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"THE GRACE CARD"
(2011) (Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom) (PG-13)


Alcohol/Drugs Moderate
Blood/Gross Stuff Moderate
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Extreme
Frightening/Tense Scenes Heavy
Gun/Weapons Heavy
Imitative Behavior Mild
Jump Scenes None
Music (Scary/Tense) Heavy
Music (Inappropriate) None
Profanity Minor
Sex/Nudity Minor
Smoking None
Tense Family Scenes Extreme
Topics to Talk About Heavy
Violence Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: An angry-at-the-world cop and a preacher who also works as a police officer find their lives challenged and changed when they're partnered together.
PLOT:
Mac McDonald (MICHAEL JOINER) is a 17-year veteran of the Memphis Police Department, but his surly attitude has repeatedly cost him any chance of getting a promotion. Thus, he isn't happy when a junior officer, Sam Wright (MICHAEL HIGGENBOTTOM), is promoted to sergeant and the two are temporarily partnered together. To make matters worse in Mac's eyes, the cheery Sam is often preaching the gospel -- what with having started a church with his wife, Debra (DAWNTOYA THOMASON) -- but he's also black.

The race issue is significant since it was a black man seventeen years earlier who accidently ran over Mac's young son while fleeing cops following a drug deal. That loss not only caused Mac to become a cop to try to prevent the same from happening to anyone else, but it also made him a bitter man. Accordingly, his relationship with his wife, Sara (JOY MOORE), is strained, especially when it comes to their surviving son, Blake (ROB ERICKSON), now a high school senior.

The father and son don't get along at all, which has prompted Sara to start seeing family counselor Dr. Vines (CINDY HODGE) in hopes of finding some sort of remedy. At the same time, Sam confides in Debra and his grandfather, George Wright (LOUIS GOSSETT JR.), that Mac's mean and racist attitude is straining his ability to be a good and forgiving Christian toward him.

As Mac's relationship with his family ends up even more strained than before, Sam searches his soul for a way to get along with his surly partner, with an unlikely turn of events ultimately changing all of their lives.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Those interested in the Christian themes and messages might be interested. Otherwise, it doesn't seem too likely.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For violence and thematic elements.


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