god bless the broken road movie review

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

God bless the broken road, common sense media reviewers.

Heavy themes, war violence in keep-the-faith drama.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Many faith-based messages that center on maintaini

Perseverance is demonstrated by all characters. Af

A U.S. Army squad is ambushed by Afghani fighters;

A man pursues a woman romantically; they date, but

One character is a NASCAR driver; sponsorships are

Parents need to know that God Bless the Broken Road is a Christian drama about the challenge of maintaining your faith when life isn't going well. It centers on a grieving military widow (Lindsay Pulsipher) who's struggling to make ends meet and stay connected to her daughter. While there's no iffy content…

Positive Messages

Many faith-based messages that center on maintaining a belief and trust in God when life isn't going well. Put love into action. Bless a veteran. Take time to appreciate life's blessings. Persevere.

Positive Role Models

Perseverance is demonstrated by all characters. After a change in fortune, one woman works long, thankless hours to take care of her daughter. Three women try to connect with an overwhelmed, estranged friend. A disabled veteran shows up every day in hopes of sharing a meaningful story with a woman. A NASCAR driver keeps training to improve his steering, even after humiliation, setbacks. A grandmother continues to show up to be in her granddaughter's life, even when not welcome. Diversity in the film's Kentucky community, including a church with a black pastor and congregation of various ethnicities. A police officer is kind, helpful. Members of the military, their families make brave sacrifices in service to America.

Violence & Scariness

A U.S. Army squad is ambushed by Afghani fighters; a battle erupts with gunfire, missile launchers. Characters are struck by bullets and injured; no blood is shown, but a hero character dies on camera. A race car driver has a fiery crash that removes the outer shell of his car. Bullies taunt children, leading one of the victims to charge and attack them. A woman exhibits painful grief after getting terrible news. Arguing among characters/family members, with some cruel things said.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A man pursues a woman romantically; they date, but affection is limited to a peck on the cheek and an arm squeeze.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

One character is a NASCAR driver; sponsorships are everywhere. Brands shown most frequently include Firebird, JEGS, Interstate Batteries, Hot Wheels, and Coca-Cola. Other brands seen on billboards, stock cars, and/or racing gear include Little Debbie, Budweiser, Bud Light, Simpson, Van Doorn, Sunoco, Dodge RAM trucks, Kirkey, Great Clips, Keller, General Tire, Ball Park Franks, Boyce, American Oil, and Festida Foods. Facebook is mentioned. Profits from the film will go to DAV , Disabled American Veterans charity, and the organization is highlighted in the movie's feel-good ending.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that God Bless the Broken Road is a Christian drama about the challenge of maintaining your faith when life isn't going well. It centers on a grieving military widow (Lindsay Pulsipher) who's struggling to make ends meet and stay connected to her daughter. While there's no iffy content related to profanity, sex, or substance use, it explores mature themes/topics including grief, dealing with banks and foreclosure, payday loans with high interest, and the main character's anger at God. There are also scenes of war violence that include missile launchers and gunfire. Two military members are seriously or fatally injured as a result; the sequence isn't gory but is intense and frightening and may be particularly affecting for viewers who have loved ones in the armed forces. Family conflict results in a young girl running away from home, which is depicted as serious and concerning but concludes with a laugh. The film explores dating again after the loss of a spouse, but the budding romance doesn't get physical in any way. The only lust shown in the film is that for NASCAR, with many racing scenes (including a serious crash) and brand sponsorships plastered everywhere. As the movie is intended for a Christian audience, it revolves around church, gospel songs, and Sunday school lessons; there are also clear messages about the importance of perseverance and taking time to appreciate life's blessings. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (5)
• Kids say (1)

Based on 5 parent reviews

Very good family movie

What's the story.

In GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD, Amber Hill (Lindsay Pulsipher) loves leading the church choir. But after her husband, Daniel (Liam Matthews), is killed while serving in Afghanistan, Amber pushes everyone away, especially God. Two years after Daniel's death, Amber works tirelessly to keep the family financially afloat, but it's not enough, and she's in danger of losing the only thing she and her daughter, Bree ( Makenzie Moss ), have left: their home. While bills continue to mount and Amber's mother-in-law ( Kim Delaney ) is a constant thorn in her side, Amber and Bree rediscover the lighter, fun side of life when they start spending time with a visiting race car driver (Andrew Walker).

Is It Any Good?

This faith-based drama weaves a story that combines God, the military, small-town life, country music, and NASCAR; if it seems like it's pandering to a specific audience, it is. That's because God Bless the Broken Road (which comes from God's Not Dead writer-director Harold Cronk ) isn't about recruitment or inspiring debate -- it's serving up a movie to an audience that's not likely to see movies that don't have those elements. The movie's many messages aren't hard to miss; they're declared clearly within the dialogue, usually a few times. But the film's purpose -- to show how "the broken road" is actually a blessing in Amber's life -- may be fuzzy to all except the target audience.

Production values are solid, and the film comes off like a Hallmark movie in every way, including casting frequent Hallmark player Walker in the role of Amber's respectful gentleman caller. Familiar faces pop up playing smaller, supporting characters -- including Kim Delaney and Robin Givens (both give total pro performances), as well as American Idol winner Jordin Sparks , former NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson , and stock car racer Cody Coughlin . But it's Pulsipher who capably carries the film, making every viewer an empathetic companion.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the sacrifices made by members of the military and their families. Does God Bless the Broken Road make you more empathetic to the challenges faced by the families of those serving our country?

The film suggests that people "put love into action." Which characters exemplify that? What does that mean to you?

How do the characters demonstrate perseverance ? What about teamwork ? Are characters more successful when they try to accomplish goals alone or when they come together?

At the end of the film, the title song "God Bless the Broken Road" is performed. What do you think the song means in relation to the movie?

Did you notice the product placement in the movie? Do you think the brands displayed in the racing and restaurant settings made the film more authentic? What's the impact of advertising on kids?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 7, 2018
• On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2018
• Cast : Lindsay Pulsipher , Andrew Walker , Kim Delaney
• Director : Harold Cronk
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Freestyle Releasing
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Cars and Trucks
• Run time : 113 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : thematic elements and some combat action
• Last updated : March 31, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

I Can Only Imagine

Grace Is Gone

American Sniper

Grace Unplugged

Faith-based movies, movies that promote perseverance, related topics.

• Cars and Trucks

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘god bless the broken road’: film review.

A young widow struggles to raise her daughter amidst financial woes in 'God Bless the Broken Road," the new drama from the director of 'God's Not Dead.'

