Facing the Giants
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Metascore
38 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 4 Critics What's this?

User Score
4.5 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 80 Ratings

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  • Starring: Alex Kendrick, Jason McLeod, Shannen Fields
  • Summary: A new, action-packed, family-friendly drama about a high school football coach who draws up a new game plan for his team… and himself. In his six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never had a winning season. Even the hope of a new season is squelched when the best player on his Shiloh Eagagles decides to transfer schools. After losing their first three games of the season, the coach discovers a group of fathers are plotting to have him fired. Combined with pressures at home, Coach Taylor has lost hope in his battle against fear and failure. However, an unexpected challenge helps him find a purpose bigger than just victories. Daring to trust God to do the impossible, Coach Taylor and the Eagles discover how faith plays out on the field… and off. (Samuel Goldwyn Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: William Lobdell
    60
    Facing the Giants, which despite its flaws is ultimately a sweet, sincere movie about Christian faith.
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    50
    For those who felt insufficiently uplifted by "Invincible" and "Gridiron Gang," here comes Facing the Giants, an aggressively inspirational drama about a born-again high school football coach.
  3. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Sean Axmaker
    42
    Like too many films of faith, it mixes its message, proclaiming that a life given over to God is a reward unto itself, and then handing over victories to its faithful like some overtime bonus.
  4. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Josh Rosenblatt
    20
    Bottomless sermonizing would have played better in Sunday school than on the big screen.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 19
  3. Negative: 2 out of 19
  1. KazushiS.
    10
    Very pleasantly suprised. Not a big budget production, but go in with the proper expectations, and you will be pleased. Uplifting.
  2. KeithB.
    8
    While I will concede with others who said the acting and some technical elements were flawed, I believe also that this film targeted a specific audience - and it nailed it! Secular critics, and - shall we say - the "unchurched" will never get this film but will scratch their heads over its overwhelming popularity with people like me. I grew up seeing typical "preachy" Christian films and endured them into early adulthood. I have since learned the value of films like "Star Wars," "A Beautiful Mind," and, yes, "The Departed." This story moved my wife and me to tears as we watched it at home. I will be forever grateful to God and to the Sherwood Baptist Church for crafting a story that is so emotionally true and spiritually uplifting. What an awesome achievement!… Expand
  3. AllenN.
    7
    This is an enjoyable inspirational film with a good storyline and a strong Christian message. The actors won
  4. JonK.
    3
    Viewing this movie, you are immediately aware of the low budget via the poor lighting, acting, editing, etc. However, I have to give it credit in that it did a good job on a very limited budget. The story itself, while predictable, is fairly entertaining if you set aside the ridiculous plot and reality. One item that stands out for me is when the coach gets a new car and he claims "God gave me a new car!" I guess we shouldn't think about the fact that it's a polluting and gas-guzzling V-8. Clearly, the movie is looking to cater to a particular audience. I also have problems with the idea of God really caring about a small town high-school football game outcome - any sporting event for that matter. Also, the overall impression that if you pray hard enough, your dreams will come true. Tell that to parents who have lost a child to cancer, war or an accident. It's religious propaganda. And no, our founding fathers would not be proud, they believed in separation of church and state.… Expand

See all 19 User Reviews

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