Unleashed

If you have ever been part of the current dating scene, you can honestly say there is slim pickings out there. What if you imagined having met the perfect guy, developed a new application that would net you tons of money and in a short span of time, watching that same guy steal your invention and break up with you when you least expect it? That is the premise behind Emma's (Kate Micucci) life. She was on the cusp of inventing an app called Night Sky that would allow users to view the constellations by merely downloading the app. Only her boyfriend Luke decides to take all the necessary steps to steal it before Emma can do anything to stop him, including deleting all her files on her personal computer and he markets it as his own.

She believes the only people she can trust anymore are her tuxedo cat, Alex and a lovable yellow Labrador Summit. Too bad all the love that give her and the secrets she shares with them would make it possible to find suitable human boyfriends that would treat her with the unconditional love her pets do. The one benefit that came from her breakup was she can now have pets whereas before Luke was deathly allergic. Now she is back to the grindstone trying to figure out the next big thing for app developers and for her and her co-worker Nina (Hana Mae Lee (Pitch Perfect), come up with an astrology app that can determine your daily fates using the stars and planet line ups. So when Nina tells Emma that the Supermoon coming up will completely change her life, she isn't sure what to think. On that night, her pets Ajax and Summit, are transformed into humans until the next Supermoon about a month away, only Emma doesn't know it.

Ajax now the perfect personified version of a cat, calls himself Diego (Justin Chatwin), full of arrogance, pride and animal magnetism winds up on the read cat walk as the next super model that every women desperately wants, and Summit (Steve Howey) is your typical agreeable and likeable guy going by the name Sam. They both come to terms that only one of them is likely to wind up as Emma's new love interest and may the best pet or human win. This is when the movie really goes from being a romance, to a full scale laughable comedy as both pets are trying hard to make it in the human world and Emma is caught in the middle. Sean Astin stars as a fix it man, Carl, whose is to blame for letting Emma's pets out during the Supermoon and it is his heart that he has lost to Emma, but she is simply too blind to see him.

I received Unleashed by Level 33 Entertainment compliments of TetherGroup. This is one of those adult comedies that really manages to pull of exactly what you would think. The mannerisms of both Diego and Sam are their respective animals perfectly. There is a brief nude scene as Summit goes from a dog into a human walking off in search of clothes and you have to remember that this is an adult comedy. Aside from that part, I believe that most older teens would really appreciate this movie as my 18-year-old daughter, and husband and I all thoroughly enjoyed this movie which comes to theaters and on demand on August 25, 2017. This is one we both laughed and cried through and if you are looking for something a bit different, this one is a hit in our opinion. All of us, rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Unleashed or where you can catch this movie in a theater or on demand near you, please click on the links below:

Unleashed by Level 33 Entertainment

You can find Unleashed on Facebook for up to date information and more about the film.

Champion

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." ~ Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

How do you find it in your heart to truly forgive someone? Do you wait for some kind of restitution from them? Do you wait for an apology? What happens when we lose someone before we can make amends? 

These are all the kinds of questions that are being asked in the latest movie coming to theaters on May 19th from Icon Media Group, Champion. I guess you could ask the question what makes a true champion in the eyes of the world? Someone who is great at winning? Someone who takes the risk no one else would or does God have a different definition in mind? 

For both Seth Weathers and Ray Reed, the competition on the dirt track racing circle is fierce. For Seth Weathers, he has always held to the belief that to win, you must be willing to do whatever it takes even if others around him don't like it. He isn't winning anyone to his side as his arrogance and pride in being the winner brings about some harsh criticism from his sponsors and boss if he doesn't work on his ego and his attitude. They even threaten to fire him unless he wins more races. With upcoming rookie Ray Reed always on his heels, Seth believes it is time to show him who is the winner and not to be messed with. 

When the race ends in tragedy, Seth is fired from his boss due to the sponsorship being pulled out. Seth lashes out to anyone close to him including his crew and even his own daughter. As a single dad with no hopes of work, he falls into a depression taking prescription pain killers to help him cope with his life. But when he fails to make it to his daughter's ballet recital as promised and she walks to the recital in the rain, he faces a loss in the custody of his daughter until he can straighten his life out. His help will come in the most unlikeliest of places and will define for both men the true meaning of what it takes to be a champion. 