By Frank Scheck

Frank Scheck

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

The latest effort from faith-based filmmaker Harold Cronk ( God’s Not Dead , God’s Not Dead 2 ) seems designed by a computer program to touch every American heartland base. Reverence for God and the church: Check. Patriotism and the highest regard for military service: Check. Country music: Check. NASCAR racing: Check. It’s a wonder the film didn’t sneak apple pie in somewhere. The only thing missing from God Bless the Broken Road is compelling or believable drama.

Its title inspired by the Rascal Flatts song, the film centers on Amber (an appealing Lindsay Pulsipher), a single mom living in a small Kentucky town and struggling to make ends meet as a waitress after her husband was killed serving in Afghanistan. Facing foreclosure on her house, Amber is at the end of her rope, borrowing money at usurious interest rates from a local pawnshop and selling off pieces of furniture and her wedding ring. Her overbearing mother-in-law (Kim Delaney) seems less interested in helping than in seizing custody of Amber’s daughter, Bree (Makenzie Moss). On the plus side, Amber’s best friends from church (Robin Givens, Jordin Sparks) occasionally show up at her home with a platter of ziti.

Related Stories

Vanessa lachey "blindsided" and "gutted" by 'ncis: hawai'i' cancellation, harvey weinstein hospitalized after his rape conviction was overturned in new york.

Release date: Sep 07, 2018

A possible romantic interest for Amber arrives in the form of Cody Jackson (Andrew W. Walker, suitably stubbled), a NASCAR driver who has been sent to the town to do community service as some sort of penance for being too reckless on the track. He’s taken under the wing of local garage owner Joe (veteran character actor Gary Grubbs, stealing the film), who counsels him to (metaphor alert!) slow down on the curves.

Amber, distracted by her financial problems and still mourning the death of her husband, is initially resistant to Cody’s overtures. But she finally agrees to go out on a date, which consists of coffee and playing Scrabble and a friendly pat on the shoulder at the end of the evening.

Meanwhile, Bree becomes increasingly unhappy with her mother, running away at one point and declaring that she wants to live with her grandmother. Amber struggles with her faith in the midst of her travails, expressing her anger at God by yelling at the local church.

Director/co-screenwriter Cronk occasionally injects some levity into the melodramatic proceedings, but the leaden attempts at cutesy humor fall flat. Every symbolic aspect of the story is telegraphed to the nth degree, such as when Bree plants a mustard seed in the hope that it will grow to become a tree. “That plant’s not gonna grow,” a dispirited Amber tells her friends, essentially providing the setup for the film’s final shot.

It’s not the religious values of the film’s characters that prove tiresome. It’s the cliched characterizations, hackneyed dialogue and formulaic plotting. You can feel the storytelling gears grinding as God Bless the Broken Road strains to dramatize its inspirational messages about the power of faith, friendship and love, delivered with all the subtlety of sayings stitched on pillows. It’s bland cinematic comfort food, served up to an audience that seems to need an endless amount of comforting.

Production companies: 10 West Studios, Great Basin Entertainment, Really Good Home Pictures Distributor: Freestyle Releasing Cast: Lindsay Pulsipher, Makenzie Moss, Andrew W. Walker, Kim Delaney, Robin Givens, Gary Grubbs, Arthur Cartwright, LaDainian Tomlinson, Madeline Carroll, Jordin Sparks Director: Harold Cronk Screenwriters: Jennifer Dornbush, Harold Cronk Producers: Andy Fraser, Dustin Solomon, Edgar Struble Executive producers: Jeremy Page, Stephen Afendoulis, Matt Cook Director of photography: Philip Roy Production designer: James R. Cunningham Costume designer: Susan Barnard Editor: Jesse Daniel Composer: Will Musser

Rated PG, 111 minutes

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Ray chan, art director and production designer for marvel films, dies at 56, box office: zendaya’s ‘challengers’ serving up $14m-$15m opening for no. 1 finish, pauly shore says he “was up all night crying” after richard simmons blasted biopic, ethan hawke shares denzel washington’s advice on winning an oscar, ‘kraven the hunter,’ ‘karate kid’ pushed back by sony, hot docs festival: middle eastern films get spotlight amid israel-hamas war.

Get news & reviews in your inbox

• Prime Video
• Documentary
• Producers Corner
• Watch Lists
• More Than A Movie Night
• It’s Dove Approved – Family Movie Trivia Game
• Dove Ratings
• Privacy Policy

God Bless the Broken Road

Dove Review

Amber Hill is a vibrant songbird, a follower of Christ, a faithful churchgoer, choir leader, involved mother, and a devoted Army wife—until she receives the visit every military family dreads.

Her husband Darren is a respected lieutenant in Afghanistan, the surrogate father for his unit, and a man of integrity who shares the Gospel with his squad-mates. When Darren is killed in action, Amber is left distraught, her faith shaken and on her own raising their precocious daughter Bree.

Two years after his death, Amber is working overtime as a waitress to make ends meet, juggling motherhood, debt, work, and a mother-in-law who offers to help, but only adds more stress. Amber is seemingly helpless, exhausted, and perhaps worst of all, distant from God. Unable to understand why life has gotten so difficult, Amber stops singing and retreats inward, crushed beneath pain and confusion. She tries everything she can to work things out on her own, bottling everything up inside. Her friends from church are there as a constant source of support, but no matter what anyone says, it seems Amber just can’t grasp what God is doing in her life.

God Bless the Broken Road is exactly the sort of well-made, tear-jerking, patriotic, heart-swelling drama we need right now. Using parts of the well-known Rascal Flatts’ song (albeit tweaking the lyrics a bit) to flush out a story, this film explores the age-old question, “What in the world is God doing when my life is falling apart?” Viewers watch as Amber scrapes and struggles; we watch as her child suffers emotional turmoil and unresolved grief; we watch a mother who has lost her child; a stubborn, semi-washed-up race car driver; a supportive church family, and a struggling veteran. All of these individuals, their seemingly broken lives, make up this road the film speaks about. Cody, the bullheaded race car driver, arrives in town to perfect his turns. It seems he only wants to go fast and sets himself up for a crash every time. Joe, his coach, explains that the answer is not to go faster, but slower. In comparison, Amber is pounding right along, trying to hold it all together.

What I gather from this film is that sometimes in life, while we travel a broken, unpredictable road (wondering what God is up to), the answer is not to speed up, but slow down—slow down and engage God in our suffering. Slow down and sing His praises. Slow down and take notice the needs of others. Perhaps when we acknowledge and accept that the broken road is a part of God’s master plan, we can begin to move forward. And oh, how it will all be worth it when we look back and see how those broken pieces fit together.

God Bless the Broken Road has been awarded the Dove-Approved All Ages Seal.

The Dove Take

God Bless the Broken Road is a courageous tale of faith and hope, even when the road of life is not as perfect as one would hope it to be.

