In the case of 'Flag of my Father' a groan is putting it mildly.
The back of the DVD reads "Serving her country is an honour for Judith (Gigi Erneta), an army nurse whose Vietnam veteran father taught her the importance of sacrifice. After a tour in Iraq, she returns home and combats severe post-traumatic stress in the form of nightmares. She and her father Jake (William Devane) share a loving bond strengthened by military camaraderie. Envious of their relationship, her brothers shockingly rebuff her...a snub that intensifies when their father dies suddenly. Faced with the task of healing her family and mind, she relies on her faith to fight the battle. When a secret is revealed, the brothers must find a way to humble themselves and make amends."
I struggled to take this movie seriously. It tries too hard to be both a war movie and a family drama.
It opens with a typical scene associated with many war movies, the military convoy moving along a dusty road in the middle of nowhere. You then meet some characters in the back of the truck, who spend a couple of minutes nattering about this and that, which I assume is supposed to introduce you to Captain Judith and Private Davis.
Unfortunately the whole dialogue comes across contrite and forced, and there is no sense of the camaraderie that is usually found in these military settings.
Then they are forced to stop for a faulty air valve in the lead vehicle, where surprise, surprise, they are ambushed.
Judith then wakes up from her dream and you meet her husband Sam, who moves into a biblical application about faith and dealing with her brothers and the issues that are bound to come up at her Father's birthday party.
The potential for a great story about the dynamics found within military families, and the alienation felt by those who did not serve but live with those who did, is there all along- but it is ruined by the attempted war scenes and the unnatural and forced presentation of biblical principles.
I think many Christian movies forget that when talking with friends and families many believers don't launch into mini sermons or explanations about faith and forgiveness. These topics flow organically from discussions and debates, they are not 'just after you wake up from a nightmare' conversations.
I have grown up in the Christian faith from a young age, and I felt like the presentation of the Christian values was about as subtle and natural as being smacked in the face with a wet brick.
The combat scenes were very low budget and lacked the tension and feelings of chaos, confusion and fear that a good military movie provides. When the automatic weapons sound the same as the small arms fired, you know you have a problem.
That isn't to say the movie doesn't have some touching moments. The relationship between father and daughter is very believable and the eldest brother Ben (Andrew Sensenig), has some very powerful scenes where he learns that his position as first born comes with responsibility as well as entitlement.
The movie is rated M for violence, but in comparison to mainstream films, I would say this movie is closer to a PG.
There is a small to medium amount of violence and implied violence, but very little gore-a bit of blood and the evidence of a beating. The language is hilariously clean for soldiers, with not a bit of profanity detected.
One of Judith's brothers like's his alcohol and is told in one scene that it is obvious it's the drink talking, not him. There is a minimal amount of sexual references, the risk and threat of rape for females if captured is discussed, but there is no nudity and I believe Judith and her husband only kiss once.
I rate 'Flag of My Father' 2 out 5
Language Light
Violence Medium
Gore Light
Sexual references Light
Drugs Light
Fantasy themes na