No Greater Love (2010)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Don't listen to the negative reviews

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Among the previous reviewers of No Greater Love there must not have been any classic movie fans. If so they would have immediately recognized the plot My Favorite Wife here. The only difference is that in the period of separation of wife Danielle Bisutti instead of her spending time with someone like Randolph Scott on a desert island Bisutti descends into the depths of degradation before finding religion.Bisutti is the Irene Dunne character and the Cary Grant character is Anthony Tyler Quinn. He's a workaholic husband with little time for wife and kid who grows up to be Aaron Sanders. She's been gone for ten years and he's thinking his son needs a mom. Work associate Alexis Boozer Sterling might fill the bill and he proposes.But in those mysterious ways Sanders finds Bisutti at some church youth group, her act all cleaned up and soon enough Quinn does as well. The problem now is that Quinn is not a believer.Cary Grant and Irene Dunne seemed to work it out without reference to religion. But as this is a Christian film it has to follow certain parameters.Nevertheless this one is not overtly preachy and it's entertaining and I love happy endings.

I found the first "introductory" part of the film (if that is what it was) a bit off-putting. I started to wonder if I was watching a Christian tutorial rather than a movie. I have only watched it once, (just got it), so I'm not sure what that was, but I think it would have been better put after the film or as some separate category.I'm glad I watched past those confusing first minutes. This movie was very well made, well scripted and very well acted, especially by the lead and supporting actors.I have not seen a LOT of Christian movies, but at least half a dozen or more, and I thought this was the most amazing, by far.The way the storyline is written on IMDb is not exactly correct, it gives of a good gist of what is going on in the movie.Something fascinating is going on in this movie. A woman who was not a Christian when she fell into a life of alcohol and whatever else, became a Christian during the ten years after she left her former life (and baby) behind. And, as is the true case, when a person becomes born again in Christ s/he becomes a new creation. Same body, same memories, same basic personality -- but new, and with a new priority and perspective in life. It is both subtle to "see" as well as enigmatic to experience, whether in one's own self or seeing it in another.This film went to depths I cannot honestly say I have ever seen in any other film, Christian or non. As to the person who called it "preachy," I beg to disagree. Explaining the Christian perspective is not preachy; it is simply a communication. I found this movie to be very non-preachy. I also found it interesting how no one actually seemed to "push" for the lead male character to consider becoming a Christian. Had that happened, then I would have agreed it was preachy. But that did NOT happen.The film also covered the worries and doubts of a newer Christian finding herself/himself in the "same" situation but with new parameters. Heather did not expect her "ex" to want her back. She was more ready for him to marry his "new" girlfriend. When the tables turned back to her and he wanted to be married to her, she remembered some of his bad habits in their former life together and worried about being married to him again as a Christian who would feel she had to "submit" to him. This is just one of many angles explored in the film. Another reviewer criticized Heather for not just coming out and saying that she didn't feel she could remarry him because of her Christian walk. But it's not that simple. There are many layers to the situation and she was trying to make her way through, at times her faith faltering. She was so very grateful that she had been forgiven; but really was not prepared for the possibility of reuniting to the family as wife and mother. That is a big deal -- and the film treated it as such.I'm lucky. I bought the DVD at the library not really knowing what to expect, and this is a film I know I will enjoy again and again.One last note: I found it strange that Lionsgate, at the beginning of the DVD, felt a need to basically say, "Lionsgate does not agree with the opinions in this film" or some such. Was that really necessary? (No, it was not!)

I absolutely loved this movie. I stayed up till 3:00 am to finish watching it. I though the ending was great. This is a great family movie that reminds us how we can all overcome our mistakes and tough times in life by believing in something bigger than ourselves. I wish more movies were like this. A movie with lots of emotion and suspense and unconditional love and kindness. Love that is based on faith, respect, and compassion for one another lasts forever. This movie teaches us that nothing is coincidence and that everything happens for a reason. I could see why an atheist or a non-Christian would not rent this movie. But if they do, they may find that it has meaning to them. That something bigger than ourselves always looks after us no matter what struggles and challenges we endure. Please rent it. It is a bit of a tear jerker at times which is what makes it feel so real.

Straight to DVD is usually done for films studios don't think will make it in the theater and so they dump it off (like some of Disney's animated sequels). However, in this case, the strategy was to involve people who already were searching for a good romance story (not the usual sex comedy that gets called a romance story these days) and also people of faith who would like to show it in groups as well as own a copy themselves and used outlets such as people connector websites, etc. to get buzz going and then released it so people could get it via retailers (like Wal- Mart, Target, etc )and online providers (Amazon.com,etc. which had it as number 1 in both family films and Christian films in terms of sales).It's not the typical 'hit you over the head' type 'message' film that we've seen so many of or the ones where the actors could barely pass for low budget TV actors. This was a well thought out and directed story. In the opinion of a friend who repaired film projectors both military and private for a living and thus has also gotten to watch a lot of films, quite possibly the best made film by Christians that even non- believers will see and not be turned off in the first 10 minutes. Give it a watch. I rated it maybe higher than I would just because the early voting (if you can call 15 votes voting) seemed to only be the pessimistic. Those that watched it and enjoyed it have families with kids and have more to do that write reviews for online sites. I hope many will get to it soon so that even more will seek it out.