Dove Rating Details

Many characters share the Gospel message of hope, faith and love.

A car crash (no blood); a battle scene involving guns (no blood).

Some kisses on the cheek between a dating couple.

Some thematic elements such as a woman yelling at God, a child who runs away, verbal disagreements between adults (all of which are mild and are resolved later).

More Information

Film information, dove content.

Faith Film Producer DeVon Franklin Steps in Front of the Camera for ‘Jesus Revolution’

Cyrano: Love is a Verb

Redeeming Love: Grace Rising Up Out of the Dirt

Filmmakers Highlight the Hope and Heroism in “Gi...

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

• DVD & Streaming

God Bless the Broken Road

• Drama , War

Content Caution

In Theaters

• September 7, 2018
• Lindsay Pulsipher as Amber Hill; Jordin Sparks as Bridgette; LaDainian Tomlinson as Pastor Williams; Andrew W. Walker as Cody Jackson; Robin Givens as Karena Williams; Makenzie Moss as Bree Hill; Kim Delaney as Patti Hill; Gary Grubbs as Joe Carter; Arthur Cartwright as Mike Nelson; Madeline Carroll as Hannah; Patrika Darbo as Rosie

Home Release Date

• December 4, 2018
• Harold Cronk

Distributor

• Freestyle Releasing

Movie Review

What happens when the plans you have for your life don’t match reality? Some people blame God, some blame others, some blame themselves.

And for some folks, it’s a mix of all of the above.

Amber Hill lost her heroic husband to an ambush in Afghanistan. Now, two years later, she’s left in Kentucky with the bittersweet memories of his presence and the responsibility of raising her beautiful, eight-year-old girl, Bree, as a widow.

As the former director of a church choir, Amber was known around town for her angelic voice and her love for God. But when her husband lost his life in battle, she lost her faith in the Almighty.

Now the only hope for resurrecting Amber’s detonated dreams lies in an unlikely new romance, Amber’s close connections with a handful of friends and the innocent heart of a remarkably resilient child.

Positive Elements

Amber has been dealt a difficult hand. And, understandably, she struggles with moving on in her everyday life after her husband’s death. But even though she’s wrestling with depression, anger and confusion, Amber chooses to go forward for her daughter’s sake. She’s a warrior at heart who now shoulders the unwanted burdens of being a widow and single parent. And so she valiantly fights for the good things that remain in her life, even as it seems almost everything is being torn away from her. (Especially her faith; more on that below.)

There is a genuine sense of hope, healing and perseverance in the small community that surrounds Amber. Her friends drop everything to help Amber and her family. That includes Amber’s difficult mother-in-law, whose well-intentioned plans for her granddaughter often stir up conflict. Gradually, Amber and her mother-in-law are able to work through their differences and put their past battles behind them in an effort to move forward.

Bree, meanwhile, is a bright young girl who loves and encourages her mom. She shoulders a lot of stress, but Bree still strives to care for her mother in her darkest times. (At times, it seems the young girl is doing a much healthier job of processing her grief than her mother is.) Amber and Bree work together to rebuild their lives, piece by piece. They also move toward a sense of necessary closure regarding their raw emotions in the months and years after Amber’s husband is killed in action.

Another important character here is Cody Jackson. The race car driver is new to town and dealing with his own anger issues in the wake of a painful accident on the track. Cody works with a friend to help troubled youth in the community. As the story unspools, Cody also plays an important role encouraging and challenging Amber (even as their romance slowly and predictably blooms).

Several members of the military community graciously try to reach out to Amber to give her the support she needs. They are accurately depicted as people who will lay down their lives for others, and as fellow soldiers who understand the depth of Amber’s loss.

Spiritual Elements

Before Amber’s husband died, she was a faithful member of her local church and often taught her daughter to “sing God’s praises for the gifts we’ve been given, even when we don’t feel like it.” Forgiveness, prayer and hopeful dependence upon God were all themes that found their way into Amber’s home in those happier times. At one point, Bree is taught in Sunday school to have faith the size of a mustard seed, which she explains to her own mother by caring for a plant she names Matthew.

But after her husband’s passing, Amber’s relationship with God withers and wastes away. She avoids reading her Bible, praying or taking time to process her hurt. She bottles her grief and anger until she can no longer bear the weight of it, then yells in anger at God. She also wrestles with difficult spiritual questions, such as, “Where is the reward for my faith?” She is devastated that the God she put her trust in would let her husband perish.

Cody, for his part, is back in town after being involved in a nasty racing crash that resulted in significant injuries. Cody’s challenge? Learning how to exercise caution and wisdom instead of reacting recklessly and emotionally. His racing coach teaches him to take his time not just on the track, but on the raceway of life, too. Cody eventually admits, “If we go too fast, we may not realize the blessings right in front of us.”

We hear a number of Christian worship songs in the soundtrack, both current and classic, such as MercyMe’s “Greater” and the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” among others. Posters on a wall proclaim encouraging scriptural messages, such as, “The Lord Is Our Strength.”

Amber’s friends pray for her often and are willing to speak truth into her life, even when it’s hard for the grieving widow to hear. The minister at a local church, Pastor Williams, encourages his congregation to “seek and save the lost.” He also teaches them biblical principles and offers words of encouragement such as, “When we learn to let go of that fear and put our faith in God, He will show us the way.”

Sexual Content

Cody pursues a relationship with Amber. They go on a date. Later on, she kisses him on the cheek.

Some women wear slightly revealing tops.

Violent Content

A fierce firefight erupts between American soldiers and their Afghan adversaries, a battle that includes automatic gunfire and RPGs. Two Americans are shot, and Amber’s husband is killed (though without showing much blood).

Cody has a terrible crash while racing (and we hear about a previous wreck as well). His car flips multiples times, sending Amber into an almost PTSD-like anxiety attack when she fears he’s been killed in the accident.

Bree gets into a fight defending her friend at the playground.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear a few uses of “oh my gosh.” Someone is called “stupid.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Other negative elements.

Amber is often lost in her own sorrow and anguish. Because of that, she can be inattentive and unnecessarily harsh with her daughter. And she becomes a workaholic to avoid her sorrow.

Amber also disconnects from her church community, even her close friends who are trying to support her. Additionally, Amber makes some unwise financial decisions, such as pawning the family’s most valuable possessions and taking out loans at exorbitant interest rates.

In a moment of anger, Bree tells Amber that she hates her and wished she would have died instead of her father.

Cody also grapples with anger, resentment and arrogance as he tries to figure out his direction in life. Initially, he doesn’t receive instruction or correction well; he’s dismissive and careless at times, too. And when he learns that Bree got into a fight at school, his only question is, “Did you win?”

