OPINION:
When the clock strikes midnight and the month changes to October, the entire world shifts into horror overload. And movie theaters are no exception. With offerings like “Saw X,” “The Exorcist: Believer,” and “She Came to Me” there’s not much to offer hope and encouragement.
Enter “What Rhymes With Reason” a movie that focuses on God’s plan for our lives and God’s mercy in the face of life’s struggles.
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Check out the review from Higher Ground partner, Plugged In:
What Rhymes With Reason – In Theaters One-Day-Only, October 10
“Darkness is part of us, but it doesn’t have to define us.”
We hear these words toward the end of “What Rhymes With Reason,” and they sum up the reason for the movie itself. The film is being released in theaters for just one day, Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day. Partnering with 988 Mental Health Lifeline and Fathom Events, “What Rhymes With Reason” tackles the sensitive issue of mental illness in an unusual context: an adventure dramedy.
That may feel counterintuitive, but the approach can work. I’ve struggled with depression myself, and sometimes a silly joke can do more for me than a heart-to-heart. Laughter might not be the best medicine. But in the realm of mental illness, it can be a pretty nice analgesic.
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Admittedly, that conceit comes with its own set of issues. The movie does have a “Goonies” vibe to it — what with its treasure maps and secret doors and even foreboding castles. The film can swing rapidly between light-hearted hijinks and soul-baring pain. Questions like “Do I want to see another sunrise?” can sit a bit uncomfortably next to “Who should I ask to prom?” Sure, mental illness isn’t a cookie-cutter thing, and that tension probably reflects the experience of some. But in the context of a movie it can feel a bit false.
But I liked what the movie was trying to do. So often, laughs hide the pain. Here, laughs form an important counterpoint. So often people bury their anxiety and grief. Here, they allow it to breathe. And that’s what those of us who suffer from mental illness must remember to do, too. Breathe. Talk. Trust. Healing can’t take place by holding all the darkness inside a black bottle. You need to open it up. Pour it out. And, hopefully, let it drain away.
The film acknowledges that these issues have no quick fix. A trip to Zion’s Point — or a trip to a well-meaning movie — won’t make everything better. But perhaps they can be catalysts for real healing — the choices we make each day and the help we find along the way. And if “What Rhymes With Reason” pushes the dialogue along, we’re all for it.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by: Paul Asay.
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