Title: SHE PRAYED

Starring: Eddie Watson, Yvonne Nelson, Pascaline Edwards, Luckie Lawson

Synopsis:
A christian woman pleaded for God’s help when life’s circumstances caused her son to abandon his belief in the higher power.

Review:

As a young boy, Pharez (Eddie Watson) watched his mother experience financial hardship after his father was murdered. She then lost her job at a hospital that she was loyal to, and Pharez lost his best friend in an accident. Through all the turmoil, his mother still avidly worshipped God but Pharez questioned a God that watched their lives decline.

Eighteen years later, Pharez was a successful lawyer and he had officially renounced God. His mother was still a huge part of his life and she watched him live a life lacking spirituality while he adored the wrong woman. Only prayer could bring about a change of heart.

Let’s Talk. This is a faith-based film. There’s a huge market for this genre and I personally think the world needs more of them. 

There were quite a few things that I liked about the story. It started in the past when Pharez was a little boy growing up in an impoverished village. These scenes offered an understanding of how he came to lose faith in God. I prefer this story structure as opposed to starting in the present with flashbacks to the past but story layout depends how the writer wishes to present the story.

The movie was about faith in God through both tough times and prosperity. It was rather preachy as it recited the bible and displayed fervent prayers.  

Pharez, the main character, never regarded God for his success and the worst thing the writers could have done was take him on a journey from reckless to deliriously religious. Instead the story ended with a glimmer of hope and the chance of new beginnings in Pharez’s life. 

Although there were facets of the movie that I appreciated, somewhere along the way it fell flat. God ruled but the story didn’t. The village scenes were the start of something intriguing but then it dipped into a sedating pace. Although it entailed ridiculous chick drama, the tale wasn’t captivating enough and there was difficulty ascertaining where the story was headed.

Performances were on par. Eddie Watson just seemed more handsome than ever and I will always admire Yvonne Nelson’s ability to easily adapt to whatever role she’s playing.

Speaking of Eddie Watson, he teamed up with Eddie Nartey to produce this movie. All I can say is experience is the best teacher and that they should continue on this avenue of their careers.  

“She Prayed” may have been rich in spirituality but it was limp when it came to a heightened sense of story that could have put it on the map. EJECT