Amber’s mother-in-law can be harsh, nosy and judgmental. She talks down to Amber and at times undermines her parental authority. She walks into Amber’s home uninvited, opens Amber’s mail and asserts herself where she is not welcome. And she criticizes Amber for trying to get over her deceased husband.

Bree and her babysitter watch a scary movie together (which Bree thinks is inappropriate). A young girl runs away from home. (She’s quickly found.) Other people can be harsh and emotionally unsupportive.

“I’m not ready to trust Him with our lives again,” Amber tells a friend.

And anyone who’s ever struggled to trust God after a tragedy can likely relate to that revelatory statement. When the plans for our lives don’t match a suddenly harsh reality, life can become suffocating and debilitating.

The question then becomes, “What do I do now?” And there is no easy answer.

God Bless the Broken Road wades into that difficult question. It depicts the struggles of a woman who feels as if she’s lost everything, depsite having put her trust in God.

The story pulls no punches when it comes to revealing Amber’s deep disorientation after her husband’s tragic death. Moving moments help us feel her pain. Even the scenes where hope begins to blossom again, such as Amber going on her first date with Cody, depict her sense that she is somehow betraying her decesased husband. In these ways, this Christian film realistically explores the gritty, grief-filled aftermath of a terrible loss.

Amber’s well-intentioned friends sometimes offer biblical counsel that feels a bit shallow or two-dimensional in contrast. Still, they’re doing their best to support her as they try to help their friend reconnect with God after her faith is shattered. And for some viewers journeying through similar grief themselves, God Bless the Broken Road could prove to be a cinematic catalyst to help them take their next steps along that hard path.

Be sure to check out our interview with God Bless the Broken Road star LaDainian Tomlinson here .

Kristin Smith

Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).

Latest Reviews

Unsung Hero

Challengers

Boy Kills World

Weekly reviews straight to your inbox.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Challengers Link to Challengers
• I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
• Música Link to Música

New TV Tonight

• The Veil: Season 1
• Hacks: Season 3
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Season 1
• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Acapulco: Season 3
• Welcome to Wrexham: Season 3
• John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA: Season 1
• Star Wars: Tales of the Empire: Season 1
• My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 4.2
• Shardlake: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• Velma: Season 2
• Them: Season 2
• Ripley: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1 Link to Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Zendaya Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Video Game TV Shows Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

Poll: Most Anticipated Movies of May 2024

• Trending on RT
• Marvel Movies In Order
• Seen on Screen
• Most Anticipated Movies of May
• Play Movie Trivia

God Bless the Broken Road Reviews

God Bless the Broken Road, if you didn't know already, is a powerfully stupid movie, crafted with all the panache of a workplace training video.

Full Review | Mar 19, 2020

Not as strong as the Unbroken movie but.. it does avoid some of the problems of the God's Not Dead movies.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | May 9, 2019

A simplistic, sermonizing parable strictly for the Bible-thumping demographic.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Oct 8, 2018

After nearly two hours of plodding storytelling, and despite an affecting performance by Pulsipher, we know nothing about Amber other than her difficult circumstances and maybe the fact that she likes Rascal Flatts and Scrabble.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Sep 13, 2018

What remains unchanged about the director and his team is that craftsmanship is obviously not a critical concern for them.

Full Review | Sep 8, 2018

Heavy themes, war violence in keep-the-faith drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 7, 2018

A good cast can't turn this grieving faith-based drama from Nutrasweet to bittersweet.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Sep 6, 2018

Rams home its message without the slightest shred of subtlety, in the process turning its characters into caricatures and sacrificing honest drama for cliché-ridden sermonizing.

Full Review | Original Score: D | Sep 6, 2018

Reverence for God and the church: Check. Patriotism and the highest regard for military service: Check. Country music: Check. NASCAR racing: Check... The only thing missing from God Bless the Broken Road is compelling or believable drama.

Full Review | Sep 6, 2018

The Christian-themed drama God Bless the Broken Road wears its earnest heart on its sleeve, and isn't afraid to show it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 6, 2018

The characters for the most part play inspirational pawns more than three-dimensional people.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Sep 5, 2018

Like nine out of 10 faith-based films, it lets the message crowd out the other elements of good art: character development, thematic complexity, even basics such as a compelling conflict.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 4, 2018

Christian Movie Interviews, News and Reviews

• BROWSE TOPICS X
• Devotionals
• Newsletters

7 Things You Should Know about God Bless The Broken Road

• Michael Foust Christian Headlines Contributor
• Updated Aug 29, 2018

Amber Hill is a young single mom who is doing her best to raise a daughter, hold down a job, and keep from being evicted from her home.

But so far, she’s struggling.

Her daughter is rebelling, her boss at the local diner questions her work ethic, and the bank is threatening to put her on the street.

It’s not the life that Amber envisioned. Two years ago, her husband – a soldier in Afghanistan – was killed in combat. Prior to that, she had a strong faith and was the leader of the church choir. Today, though, she doesn’t even attend. She’s depressed, and on most days, angry.

The faith-based film God Bless the Broken Road (PG) opens in theaters Sept. 7, telling the story of a widow who is just trying to survive following her husband’s death.

Here are seven things you should know:

Photo Courtesy: 10 West Studios

1. It Tugs at Your Heart.

The movie gives us a glimpse of Amber’s joy-filled life prior to her husband’s death. She’s smiling. She’s laughing. She’s singing. When her daughter asks about daddy’s role overseas, Amber responds, “He’s going to be home soon!” Then two men deliver the news to Amber that every military family dreads – and it takes place as she is leading the church choir at practice. The movie, though, doesn’t leave us in despair.

2. It Tells the Story of "Doubter."

The Apostle Peter doubted. Thomas doubted. Amber, too, doubts her faith . “I tried putting my faith in God . Look where it got me,” she says. “… I don’t understand why He would do that to us.” A friend tells her that God is still with her even when it doesn’t feel like it, but Amber’s not convinced. “You’re right. It doesn’t feel like it.” 

Photo Courtesy: YouTube/God Bless the Broken Road movie, screen capture

3. It Gives You Hope.

Doubting one’s faith is common, but our prayer should be that of the man in Mark 9:24 : “I believe; help my unbelief!” Amber’s friends refuse to let her stay discouraged, even when she pushes them away and declares she doesn’t need help. They also pair their words with actions when all hopes seems lost. Her faith, they tell her, is just like a tiny seed buried in a pot of dirt. It eventually will sprout.

4. It Pays Tribute to the Military.

God Bless the Broken Road is being billed as a “tribute to those who serve in the United States military,” and it easily succeeds in that goal. The film shows Amber’s husband, Darren Hill, on a patrol in Afghanistan before he gets ambushed. (The scene stays in PG territory.) Later, we see his medals (including a purple heart) displayed over the fireplace in Amber’s home. Amber doesn’t discover until the film’s final moments how her husband truly died – and how his heroic actions impacted multiple lives.  

