This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
What a difference a day makes!
Plot Overview
"Based on a true story, not easy to hear." We're given in situ a thumbnail biographical sketch of Texas born and bred Abby Johnson (Ashley Bratcher) whose pro-life parents had to consult Dr. James Dobson's book, The Strong Willed Child for guidance with her upbringing. When she enrolled at Texas A & M, she became a “party girl.” After a failed marriage and two abortions, she became a volunteer host at Planned Parenthood. She rose in its ranks to become their youngest clinic director ever. Along the way she acquired a decent husband and a lovely child.
All that wonderful, potential biographical material is glossed over to focus on the hard work of abortion providers and the difficult task of their protestors. To the film's credit, it does provide a more or less balanced treatment of both sides. Abby herself is both a loving mother and a strong advocate for women's reproductive rights. She holds firmly with Planned Parenthood's stated goal to make abortions rare through birth control education, but to keep them safe and available when needed. Bravo! Nevertheless, contrary to its mission statement, Planned Parenthood's business model is to make money, which it does through abortions not birth control education.
By and by, Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas. We see a newscaster's big weather map with lines marked in red and blue. Rather than cancel the appointments scheduled for when it makes landfall, Abby reschedules them for the morning, calls in extra staff, and with them doubles down on their duties. Then they hightail it out of there before it hits. Similarly, in an opening scene Abby fills in on an abortion procedure where she observes a black and white sonar display of a fetus being aborted. It makes her sick. Somehow she works it out in her mind that as with Ike, the pregnant girls could handle the inconvenience of bringing their pregnancies to term rather than lose the human life they carry. She acts accordingly and faces an aftermath. These are both judgment calls, or course, whether Ike threatens human life or whether abortion does, too. Nobody remembers Ike though it was a bad one. The viewer is free to make up her own mind, although someone rated the movie R because of it
Ideology
We hear an excerpt from a sermon quoting David in the psalms where he allows (Psalm 139:13-14) that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the womb. Leader Shawn (Jared Lotz) of the pro-life demonstrators remarks on the efficacy of prayer, quoting (2Chron. 7:14) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Their group is seen prominently toting their Bibles suggesting there might be more to be said on these (and other) subjects if one wants to look into it.
Production Values
“” (2019) was written and directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon. It stars Ashley Bratcher, Brooks Ryan, and Robia Scott. Dr. Anthony Levatino played the doctor performing the abortions. He's a real life doctor who once performed them, thus giving the movie some verisimilitude. Ashley Bratcher successfully portrayed a woman who went through various changes over the years. Her emotional range was up to it. The other women in the film held their own as well. Jared Lotz did a good job portraying the opposition leader. The rest of the males managed to say their lines, which seemed to be all that was required of these place holders in a chick flick. Faith-based films are notorious for their product being less than professional grade. “Unplanned” in restricting its focus gave us less to go wrong. It could have been worse.
MPAA rated it R for some disturbing/bloody images. I found them more disturbing than I was prepared for. It's mercifully just 106 minutes long. It falls short of being outright propaganda, but having an open mind helps it go down better. The pacing was just right.
Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation
It is what it is. Abortion isn't pretty. The wholesome family scenes were downright nostalgic if briefly shown. Would we had a better world. Escapist this movie is not.
Movie Ratings
Action Factor: Weak action scenes. Suitability For Children: Not Suitable for Children of Any Age. Special effects: Average special effects. Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day. Suspense: A few suspenseful moments. Overall movie rating: Three stars out of five.
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