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Courageous – Movie Review
PACO 506
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Abstract
In the paper, the review of the movie ‘Courageous’ has been presented. A high
emphasis has been given to the characters in the movie and how they have dealt with their
personal tragedies in life. A diverse range of ethical and moral situations that have been
portrayed in the movie have been explored in the paper. The dilemmas presented in the movie
have been examined, and the therapeutic, personal and professional implications of the review
have been presented. A number of scenes have been used as examples that are of high
relevance through the Christian lens.
The Review - Summary of the plot
The plot of the movie revolves around a man who finds comfort in his religion after
going through a personal tragedy. He vows to be a better parent to his teenage son. The movie
can be considered to be a message for men to take responsibility for their family members.
Many children and teenagers choose the wrong path in life and start consuming drugs or
alcohol after being neglected in their homes. In the movie, five families have been shown. The
Haynes family is a Christian family comprising of parents and children (Affirm Films, Sony
Entertainment (Producer), 2011). The Mitchell family is also a Christian family. The third
family represented in the movie includes a divorced father and his son, who is unsure about his
religious beliefs. The next family involves Thomson, who has a daughter with his former high
school girlfriend. He is not a religious character. The last family represented in the movie
involves Martinez, his wife, and his children. They are also a Christian family.
A number of events take place in the movie, which brings these people close to one
another, and they ultimately become good friends. However, a major tragedy takes place with a
specific family, and they all decide to cohesively find a resolution and become better parents
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for the sake of their children. Adam, the father from the Mitchell family, has been facing issues
in his family as he focuses on his work instead of giving time to his family. Both his children
are desperate to get his attention. Something tragic happens in Adam’s life, and he starts
blaming himself for it. Ultimately, to deal with his situation, he seeks counseling. He is not
sure about what to expect from God. He asks his friends to join him so that they can come up
with new ideas and help him so that he can be held accountable for the events that have taken
place. However, they decide that they are also accountable as many children rely on father
figures and mentors to learn and grow in life. Thus, the journey begins where every family
starts to forgive and ask for forgiveness. b b b b b
Therapeutic Implications
Several scenes in the movie have direct therapeutic implications. For example, there is
a scene where the Sherriff talks to people about the significance of families needing a father
figure. During the scene, a counselor should have been present so that he could give better
insight on the topic to the men. It could have increased the effectiveness and impact of the
specific scene. In the movie, it seemed like the people took a fairly long time to identify that
there was an issue that needed to be fixed. As a counselor, I could engage with the individuals
so that they could understand their responsibility towards their family members (Affirm Films,
Sony Entertainment (Producer), 2011). For example, a counselor could extend a helping hand
to Adam so that he could deal with the personal tragedy and loss and let out his sorrow. After
Adam would share his thoughts, he could be asked whether he would like to pray to the
Almighty. Further, he could also be asked whether he really blames himself for the personal
tragedy that took place in his life. By asking such questions, the counselor would be able to
reach his self-awareness so that Adam could stop blaming himself for his personal loss and
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tragedy (McConnell et al., 2021). Bible could be used as an important instrument in the
situation to make Adam realize that he must have faith in Christ in the trying times. According
to Hebrews 13:5, God will never leave mankind. During the tragic time, as a counselor, I could
play an important role in showing Adam that God would help him to deal with the loss and He
would never forsake him. Further, I could tell Adam to continue loving his family as it is the
ultimate expectation of God. In the movie, Adam has shown high moral and ethical values
even during his vulnerable times. He makes attempts to heal his family and mend his
relationship with his wife and son.
Personal/ Professional Implications b
The movie has a deep meaning for me as I am able to connect with it at a personal
level. Most of the morals and ethical values displayed by the characters are aligned with my
personal belief system. The interlink that has been demonstrated between theological and
psychological counseling is practical, and it shed light on high cultural diversity. Various
challenges were demonstrated in the movie that exists in reality, such as drug addiction, drunk
driving, etc. When a person encounters such kinds of issues, it is quite natural to experience
different kinds of emotions such as anger, sin, pride, arrogance, and many more (Affirm Films,
Sony Entertainment (Producer), 2011). When a person faces such challenges in life, his faith in
Christ could falter. In order to deal with such a situation, it is necessary for individuals like
fathers, mentors, etc to play a proactive role.
The movie is extremely informative as it can guide individuals to act in a responsible
manner and value their families. It can be used by men to keep a tab on how their children
need to be treated and loved in the family setting. The scene in which Javier is being tested
prior to his promotion is very impactful at the personal level (McConnell et al., 2021). The
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scenes have been effectively interlined with each other as they showcase how people can
follow the path of Christ to deal with different challenges in life.
References
Affirm Films, Sony Entertainment (Producer). (2011). Courageous: Honor begins at home
[Motion picture]. USA: Tristar Pictures and Sherwood Pictures.
McConnell, J. M., Bacote, V., Davis, E. B., Brown, E. M., Fort, C. J., Liu, T., ... & Davis, D.
E. (2021). Including multiculturalism, social justice, and peace within the integration of
psychology and theology: Barriers and a call to action. Journal of Psychology and
Theology, 49(1), 5-21.