5. It Includes Well-Known Talent.

The movie stars singer Jordin Sparks as Bridgette, a friend of Amber; Madeline Carroll ( I Can Only Imagine ) as a teacher named Hannah; Makenzie Moss ( Steve Jobs ) as Amber’s daughter; and Lindsay Pulsipher ( Hatfields & McCoys ) as Amber. NFL Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, a former running back for the San Diego Chargers, plays the role of a preacher. A Christian, Tomlinson said he hopes the film encourages moviegoers. “It’s important to know that you can come out on the other side of whatever your struggles may be,” he told Crosswalk. “You might go through the most horrible thing any person can go through, but there’s always a reason for it and it's always going to make you a stronger individual. And then, at the same time, your job as a Christian is to pay it back -- to help somebody else along the way.”

6. It Spotlights Stock Car Racing.

The movie involves two angles: 1) Amber’s fight to get her life back on track and, 2) fictional stock car racer Cody Jackson’s push to return to the NASCAR circuit. Jackson has been sent down to the “minor leagues” in Amber’s hometown to learn how to drive slower and finish a race without wrecking. While there, he develops a romance with Amber.   

7. It’s Inspired by the Popular Song.

"Bless the Broken Road" was a song by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band before it was famously covered by Rascal Flatts. Later, the Christian group Selah recorded its own version. The movie was directed by Harold Cronk, who also helmed God’s Not Dead, God’s Not Dead 2 and the upcoming Unbroken: Path to Redemption .

God Bless the Broken Road is rated PG for thematic elements and some combat action. It opens in theaters Sept. 7.

To view the trailer for the movie, click here .

Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com .

Editor's Picks

Popular Today

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Crosswalk App
• California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• California - CCPA Notice

‘God Bless the Broken Road’ review: Christian movie runs away from real world

A war widow faces a crisis of faith in a red-state drama that is a pious salute to god, the military, country music and stock car racing..

• Critic's rating: 2 out of 5 stars

In 2014’s “God’s Not Dead,” Christian filmmaker Harold Cronk set out not only to prove the existence of a higher power but also to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the “tolerant” left by inventing a philosophy professor who insists his students deny God to pass his class.

In debater’s parlance, the film is a classic strawman argument. That is, it misrepresents the opposing position to make it easier to tear down, and so “God’s Not Dead” became just another preaching-to-the-choir moment in our endless culture war.

Cronk’s latest effort, “God Bless the Broken Road,” takes a different approach to competing world views: It pretends they don’t exist.

We first meet military wife Amber (Lindsay Pulsispher) explaining to her young daughter that, yes, she has to go to church even when she doesn’t feel like it, because “it’s what we do.” But when her husband is killed in Afghanistan, Amber finds herself facing financial ruin and, understandably, unleashes her anger at God.

Will she find her way back to the church? Of course she will. And along the way to its inevitable happy ending, the film genuflects to icons of red-state culture — country music and stock car racing — with a subplot about a racecar driver-slash-love interest (Andrew W. Walker as Cody Jackson, ugh) that amounts to a Christian version of “Days of Thunder.”

Just to be clear: “God Bless the Broken Road” would be just as bad a film if it were set in, say, an Orthodox Jewish community, rather than the Bible Belt (specifically Kentucky). Like nine out of 10 faith-based films, it lets the message crowd out the other elements of good art: character development, thematic complexity, even basics such as a compelling conflict.

After nearly two hours of plodding storytelling, and despite an affecting performance by Pulsipher, we know nothing about Amber other than her difficult circumstances and maybe the fact that she likes Rascal Flatts and Scrabble. And the world she lives in is equally gauzy, filled with good-willed people of faith who, except maybe for her mean boss, all have her best interests at heart.

In other words, “God Bless the Broken Road” misrepresents red-state America as much as “God’s Not Dead” misrepresents academia. Racial conflict? Not in this version of Kentucky, where Amber’s best friends are women of color (Jordin Sparks and Robin Givens), and so is the preacher at her church, even though the congregation is 95 percent white. Not that that never happens, but it sure doesn’t resonate with what’s happening in America in 2018.

Heck, even the racing scenes are cleaned up, with nary a red Solo cup in sight.

This refusal to deal with complexities of the real world means the biggest problem with the film isn’t what it has to say, but what it leaves unquestioned. The biggest example: Why exactly is it that a woman whose husband made the ultimate sacrifice for his country can’t afford to pay her mortgage? This is, of course, a political issue, but Cronk and his co-writers treat Amber’s financial storm as if it were a natural disaster, something capricious and unavoidable, rather than a result of, say, government failing to do right by its veterans and their families.

The death of Amber’s husband is treated much the same. In piously saluting military service, the film never examines what he died for, and whether it was worth it. Soldiering is good and noble, always and forever, period. At least if you’re an American.

Like going to church, “It’s what we do.”

Reach the reviewer at [email protected] or 602-444-4896. Follow him at facebook.com/LengelOnTheater and twitter.com/KerryLengel .

MORE REVIEWS: 

• Cobie Smulders' 'Alright Already' isn't alright
• Rom-com 'Ya Veremos' could use more edge
• 'Memoir of War' throws away plot development
• Even Oscar Isaac can't quite save 'Operation Finale'
• 'The Nun' scares Demián Bichir, but will she scare you?
• 'Destination Wedding' is the anti-rom-com

‘God Bless the Broken Road,’ 2 stars

Director: Harold Cronk.

Cast: Lindsay Pulsipher, Andrew W. Walker, Gary Grubbs, Jordin Sparks.

Rating: PG for some thematic elements and some combat action.

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Movie review: ‘God Bless the Broken Road’

Another broken Christian film

By Ted Giese

Harold Cronk, known for directing the popular Christian films “God’s Not Dead” (2014) and “God’s Not Dead 2” (2016), wrote and directed “God Bless the Broken Road” for release in 2016, but the film didn’t hit theaters until 2018.

The title comes from the song “Bless the Broken Road,” written in 1994 by singer-songwriter Marcus Hummon with Jeff Hanna and Bobby Boyd from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and popularized by the country band Rascal Flatts in 2004.

The song, which describes finally finding love after difficulty and heartbreak, is heard at one point in the film playing on the radio and again during the closing credits, but otherwise doesn’t play much of a role in the movie and may seem tacked on for popular appeal.

Perhaps a better parallel to the film would be Jesus’s parable of the “mustard seed of faith” in the Gospel of St. Matthew (Matt. 13:31–32), which better illustrates the movie’s central themes.

