Approved for 12+

The Playbook

Steven Thomas (Mick Preston) strives to live a worthy life as a loving father and basketball coach. However, after a tragic accident caused by a drunken friend sees Steven's family torn apart, Steven struggles to come to terms with forgiving the person responsible, and this causes him to lose a grip on those things most important to him. But as his ideal world begins to fall apart, it is through the support of his young basketball team that he manages to use his basketball playbook to rekindle his spiritual strength and be the father he was meant to be. He not only inspires his young team to realize that there is more to life than winning basketball games, but he also gets his life and family back on track.

"The Playbook" is an inspirational feature film that will move you to tears and have you cheering for the underdog.
8
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
0
Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

“The Playbook,” based on a true story, does a fine job demonstrating that God is with those who go through times of sorrow and pain. Mick Preston does a terrific job playing Steven Thomas, an Aussie high school basketball coach who is a committed Christian and husband and father. His son Jackson (nicknamed Jax) wants his independence and feels that his father is preaching at him all the time. Jax convinces his father that he is ready to stretch his wings and that he can be trusted. His father allows him to attend a party with the warning that he will be tempted to drink because alcohol will probably be there. Jax comes to the aid of his friend Cody when Cody gets into a fight.

On Christmas day, Jax wants to leave following dinner to hang with Cody and his family. Steven permits it. When Jax attempts to reach Steven later that evening to come pick him up, Steven is asleep. Cody’s drunken father attempts to take Jax home and this results in tragedy.

Soon Steven is riddled with guilt and grief, and in anger turns from the very God he preached to his son about. Can time heal the wound and allow Steven to forgive the man responsible for his greatest loss? This compelling story is awarded our “Faith-Friendly” 12+ Seal. The movie makes a statement about good coming from bad, and its themes of forgiveness and endurance are stirring.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

Boys fight and one has bloody face, lip and bruises; man is seen with bloody chin from an accident; shoving between basketball players; comments about gangbanging.

1
Sex

Boy and girl kiss.

1
Language

Shut up-2; Sucks-2.

1
Violence

Boys fight and one has bloody face, lip and bruises; man is seen with bloody chin from an accident; shoving between basketball players; comments about gangbanging.

2
Drugs

Underage drinking; comment about a friend getting drunk; comment about a young man being "smashed;" drunken man drives and causes a tragedy.

1
Nudity

Woman in nightgown; cleavage in a scene or two; shirtless boys; young men in shorts.

2
Other

Tension between characters; son tells his father he can't see past his "stupid Bible" but they make amends; sudden death and great grief; father kisses his dead son's face; man throws his Bible in anger but he makes peace with God later.

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