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MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

The popular reality series “Duck Dynasty” (streaming on Hulu and A&E) ran for about six years and featured the large Robertson clan, a Southern bayou family who became millionaires by manufacturing top notch duck calls. They lived a modest family-centered life and were upfront about their Christian faith, praying at the dinner table before every meal. They were also very funny and spent a lot of time teasing one another when they weren’t out hunting ducks. They loved to hunt.

The Blind begins with two friends positioning themselves in a duck blind for a day of hunting. One of the men is Phil Robertson (von Andrian) and he is taking advantage of the day apart to share witness of his early life, his wayward ways, his loving wife, and the events that led to his acceptance of forgiveness, baptism, and new life in Christ.

The story begins with childhood memories of being part of a large family living a hard life in rural Louisiana. Although Phil liked to speak of his childhood as “happy, happy, happy” on the TV series, this film reveals that it was less than ideal. Dad (Clint James) was often absent from home working on oil rigs while Mom (Kerry Knuppe) suffered from mental illness which often led to emotional outbursts and confusion.

Phil (Matthew Eric White) soon begins a relationship with classmate Kay (Brielle Robinard), the local grocery store owner’s daughter. In spite of their class differences, they hit it off and Phil knows that this is the girl that he is going to marry. (I had a hard time believing that Kay’s family home was the lavish mini-mansion depicted in the movie.)

Phil is a football star in high school and then a quarterback for Louisiana Tech, but chooses to forgo a professional sports career because “it was hunting season”. Since he and Kay (Eve) are now married and raising a family, there are struggles to be sure. Phil decides to own a bar as his next business venture. (It’s never really explained how a poor struggling couple could afford to make this purchase.) Phil also finds time to teach at a local high school (but is fairly unreliable with that). Since Phil has real problems with alcohol, this does not turn out well and Phil and Kay’s marriage leads to separation.
Nevertheless, the love of a good woman and the persistence of a caring pastor (John Ales) will lead to baptism and new life for Phil.

The movie is fast-paced and filled with a large cast of characters, but covers Phil’s life only up to 1985. The story that I wanted to see was about how the duck call business was created and how the Robertsons found fame and fortune. I guess that’s for the next movie.

There is a sincerity about the importance of faith throughout, concluding with a mini altar call of sorts by the real Phil Robertson. Since the movie assumes that viewers know about Jesus Christ, this is one more example of an inspirational film stopping short of persuading those outside of the faith. It is up to the church to supply our own witness. Otherwise, it’s just the blind leading the blind.

Halo and Pitchfork Rating:

Four halos: A story of redemption and salvation is at the heart of this earnest faith-based biopic.
Two pitchforks: Some mild swearing, some heavy drinking, abuse from a mentally ill parent, and a lot of stuff getting thrown down and busted up when folks get mad.

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