“God Bless the Broken Road” portrays the life of a widow, Amber Hill (Lindsay Pulsipher), mourning the death of her husband and struggling to stay afloat as a single parent of a young girl, Bree Hill (Makenzie Moss).

Her husband, Darren Hill (Liam Matthews), died fighting in Afghanistan, leaving Amber their house, which she cherishes.

The news of her husband’s death, delivered to Amber during church choir practice, sent her into a spiritual tailspin, causing her to abandon her involvement in her congregation.

Also contributing to her declining church attendance is her job at the local diner, where she works every day, including Sundays, to make enough money to keep her and her late husband’s house.

Throughout the movie, Amber struggles with her faith; her grief; and her relationships with her mother-in-law Patti Hill (Kim Delaney), her daughter Bree, and Cody Jackson (Andrew W. Walker), a failed race-car driver and convict who, as part of his parole, serves as the leader of the youth outreach program at Amber’s church.

A struggle reminiscent of Job’s

At the center of Amber’s struggle is her anger toward God and her desire to provide for herself and her daughter without others’ assistance.

In some ways, she is her own worst enemy, repeatedly declining other characters’ offers of help and driving a wedge between herself and the people around her.

Her refusal to accept help eventually leads to the loss of the house that she desperately clings to in her grief.

Amber’s struggle comes to a climax in a scene strongly reminiscent of Job’s conversation with God, in which Job complains to God:

“Why have you made me your mark?” (Job 7:20).

Like Job, Amber feels targeted by God despite her and her family’s faith.

“Where is my reward for my faith?” she demands. “What are you going to do to fix this?”

She feels as if God is responsible for her husband’s death, the loss of her house, and her daughter’s turning against her.

Unlike Job, however, Amber receives no response as she airs her grievances on the steps of the church she no longer attends.

Her one-sided conversation ends with her breaking down, collapsing to her knees, and admitting, “Please, Lord, I can’t do this; I need you,” at which point her story turns the corner.

Individual faith or God’s grace?

Although an overtly Christian film, “God Bless the Broken Road” is so focused on Amber and her general plight that it leaves the impression that her faith is more important than God’s grace.

In an early scene, the preacher at Amber’s church, Pastor Williams (LaDainian Tomlinson), speaks of those absent from the church pews, saying, “God is not done with them. … If they’re willing to turn to Him with just the tiniest seed of faith, He will show them that nothing is impossible.”

Cut to a Sunday-school room, where Amber’s daughter Bree and another child are reading the words of Jesus to His disciples:

“Truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20).

When Bree comes home from Sunday school with a mustard seed planted in a pot, Amber says to her, “Some seeds don’t grow where we live.”

The film ends with a shot of the same pot, broken in an earlier scene, now repaired and boasting a newly sprouted seed.

This final shot symbolizes how all is now well in Amber’s life.

She doesn’t get her house back, but she has a home and a new relationship with a race-car driver. She has reconciled with her daughter, and she stands in church singing “Bless the Broken Road.”

Like the Book of Job, “Bless the Broken Road” can be seen as depicting a confrontation between God and one whose heart has been broken.

However, the film fails to acknowledge the possibility that not all wounds may be healed in this life.

Christian viewers should remember that scriptural accounts such as the story of Job are descriptive, not prescriptive, and that prayer is not transactional as portrayed in the film.

A better model of prayer is provided by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer, which includes the petition “Your will be done on earth as in heaven,” acknowledging that God’s will is good and “done without our prayer,” as the Small Catechism explains.

The film hints at this truth but would have shown it better without the cajoling “if” of the preacher and Amber’s dramatic breakdown on the church steps.

As in a romance or romantic comedy, it takes place precisely 25 minutes before the end of the film, after which everything is resolved.

Had the moment come closer to the beginning of the film, it would have better illustrated how God comes to people even in their suffering and grief.

The potential for an honest, engaging Christian film about grief and suffering is buried like a seed in the film but never given what it needs to germinate and grow.

A well-intentioned but muddled message

Rather than emphasizing Amber’s individual will and faithlessness over and against the will and faithfulness of God, a more powerful film would have shown God at work even in the midst of suffering, even in mundane things, to break and defeat everything set against Amber’s faith, including her own stubbornness.

Such a film would have made it clear that it was God, not Amber’s own actions or prayers, strengthening and keeping her firm in His Word and her own “mustard seed” of faith.

As it is, the film may inadvertently send suffering viewers the message that they have no faith or that their faith is somehow insufficient.

The narrative of Amber’s dormant faith, which turns out to be just big enough for God to act on, is well-intentioned and potentially inspiring to many viewers, but may have the opposite effect on some, leading them to compare their faith to that of others rather than trusting that which God has given them.

“God Bless the Broken Road,” while better than “God’s Not Dead” (2014) and “God’s Not Dead 2” (2016), still suffers from melodramatic, Hallmark-style acting, writing and direction.

There is a market for this style of filmmaking, and some will enjoy the film for its light, simple approach and lack of edginess. The subject matter, however, demands a more serious approach.

For audiences looking for a more raw, realistic portrayal of death and grief, a film such as “Manchester by the Sea” (2016) may be a better choice.

Another powerful film on the topic is “Shadowlands” (1993), the C. S. Lewis biopic starring Anthony Hopkins as the venerated author of the “Chronicles of Narnia” series, dealing with his short-lived romance and marriage to the American Joy Gresham and his subsequent grief following her death from cancer.

“God Bless the Broken Road” has not enjoyed the financial success or general buzz of earlier Cronk films and didn’t do nearly as well at the box office as other recent Christian films such as “I Can Only Imagine” (2018), which also hinged on the target audience’s familiarity with a popular song.

By now, people eager to see the film will have seen it, and those who stumble across it later and watch it expecting something profound or inspiring may be disappointed or frustrated.

Hope springs eternal that Cronk will one day provide a theologically solid film that captures the hearts and minds of Christian and non-Christian viewers alike, a film that by the will of God reaches people with the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

Rev. Ted Giese is lead pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church , Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; a contributor to   The Canadian Lutheran and   Reporter ; and movie reviewer for the  “Issues, Etc.” radio program . Follow Pastor Giese on Twitter  @RevTedGiese .

Posted Oct. 15, 2018

Contributing Writer

Hurricane michael strikes coastal lcms congregations, obituary: rev. dr. alvin v. kollmann, former southern illinois district president.

• Authors and Contributors

Campus clips: Learning for all ages

Countdown to Call Day 2024

GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD

"love triumphs".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Anger toward God, girl is angry toward her mother, daughter runs away from home, fighting between woman and her widowed daughter-in-law, disreputable pawnbroker, callous banker, foolhardy race car driver.

More Detail:

GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD tells a profound, poignant story of a war widow named Amanda who gets angry at God, loses her faith and is brought to her knees to restore her life. The movie is very clean and evangelical, with brief war violence and deep, insightful discussions about why bad things happen to good people.