I received Champion by Brannon Pictures compliments of Icon Media Group. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. This is such a heart moving message of what forgiveness is and looks like when modeled in the eyes of the world. There are a few surprises I didn't see coming in this one and believe it will help those who see this film in understanding what forgiveness really is and how they too can become "Champions" to those around them. I easily give this movie a 5 out of 5 stars and hope you take someone to see this amazing movie on May 19, 2017. 

Champion by Brannon Pictures

You can find Champion on Facebook to get all the latest details about the film and message of forgiveness including the 40 day forgiveness challenge. 


About Brannon Films
With a heart for bringing stories to life, Judd Brannon has had the opportunity to direct and produce multiple video projects. His music video "For Freedom," featuring the music of Avalon, and was selected to be a part of Sean Hannity's "Freedom Tour." His recent projects include working on the Kendrick's feature film "War Room." Currently, Judd serves the people of First Woodstock in Atlanta, GA where he is the staff video producer. Judd is thankful for the support of his wife and two boys.

The Student Body - Movie Review

Obesity.

It is a term almost everyone understands and it doesn't need defining. The federal government along with our current President and First Lady and state lawmakers however have taken it upon themselves to govern which students in public schools are labeled within limits, obese or underweight. Like students need any more labels thrust upon them. Believe me if you are like most people I know, we already wear our own labels or ones society deems we need in order hopefully to enact some type of reform or change as if things are simply that easy to change like eat less and exercise more.

The Student Body is a documentary by Bailey Webber who takes it upon herself to find out the answers why lawmakers have taken it upon themselves to pass controversial mandates forcing schools to perform BMI tests on students. They felt these were non evasive and easy to conduct and when students fell into one of three categories, letters were generated to parents in hopes of educating them and seek help for their children if they were determined to be under weight or over weight. This launched a national debate. Coined the "fat letters" by students, notification letters were sent to kids whose body mass did not fall within a narrowly acceptable range; essentially telling children, even as young as kindergartners, that they are fat.

Maddie, a friend of Bailey's cause is the inspiration behind the documentary who received such a "fat letter" in the same envelope her report card came in. While she excelled at being a straight A student, it was the letter that drove Maddie into a deep depression when she felt less than worthy in an area where it wasn't possible for her to simply change her eating and workout habits. Even more shocked were Maddie's parents who felt the district overstepped their bounds in sending out the letters and making them feel less that worthy parents. Like that they had failed their child somehow.

Bailey takes viewers through the documentary into the bureaucrats who passed the law, one of them taking over 7 months to sit down and discuss with her why his actions in passing this bill, lead to the letters being distributed. His only response is that the one reading the letter has a responsibility to not take it as Maddie did and simply see it as a way of making better choices in their health for the future. What the lawmakers believe is that people who are obese don't want to lose the weight and need to be told. What they fail to understand is obese people know they are overweight or close to it. No one needs to be weighed and calculated whether they fall into an acceptable or unacceptable range. Interestingly enough all but 3 of the legislators were deemed to be obese based on their own BMI numbers.

The one thing science and nutritionists have determined is that it has only been in the last few years that obesity has become a global epidemic not only in the US, but other nations as well including animals used in testing and in zoos. The one thing the film provides is that further research is needed to come up with a better plan at managing obesity rather than simply telling someone to eat less and exercise more. Until then, I believe that lawmakers need to stop placing labels on kids about their weight ranges. It could push kids into eating disorders when they are told they are too fat or too thin and really cause things to spiral out of control. They aren't passing laws for the rest of the nation, why target kids?  I received The Student Body compliments of Nightfly Entertainment and Edify Media Inc. This movie is currently playing in select theaters now, and will come to video early next year, but I believe it is one all parents should watch and be involved in. For me, this one rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Student Body, where you can find a theater near you playing it, or how you can get involved, please click on the links below:

The Study Body by Nightfly Entertainment

You can find The Student Body on Facebook to get more information about the movie and more.

