4 Things Families Should Know about the Latest Kendrick Brothers Movie, ‘The Forge’
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By Michael Foust, Movies
1. It's from the Makers of 'War Room' and 'Overcomer'
Two decades ago, filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick (the "Kendrick brothers") forged a new path in the Christian film genre, demonstrating that a compelling and inspiring story can captivate audiences without needing a big budget -- and without a big-named Hollywood director at the helm.
Their first major film, Facing the Giants (2006), grossed $10.2 million on a $100,000 budget. They followed that with 2008's Fireproof ($33 million on a $500,000 budget) and 2011's Courageous ($35 million gross; $2 million budget). Each film was better than the previous one.
Their biggest hit was War Room (2015), which grossed $67 million on a $3 million budget and was the No. 1 movie in all of America in its second weekend, edging R-rated Straight Outta Compton.
Since then, they released Overcomer (2019) and Lifemark (2022).
For most of the films, including The Forge, Alex is the director, and Stephen is the producer. The two men started in an Albany, Ga., congregation, believing and praying they could impact the world from small-town America.
Photo Credit: ©Sony
2. It's All about Discipleship
The Kendricks are known for their movies with a message, with War Room (prayer), Courageous (fatherhood), Fireproof (strong marriages), Overcomer (identity in Christ) and Lifemark (adoption) all conveying distinct, focused messages that address key biblical teachings.
The Forge is all about biblical discipleship.
Mr. Moore's "life principles" involve biblical principles about kindness, responsibility, hard work, forgiveness, and grace. He even teaches him how to shake hands.
"A big part of becoming a man is showing up," Moore tells him when he clocks in late. "... Get the rest you need, set your alarm, and give yourself the time to get here that shows respect for others."
Eventually, Isaiah becomes part of a discipleship group led by Moore, where he joins other men who are committed to modeling their lives after Christ. (The group is called "the Forge.”) We also see a group of women, led by a seasoned prayer warrior, sharing their life's trials and lifting them up to God.
But Isaiah's journey toward Christlikeness is not without its challenges. The plot takes a dramatic turn when Isaiah encounters his estranged father, a man he deeply resents and holds responsible for many of his troubles.
The Kendricks hope to launch a discipleship movement within churches. In conjunction with the movie's release, small group Bible studies and discipleship-themed books are being released.
"We don't need to see more lukewarm Christians in churches," Alex Kendrick told Crosswalk. "We need to see people that are devoted to Jesus that truly want to glorify and honor the Lord and walk more intimately with Him. This movie focuses on what that could look like."
Photo Credit: ©Sony
3. It Includes a Few Familiar Faces
The Forge is a stand-alone film, but several characters from War Room make brief appearances, including the prayer warrior, the indomitable Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie), and the lead couple in that earlier film: Elizabeth Jordan (Priscilla Shirer) and Tony Jordan (T.C. Stallings).
Elizabeth's twin sister, Cynthia Wright, is Isaiah's mom. Thanks to some clever movie magic, Shirer brings both characters to life. It's an impressive feat, seamlessly portraying the two women in the same shot as they converse and even share a hug.
"We took some notes from The Parent Trap and some other movies that have done it well," Stephen Kendrick told Crosswalk. "We had to do a combination of body doubles, CG effects -- there was some green screen stuff going on. A lot of digital love was added in those scenes.
"It was fun," he added.
The film also stars Cameron Arnett (Overcomer) as Joshua Moore, former NFL star Benjamin Watson as a friend of Moore's, and Dallas Cowboys chaplain Jonathan Evans as another friend.
Newcomer Aspen Kennedy, who plays Isaiah, is outstanding.
Photo Credit: ©Sony
4. It's Relevant for Today
The Forge is a coming-of-age film that smartly employs youth-focused music, including Christian hip-hop (CHH) artists such as Lecrae, Hulvey, Wande, and Aaron Cole and popular gospel/CCM musicians Tasha Cobbs-Leonard and For King & Country. The score perfectly matches the plot and mood.
The film's discipleship message is more crucial than ever today, as survey after survey reveals that many churchgoers are embracing a range of unbiblical beliefs. For instance, the 2022 State of American Theology survey conducted by Lifeway Research for Ligonier Ministries found that 73 percent of Americans with evangelical beliefs believe the heresy that "Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God," and 57 percent affirm another heresy that "everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature." A failure in orthodoxy impacts orthopraxy. After all, you can't live out the gospel if you don't truly understand it.
Perhaps the modern church has emphasized conversion at the expense of meaningful discipleship.
"It's part of the Great Commission," Alex Kendrick said of discipleship, citing Matthew 28:19. "We're supposed to go into all the world and make disciples."
The movie's final moments show discipleship on display, with Isaiah embracing his faith and living out the gospel in his daily life. It's inspiring.
The Forge is a much-needed film for today's church.
The Forge is rated PG for thematic elements. It contains no coarse language, sexuality, or violence.
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Photo Credit: ©Sony