The movie opens with a scouting party of American 101st Airborne soldiers in Afghanistan treating their expedition with humor and grace. Cut to Amanda leading the church choir. She is a picture-perfect wife and mother with a beautiful voice. Then, two soldiers walk in to tell Amanda her husband, Darren, has just died in combat. She collapses.

Cut to Amanda sometime later not wanting to get up to go to church, but her daughter, Brie, wants to go to Sunday School. She drives Brie to church. Then, a professional race car driver named Cody, who’s been sent to train under Joe, a racing expert who runs an auto repair shop in disrepair, sees Amanda in the church parking lot and is impressed. Cody is full of himself and unwilling to learn how to drive his race car properly so he can finally win a race. Amanda wants no part of anybody, including Cody. She’s running out of time and money.

Amanda starts working longer hours as a waitress. She gets a loan from a disreputable pawnbroker because the bank is heartless and wants to foreclose on her mortgage. Amanda’s mother-in-law wants to take care of Brie and thinks Amanda’s doing a bad job raising Brie. All Amanda has left from Darren is the house and her ring, and she pawns the ring and loses the house.

How can Amanda see God’s love in the midst of all these trials and tribulations? How can she be reconciled with Patty, her mother-in-law, and Brie? How can Cody turn into the man he should be, not only to win races but also to win Amanda?

GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD is very well crafted, with good direction and fine acting from a cast that’s not well known. The story is heartrending and poignant, with great orchestration of some lighter moments that keep it from becoming maudlin. It’s a testimony to the price that everyone needs to pay to defend our freedoms, not just the soldiers but also the families. It is also a great expose and refutation of bad theology that helps viewers realize the depth and breadth of God’s love in the midst of trials and tribulations.

MOVIEGUIDE® advises a slight caution for younger children and people who are sensitive to psychological pain. That’s because of the death of the father in the movie, the spiraling out of control of the mother, the potential for self-destruction, and some other serious themes.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.

clock This article was published more than  5 years ago

Good intentions and a diverse cast aren’t enough to save ‘God Bless the Broken Road’

“God Bless the Broken Road,” named for a song made famous by Rascal Flatts, is a well-meaning, competently made faith-based drama. But good intentions and a diverse cast aren’t enough to spread the gospel beyond moviegoers already invested in God (and country music and NASCAR). And it’s unfortunate that the tribute to veterans that is so much a part of the movie’s marketing turns out to be little more than a framing device that’s dispensed with for most of the plot.

Set in a small town in Kentucky, the movie revolves around Amber (Lindsay Pulsipher of “True Blood”), whose angelic voice used to lead the church choir in devotional country songs until she stopped going to church two years ago after her husband was killed in Afghanistan. Her daughter, Bree (Makenzie Moss), however, keeps the faith, planting a mustard seed, which, as the parable says, grows from small beginnings, much like the kingdom of Heaven.

The young widow struggles to make ends meet, working extra shifts at the local diner and taking high-interest loans from a pawnshop. She’s in danger of losing her house, much to the chagrin of her mother-in-law (Kim Delaney of “NYPD Blue”). Amber considers moving on with her life when she meets Cody (Andrew W. Walker), a hotshot racecar driver who’s had his own troubles.

There are powerful themes of doubt and redemption here, and character actor Gary Grubbs (“The X Files”) is convincing as Joe, the avuncular auto repair-shop owner who teaches “Speed Racer,” as he calls Cody, to slow down when he takes a curve. Ironically, this faith-based film requires a suspension of disbelief: Joe’s lesson is an apt metaphor for life, sure, but how could Cody have had any success on the track if he didn’t already know when to slow down? The parables of Jesus are instructive because they speak to real struggles, but Cody’s hubris is pure contrivance.

Worse, extras in group scenes stare at the camera uncomfortably, as if director Harold Cronk (“God’s Not Dead”) failed to give them any guidance. The filmmakers display technical proficiency — shot rhythms and graceful camerawork suggest an omniscient power gently observing His charges — and there is a natural drama in seeing flawed humans struggle with their belief.

But aside from Grubbs’s genuine wisdom, the characters for the most part play inspirational pawns more than three-dimensional people, their relationships held together by the most slender of threads. “God Bless the Broken Road” plants a seed of evangelical drama, but its efforts to proselytize are unlikely to bear fruit.

PG.  At area theaters. Contains mature thematic elements and some combat action. 105 minutes.

Review: ‘Bless the Broken Road’ has a too-busy plot

The growing faith-based film industry is on a quest for stories that will connect with audiences or draw pre-existing ones. Mostly, the content has come in the form of true stories, from the Bible, medical miracles or visions of Jesus. Now there’s a new subgenre: faith-based movies inspired by popular songs.

This year’s “I Can Only Imagine,” based on the MercyMe smash hit, was a box-office hit. The film’s plot chronicles the life events that inspired lead singer Bart Millard to write the wildly popular song’s lyrics. Now comes “God Bless the Broken Road,” directed by Harold Cronk (“God’s Not Dead,” the upcoming “Unbroken: Path to Redemption”). The film is based on the 2004 Rascal Flatts hit “Bless the Broken Road” and combines NASCAR and the war in Afghanistan to craft a story connected to the song.

Lindsay Pulsipher stars as Amber, a widow with a young daughter, Bree (Makenzie Moss), who loses her faith when her husband is killed in Afghanistan. Two years after his death, her house on the verge of foreclosure, she’s struggling to make ends meet while waiting tables at the local diner. Amber has lost her connection with church and with God, but she catches the eye of a handsome stranger, Cody (Andrew W. Walker), a bad boy NASCAR driver who rolls into town after a crash. He’s being forced by his coach to do some small-town community service. Naturally, he starts teaching the youth of the local church, including Bree, how to build their own go-karts while wooing the grieving Amber.

The plot’s conflict is a bit strained. The denizens of the small town, seemingly straight from the 1950s, are awfully judgmental of the young pair. Cody is apparently supposed to be a bad guy because he crashes a lot, but isn’t that what they do in NASCAR? Furthermore, there isn’t a shred of charity shown toward war widow Amber, who has to pawn her engagement ring to make house payments. Everyone shows terrible judgment all around, except for her friends from church (Robin Givens and Jordin Sparks) who have the good sense to show up with a ziti every now and then and find her a new home.

The film’s story tries to combine too many elements, and the effort to reverse-engineer the plot to incorporate the song title further complicates things. It’s unclear what anything in the movie has to do with Rascal Flatts or the song, except that Amber sings it at the end during her triumphant return to church. This come after a series of trials: She loses her home, and her daughter runs away on a go-kart and to go live with her judgmental mother-in-law. Then she learns the story of her husband’s death from his Army pal, and then there’s a climactic NASCAR race during which her new boyfriend drives a commemorative car decked out in pink camouflage and eagles.

