The Gospel Coalition

My wife and I rarely get to watch movies in the theater. We live in a town with just one small theater (two screens) that only has matinees on weekends. Life with two small children doesn’t afford us much time for the cinema. If I remember correctly, we only watched three movies this year.

But in between Christmas shopping and celebrating our anniversary a couple weeks ago, we made time for The Blind Side.

I had heard about this film from critics who labeled the film “schmaltzy” and “sentimental”. I had also heard from evangelical Christians who were excited about the film’s portrayal of a Christian family as decent and respectable. Knowing the storyline included a cross-racial adoption, I couldn’t wait to see the film for myself.

Most of the elite movie critics hated The Blind Side. Some called it “curiously devoid of drama or suspense” (as if real life is always action packed). Others said it was “an uninspired sports story” (even though the sports aspect is not the central theme).

Expected to be a holiday season “sleeper,” The Blind Side defied box office expectations, ignored the critics, and slowly rose to #1. It’s a family-friendly, feel-good film – the kind that usually does well this time of year.

Here are some of my thoughts about the film. (Caution: a few spoilers follow!)

First, I was pleasantly surprised at the respectful portrayal of the Touhy family. I’m used to seeing Christians portrayed as self-righteous and hypocritical, so it was refreshing to see a family that prays together and tries to live according to their Christian convictions.

The Touhys take seriously the idea of “Christian duty.” They also expect other Christians to live up to their name. My favorite part of the film was when one of Leigh Anne Touhy’s friends was interrogating her about having a “black boy” sleeping in the same house as her daughter. Leigh Anne’s response was to look her square in the eyes and say calmly, “Shame on you.”

Secondly, the movie makes a case for adoption that avoids the cynical worldview of many Hollywood films. When investigators charge the Touhys with taking in Michael Oher in order to groom him to play football for their alma mater, the accusation is intended to anger movie goers, who have already come to see the Touhys’ charity as coming from a sincere heart.

In many films, directors and writers explore the selfishness of the main characters. The Blind Side, on the other hand, shows Christians doing hard things because of their religious convictions. The nonchalance of the family in taking in this teenager is what most stands out in this film. The Touhy kids have no trouble calling Michael “brother” and treating him like one of the family. In this story, we see a picture of God’s grace in adoption.

But some evangelicals, in our zeal to embrace a movie that treats us respectably, have given this movie too much credit. I have heard a few rumblings about how “the gospel shines through in this movie.” Actually, no. You won’t find any mention here of Jesus dying for our sin and rising again. This is a movie that portrays Christian family values and makes a positive case for adoption. It should be appreciated as such. But family values are not the gospel.

Also missing is the church. We see the family with Christian school friends, but when it comes to portraying the community of faith, the Touhys seem to be on their own.

Finally, the family dynamic may be accurately portrayed, but it is not always worthy of emulation. The family doesn’t decide together to take in Michael Oher. Leigh Anne does. Tim McGraw does a good job portraying the likeable husband, but there is little for him to do except nod in agreement to the spiritual leadership of his wife. Leigh Anne wears the pants. Mr. Touhy is just an accessory.

In the end, The Blind Side is a pro-adoption, pro-family movie. We don’t need to say that it is a Christian movie, or that it’s a picture of the gospel, or anything else, in order to appreciate its pro-family message for what it is. My wife and I enjoyed the movie and we hope that it continues to do well at the box office.