Voiceless

Abortion.

I guess you can say the topic causes most people to avoid discussing it sometimes regardless of whose side of the fence you may be on. The movie Voiceless will released on the big screen soon and will address the issue of the churches involvement or lack of involvement regarding such pregnancy centers and how they address the abortion side of the issue.

This film takes us into the inner city where Jessie Dean (Rusty Joiner) who has returned from a tour in the military service and is working out some of his issues he encountered during deployment. He has been offered a position with the New Life church in reopening a Community Outreach center in the hopes of potentially helping the church grow in its membership which is sorely lacking. He finds himself at odds operating the center directly across the street from A Woman's Choice pregnancy center that deals with abortions. When a young girl named Tracy appeals to Jessie for help from the choice he doesn't quite know what to say to her when she asks if she will be forgiven by God if she goes through with her abortion. Since he is as confused as she is, she runs from him directly into the center.

He later learns that the young teen takes her own life and he begins to feel a responsibility for not being able to help him. His wife, Julia feels that Jessie should steer clear of the controversy since the church has not done anything in all the time the center has been operating. They want to avoid all the negative publicity that would come with being involved. Not to mention an elderly woman whose husband began the church no longer attends because it is lacking conviction to do anything to assist the problem in the neighborhood and challenges Jessie to take action instead of merely addressing opening an Community Outreach center that deals with teaching the young teens how to box. She feels Jessie could be doing so much more. Things get heated the more involved Jessie becomes with the center and soon his job and marriage may be on the line.

I received the opportunity to review the movie Voiceless compliments of ArtAffects Entertainment and Icon Media Group. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside for a free opportunity to view the movie in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion of the movie. I absolutely LOVED it because it finally addresses the issue of abortion in regards to the churches responsibility with the community to address it and its apathetic attitude to avoiding all contact with the center in light of the publicity that would be shed on the churches involvement. It really deals with both sides of the issue from a pro-choice and pro-life stance and really gives one something to consider regardless of your position. I would easily give this movie a 4 out of 5 stars and hope it will appeal to the lack of involvement in most communities.

For more information about Voiceless, ArtAffects Entertainment, Icon Media Group or where you can catch this movie when it comes to theaters in October of 2016, please click on the links below:

Voiceless by ArtAffects and Icon Media Group

You can find Voiceless on Facebook to learn more about the film and what you can to do help get involved.

You can find Icon Media Group  to stay up to date on all its film projects.

You can find ArtAffects on IMDB to stay up to date all of its film projects.

To find out where this movie will be playing in your city, please click on this link.

The Mighty Macs - Movie Review

It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

THE MIGHTY MACS is based on the incredible true story of the 1971-72 Immaculata College team that started in obscurity but became the original Cinderella story in women's basketball. This team of pioneers went from barely making that inaugural tournament to the first dynasty in their game. And Cathy Rush, the woman that was ahead of her time, became immortalized when she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

THE MIGHTY MACS stars Carla Gugino as Cathy Rush; David Boreanaz as her husband, NBA referee Ed Rush; Marley Shelton as Sister Sunday; and Academy Award and Tony Award winner Ellen Burstyn as Mother St. John. The film was written, directed, and produced by Tim Chambers. The film's executive producers are Pat Croce, the former president of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, and Vince Curran, a successful businessman and former basketball star at Penn. Curran and Chambers are founders and partners of Quaker Media.

As a concerned parent, we are always looking for great movies that have a truth about them, a moral message to be gained from simply just heading to the movies for a night of family fun and entertainment, and it's such an honor to share this one with my readers. For those of you that are huge fans of family-feel good movies like Fireproof, Courageous or Seven Days To Utopia, then I know you will want to see this one. This movie is now playing in select theaters near you. I received this opportunity to preview this before it was released compliments of Propeller and Quaker Media and can't wait for you all to see it. Hands down another 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about this movie, click on the links below:

The Mighty Macs

You can also find them on Facebook by clicking here.

Twitter fans can find the Mighty Macs here.