Hope is contagious.
That is the tagline of the new film, Letters to God, that premieres this Friday at the Regal Theater at the Downtown Mall. Yes, hope is contagious.
Though the Oscar-winner-devoid credits naturally do not inspire hope for the movie, the relatively low-budget film certainly has its credentials. It was produced by Kim Dawson, the genius behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The director of photography was Bob Scott, of Bourne Ultimatum, Any Given Sunday and Friday Night Lights fame. Emmy-nominated Colin O'Malley, who worked on Superman Returns, and Tomb Raider: Underworld, composed the soundtrack.
It's based on a true story. By general nature, these are not written or produced to be art so much as they are made to tell that story. Letters to God is no different. It tells the story of hope through the life of the real Tyler Doherty, a young boy dealing with both cancer and familial struggles. To cope, he writes his questions, his prayers and his hopes to God through letters. Much like those letters to Santa children write each year, they only made it to the post office and into the hands of the carrier charged with the task of finding something to do with them. In this case, it's the curious and downtrodden Brady McDaniels. And in a Pay it Forward sort of way, Tyler's letters looking for hope give him reason to hope, a sentiment that it passed along with every letter he delivers.
As I said, if you are looking for an indie flick, this is all-American. If you are looking for an art piece, this is life. At times, it is cheesy. At times, it is slow. It is not a feel-good or a happily-ever-after or a tightly-written classic. Do know that it is a story of faith. Do know that it is a story of cancer. Do know that it, like life, is messy and will make you cry. If any of these things makes you uncomfortable, this film is not for you. The writers of NYMag.com wrote simply based off a synopsis that "something tells us it's not meant for a New York audience."
If, however, you want a peek into just one story from within the community so many of you just shaved your heads to help; if you want a down-to-earth reminder, for those of us with that passion to change the world, that you can and you do help it in ways you had not realized; if, you wish, as Washington Post blogger Kathie Torres said, to "walk out of the theatre with hope and ... be inspired to make a difference;" if you simply want a reminder that there is hope, this film may just be worth a watch.
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