REVIEW: KJ Apa and Britt Robertson’s Winning Chemistry May Not Be Able to Save “I Still Believe”
Life is never easy and we all face obstacles each day, some worse than others. It is how we handle these obstacles that help define who we are. For some, the desire is to face these obstacles solo, for others they look to a higher being to guide them on their way. In Lionsgate’s I Still Believe, Jeremy Camp (KJ Apa) looks to this higher being to heal his wife suffering from a terminal illness and to remind him to always believe.
Based on the real lives of Christian singer, Jeremy Camp and his wife, Melissa (Britt Robertson), I Still Believe follows the couple from when they first meet at college to the diagnosis that will change their lives forever. The movie lightly touches on Camp’s beginning steps to becoming an award winning, contemporary Christian singer. The real focus is the relationship between Jeremy and Melissa, their beliefs, and their relationship with God.
Apa steps into the role of Camp and is captivating as the Christian singer. Apa uses his own musical talents to draw the audience with every musical scene. His romantic scenes with Robertson will also have audience members swooning. Apa’s take on this character is much different from his role as Riverdale’s Archie Andrews, but just as enjoyable. Robertson’s take on Melissa is heartbreaking and inspiring. The character goes through many different emotions throughout the movie and Robertson navigates through them with ease.
Gary Sinese and Shania Twain play Camp’s father and mother, Tony and Terry Camp. The two are fun choices but there is such a missed opportunity in not capitalizing on a musical scene between the three. There also isn’t much backstory on Camp’s family until the end, which creates many questions with not enough answers.
This movie is not going to be for everyone. As I stated earlier, the movie focuses a lot on the characters’ beliefs and is extremely faith based. The story isn’t also entirely captivating. It has its good moments, but there aren’t enough to keep audience goers fully engaged. However, fans of Apa and Robertson will want to check this flick out. I would recommend waiting until the movie is released On Demand or on DVD though, this way you can watch the film at your leisure.
Grade: C