What “God Bless the Broken Road” does have going for it is a better-than-expected performance by Pulsipher, who plays the winsome but broken Amber with a deep sense of sensitivity. She manages to hold together this hodgepodge of random story elements that otherwise don’t make much sense together at all.

‘God Bless the Broken Road’

out of four stars

Rated PG; mature themes, combat action

1 hour, 51 minutes

Opens with Thursday screenings

Find Family Movies, Movie Ratings and Movie Reviews

God Bless the Broken Road Parent Guide

The movie’s biggest weakness is its predictability..

Military widow Amber Hill walks "the broken road" of grief as she tries to raise her daughter alone. Where will she find help and hope to light her way?

Release date September 7, 2018

Run Time: 111 minutes

Official Movie Site

Get Content Details

The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.

Amber Hill (Lindsay Pulsipher) is barely treading water. The death of her husband (Darren Hill) in Afghanistan has left her with a daughter, Bree (Makenzie Moss), a house she can no longer afford, mother-in-law problems, crushing grief, and shattered faith in God.

Cody Jackson (Andrew W. Walker) is a slow learner. The stock car driver keeps on crashing cars. Cody is so obsessed with speed that he refuses to listen to cooler heads telling him to decelerate in the turns so he can accelerate in the straightway. His exasperated manager sends him to Amber’s small Kentucky town to train with local garage owner and racing expert, Joe Carter (Gary Grubbs).

God Bless the Broken Road would be a better movie if the answer to any of these questions were in doubt. The movie’s biggest weakness is its predictability: there is very little uncertainty about how the story is going to turn out.

That being said, viewers looking for a family-friendly movie that extols the virtues of Christianity and American patriotism will find little to complain about here. The film has a strong didactic message about the power of faith and prayer for oneself and others and it provides numerous examples of kind, caring church members who reach out to support the young widow and her daughter. Positive messages about community, compassion and forgiveness are the highlights of this picture.

The only potential content issues center around the ambush in which Darren Hill (Liam Matthews) is killed. Firearms and rocket propelled grenades are used in this scene and American soldiers are wounded and killed. The violence is highly sanitized, though, and no blood or graphic injuries are visible.

Families looking for a faith-promoting evangelical Christian production will likely enjoy this release. But those with different belief systems will likely not find the same satisfaction walking the “broken road”.

About author

Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for god bless the broken road.

God Bless the Broken Road Rating & Content Info

Why is God Bless the Broken Road rated PG? God Bless the Broken Road is rated PG by the MPAA for thematic elements and some combat action

Sexual Content: A woman kisses a man on the cheek.

Profanity: None noted.

Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted.

Page last updated December 5, 2018

God Bless the Broken Road Parents' Guide

Amber loses her faith in God when her husband is killed. Hardship and loss can often test the faith and resilience of people, even those with strong religious convictions. Why do you think bad things happen to good people?  How do we respond when we feel like we don’t deserve the adversity in our lives?

News About "God Bless the Broken Road"

“God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.” So goes the chorus of the country music classic, first recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994. Its message of love giving meaning to life’s hard times kept the song in the country music pantheon, and Rascal Flatts’ cover scored a Grammy Award in 2005. The movie incorporates the message of the hit song into the story of Amber Hill, played by Lindsay Pulsipher, a military spouse who has lost her husband in Afghanistan. Struggling to raise their daughter, she walks “the broken road”. This release is the latest Christian film directed by Harold Cronk. Recent directorial projects of his include the God’s Not Dead series and Unbroken: Path to Redemption, which also releases in 2018.

The most recent home video release of God Bless the Broken Road movie is December 4, 2018. Here are some details…

Related home video titles:.

Dear John tells the story of a couple whose relationship is tested by his military commitments.

A young widow struggles to move forward after her husband’s death In P.S. I Love You .

Down in the Delta tells the story of a single mom’s struggles and the strength found in extended family.

• Artistic Reviews
• Testimonials
• Free Pass/Newsletter
• Member Login

I have subscribed to ScreenIt for more than a decade. I check in every week to take advantage of their amazing services. Not only does their site provide a glimpse of exactly what content a movie offers, I've found the “Our Take” reviews and ratings for each movie to be right on the money every single time. I've referred dozens of friends to this service because my #1 resource for deciding whether or not to show a movie to my kids, or to see one myself, is ScreenIt.com! Josh Nisbet Director, State of CA Public Sector

I signed up to get Screen It weekly reviews a long time ago, when my kids were young and I wanted to know more about movies before we went to a theater or rented. Now one child is in law school, other in undergraduate, and I still read the weekly Screen Its! It helps me know what my husband and I want to see or rent, and what to have waiting at home that we all will enjoy when my "kids" come home. I depend on Screen It reviews. They usually just present the facts and let me decide if the movie is appropriate or of interest for my family and me. Thank you for providing that service, Screen It! Patti Petree Winston Salem, NC

I have 4 children who are now in college. I signed up for Screen It when my children were pre-teenagers. Often my children would ask to see a movie with a friend and I wished I could preview the movie prior to giving permission. A friend told me about ScreenIt.com and I found it to be the next best thing to previewing a movie. The amount of violence, sexual content, or language were always concerns for me and my husband as we raised innocent kids with morals. We constantly fought the peer pressure our kids received to see films that in our opinion were questionable. With the evidence we received at Screen It, our kids couldn't even fight us when we felt a film may have been inappropriate for them to watch. Thank you, Screen It. Continue to make this helpful service available to everyone, but especially the young parents. Christine Doherty Machesney Park, IL

Screenit.com is an amazing resource for parents, educators, church groups or anyone who wants to make an informed decision whether a movie is suitable for their viewing. The reviews and content descriptions are so detailed I am mystified how the reviewers can put them together. Scott Heathe Vancouver, BC

I love screen It! I don't know what I would do without it. It is well worth the membership. Before we take our son to the movies we check it out on screen it first. Thank you SO much for making it. Keep up the good work & keep 'em coming!!! Patrina Streety Moreno Valley California

Watch GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD Videos

You may also like:.

God Bless the Broken Road (2018)

Full cast & crew.

Directed by 

Writing credits  , cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification  , produced by , music by , cinematography by , editing by , casting by , production design by , art direction by , costume design by , makeup department , production management , second unit director or assistant director , art department , sound department , visual effects by , stunts , camera and electrical department , casting department , costume and wardrobe department , editorial department , location management , music department , script and continuity department , transportation department , additional crew .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

Contribute to This Page

• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• User Reviews
• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed