susan, who, through separate avenues, end up on the same bus to the facility themselves. With initial reluctance nipping at all their heels, the three embark on a transformational journey which strives to free them from their faults and introduce them to real faith in God. Even with the help of counselors like Amy (Donna Botts) and Norm (Randall Moser) guiding them, the road still becomes snarled as each of the three end up having to face the demons of their pasts and make choices to overcome these vices and experience freedom, unconditional love, and newfound companionship.

Next, my Mind:

With this latest offering from Sword of the Spirit Publishing, writer/producer Donald James Parker, and director Matthew Perdie, the always-needed messages of coming to faith, healing, true love, and putting the past behind are all on full display here and solidly executed. What makes it such is the presentation of the basic overall fact that none of us are perfect, even though we might think we are, and that we all need help we can reach out to, trust, and rely upon, specifically therefore, though relationship with God. This meaning is the essence of each individual narrative played out, while also illustrating that even when we find this truth, it still doesn’t make the pilgrimage any easier, as we will be confronted with the ghosts of our pasts that try to re-establish domination over our actions and attitudes. Yet, God is present.

Tapken very much embodies her role as Susan, a bitter, battered woman who’s at her sanity’s end, yet still critical of being completely open to anyone helping her, perhaps as she may not believe actual help is attainable. Brown plays Shane effectively as a man who believes he does have many things in control, even as it all falls apart around him and suddenly wakes him up to the fact he’s in serious trouble and begging for help, though not through God. Tinker’s pastor Matthew is equally well-played in showcasing a man who has it all from a worldly perspective and knows it while trying to preach God from his “golden pulpit”, not understanding how far away from the source he really is until God chooses to speak to him profoundly. Ultimately, all of their faith experiences are enacted well.

Great supporting turns by Richardson, Dohse, White, Botts, and Moser plus additionally important appearances by Jeff Ailshie as Susan’s deadbeat beau Bubba, Omar Lagudali as Matthew’s right hand Pastor Ron, Cameron Arnett as Dereck, Parker as speaker Jack, and Kelly Nelon Clark as singer/speaker Joni Clark all come together to create “Mission Improbable” and make it the powerful, meaningful, God-centered film that it is. Delivered without being presumptuous, overbearing, or non-believer unfriendly, this is one indie faith-based filmmaking effort worth seeing.

As always, this is all for your consideration and comment.  Until next time, thank you for reading!