DVD Review: To Save a Life

To Save a Life – A Sony Pictures’ Release

http://www.tosavealifemovie.com/

DVD Release Date: August 3rd, 2010

Rated 14A for language may offend, and substance abuse

Running time: 120 minutes

Brian Baugh (dir.)

Jim Britts (writer)

Christopher Lennertz (music)

Timothy Wynn (music)

Randy Wayne as Jake Taylor

Deja Kreutzberg as Amy Briggs

Joshua Weigel as Chris Vaughn

Sean Michael Afable as Jonny Garcia

Robert Bailey Jr. as Roger Dawson

Our reviews below:

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To Save a Life DVD Review By John C.

** (out of 4)

Jake Taylor (Randy Wayne) abandoned his best friend Roger (Robert Bailey Jr.) when he entered high school.  Three years later, when Roger commits suicide in the school hall, Jake carries with him the guilt that he could have saved Rogers life.  When he is confronted by local pastor Chris (Joshua Weigal), Jake joins a local church youth group and goes on a mission to help the other “uncool” kids at his school.  With problems at home, and a girlfriend that he ends up being more committed to than he bargained for, Jake starts to feel like he is the one that needs saving.

To Save a Life is a noble, well-intentioned effort, but it often misses its mark.  It falls apart when it veers entirely into melodrama, trying to slap the hand of practically every issue that could possibly plague a teenager.  If they’d kept the focus on the tragedy of teen suicide and self-abuse then they actually could have had a good story here.  But the last half of this film is pretty much all over the place, with the melodrama so high that it stops being believable.  The overall religious message is admirable, and there is some fine stuff here, but at 2 hours the film just can’t sustain itself and should have only run for about 80 minutes.

The Blu-ray includes audio commentary, a making of featurette, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

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To Save a Life DVD Review By Erin V.

** (out of 4)

In To Save a Life, Jake Taylor thinks his life is going as he wants.  He’s popular, and winning a basketball scholarship to the university of his dreams.  He’s got the girl and going out to parties weekly.  But 3 years ago when he entered highschool, he abandoned his childhood friend, who was deemed ‘uncool.’  When that same friend, feeling alone and with no one to turn to, commits suicide one day at school, Jake starts to feel guilty and reevaluate his priorities.  Then, the local pastor invites him to a youth group he runs, and Jake begins to realize that the kids he used to shun are better friends than those in his ‘jock clique.’  As he questions his own way of life, he discovers that sometimes just being there as a friend can truly ‘save a life.’

It’s not that it’s a bad film per se – and the heart is certainly in the right place – but it tries too hard to throw everything into the mix and hit you with all kinds of teen issues.  We have drinking problems, teen pregnancy, parents separating, etc., along with the central story about teens becoming depressed and being at risk for suicide when shunned by the ‘cool kids’.  This all makes the running time far too long, and if the film had been more focused on its core messages of acceptance, it could have been worked into a stronger film.

Still, I can see this film being welcomed by some highschool-aged church groups, and it does provide for an interesting opening for discussions about important issues.

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To Save a Life DVD Review By Nicole

**1/2 (out of 4)

It is a known fact that every person in the world is connected to one another.  But no one can predict how those connections affect others.  This is the premise of To Save a Life.  Jake (Randy Wayne) a popular kid in an average high school, has his life turned upside down when his old friend Roger (Robert Bailey Jr.) shoots himself in the school hallway.  Jake feels responsible for Roger’s death, as he lost touch with Roger a while back in order to be with the “cool kids.”  To make matters worse, Jake’s parents are splitting up, and his girlfriend is pregnant and thinking about abortion!  Fortunately, after a hard night of partying, Jake is rescued by a kindly youth pastor, who convinces him that God has a plan for his life.  Jake realizes that, although he can’t bring Roger back, he can help prevent another tragedy. by being a friend to other lonely kids.  One such kid is Jonny Garcia (Sean Michael Afable), a quiet, geeky boy who is awkward in social situations and struggles with self-mutilation.  Jake helps Jonny see the light and, in turn, finds it easier to deal with his own clustercuss of a situation.

To Save a Life has good intentions, but its biggest downfall is that it tries to cram in every possible social problem in the same film.  The film would have worked better if it ony focused on teen bullying and suicide, and left out the extra melodrama.  And I couldn’t believe Randy Wayne, who was obviously picked for the teenage girl market, as a 17-year-old, when he looks 25.

However, despite the flaws, To Save a Life is a wholesome movie, with an inspiring and empowering message.  This one would be great to show in high schools, church groups, or just to watch with the family.

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To Save a Life DVD Review By Maureen

** (out of 4)

To Save a Life is a well-intentioned, Christian centred movie for teens that focuses on the issue of teen suicide.  The story involves Jake (Randy Wayne), a popular high school athlete.  When his childhood friend Roger (Robert Bailey Jr.) takes his own life Jake wonders if he could have done anything to prevent the tragedy.  Jake finds himself torn between spending time with his girlfriend Amy (Deja Kreutzberg) and their party buddies and the new group of individuals he meets through a local church youth group leader, Chris (Joshua Weigal).  In particular Jake finds himself drawn towards another troubled youth, Jonny (Sean Michael Afable).

The message and moral of the story is clear – look beyond your own problems and with God’s help reach out to others so that no person ever feels alone.  While I really liked the message and the intention behind To Save a Life the movie got carried away with trying to cover every possible challenge and difficulty teens and young adults might face.  The movie touches on suicide, binge drinking, drug abuse, unplanned teen pregnancy, divorce, cutting, depression, school cliques and more.  Had it stayed more focused on the one main issue, teen suicide, the message would have been more powerful.  At two hours this movie goes on way too long.  Still, church youth groups might want to show this one over two nights and use it as an opportunity for discussion.  To Save a Life is not a bad movie, it just tries too hard to be good.

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To Save a Life DVD Review By Tony

** (out of 4)

To Save A Life opens with Jake at Roger’s funeral.  Through flashbacks we see how in the sixth grade Roger broke his leg saving his best friend Jake from being run over.  As a black kid left with a limp, Roger was cut off from the rest of humanity, including Jake once they reached high school.  Now in senior year Roger had just walked into school and shot himself.  Between fulfilling his father’s dream to major in basketball at Louisville U with a minor in Beer Kong, Jake and his shallow girlfriend Amy had no room for Roger in their clique.  Inspired by “Souled Out” youth pastor Chris, Jake is saved just in time to reach out to Jonny the school geek and save him from a similar fate through Jake’s new Christian Fellowship lunch clique.  Jake also manages to save the fruit of his own indiscretion from abortion and after a “Ganoogle” search start up an “Our Space” support group in Roger’s name.

Well meaning but rather long at about two hours, To Save A Life has the look of a low budget after school inspirational film. With a serviceable cast it gets its main message across rather well but is hokey at times and cluttered with too many extra scenes.  The “Church Friendly” version may be shorter but less appealing.

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Consensus: Although the overall religious message of To Save a Life is admirable, at two hours the film is ultimately too long and quickly delves into melodrama as it tries to cover all the bases of teenage problems. ** (Out of 4)