I Still Believe

"[It] feels like the cinematic equivalent of the sort of Christian pop songs (...) Every emotion is telegraphed to the hilt, with results that feel more manipulative than affecting (...) Many audience members, of course, won't mind the manipulation at all" 

"[It] is broad enough to resonate with anyone who’s ever had to search in the dark for their own measure of faith. Or at least it might have been if the Erwin brothers weren’t so unwaveringly earnest with their sermonizing" 

"Andrew and Jon Erwin bring polish to inspirational films, but the storytelling is sunk by the usual tropes" 

"Call it a faith-based tearjerker (...) [A] blunt-spoken description of 'I Still Believe' should be taken as not so much a dismissal of its unabashed sentimentality as an honest appraisal of the film’s potential to deeply affect its target audience." 

"In the early scenes, the meet-cute romance between Apa and Henning is diverting enough, but everything happens so quickly it’s difficult to fully engage in the emotional ups and downs (…) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)" 

"This true story is without a doubt painful (...) [But] it’s not enough to merely say, “Here is a very sad thing that happened to someone—are you not inspired?!” You need characters with wants, needs, and flaws" 

"By offering nothing new, it’s still strictly for fans of the genre or, maybe, anyone looking forward to adding a little more belief in a higher purpose in their life right now — which might not be a bad thing these days (…) Rating: ★★½ (out of 5)"