GOD HELP THE GIRL
An affecting Scottish musical about faith, healing, and second chances.
Should You Watch It?
GOD HELP THE GIRL is an affecting, entertaining musical with a terrific pop score. Its songs should put a smile on your face and a tap in your toes. More surprisingly, the movie includes positive references to God, faith, church, and the Bible. Its title means what it suggests: God can help Eve if she lets Him into her life.
The cost is substantial. Eve’s story involves recovery from an eating disorder and possibly a suicide attempt, along with serious discussions about mental health. The movie also includes a sexual encounter, brief lewd content, alcohol use, and several profanities, including a few “f” words.
Adults who can engage these subjects thoughtfully may find real encouragement here. Families with children or young teens should choose something else. For discerning adults, this is worth the trip; for younger viewers, wait for another film.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEve is an insecure teenage singer living in a mental-health facility in Scotland. After escaping, she meets James, a music-making dreamer, and Cassie, another singer.
The three begin writing and performing music together while Eve searches for stability, healing, and a place to belong. As their friendships and musical ambitions grow, Eve must confront the problems she hoped to leave behind.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a good, affecting film with clear flaws. GOD HELP THE GIRL’s strongest element is its music. The pop score is terrific, and the three leads display remarkable new talent. The movie is entertaining and carries emotional weight.
Its main artistic weakness is length. The review says it should have been 15 to 20 minutes shorter to achieve perfection. Even so, it remains an engaging musical with a strong moral undertone and an appealing central idea.
The Worldview
GOD HELP THE GIRL has a romantic worldview, but it also contains several positive references to God, faith, church, and the Bible. These references give the movie a strong moral undertone much of the time. Its faith perspective is matter-of-fact rather than preachy, suggesting that God can help Eve if she allows Him into her life.
At the same time, the story takes place in a liberal setting in Scotland and includes sexual content, teenage rebellion, drinking, and frank discussion of mental and emotional problems. Eve appears to find a measure of healing through songwriting with James and Cassie, but the film’s romantic elements complicate that hope.
Written and directed by Stuart Murdoch of the British pop group Belle and Sebastian, the film reflects his use of Christian and faith references in his lyrics. The result is a secular musical that still points toward God and may lead some rock and pop music lovers to consider spiritual matters.
The film’s longing is for healing and help beyond what Eve can provide for herself. Scripture gives that longing a clear direction: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light mixed pagan worldview with strong Romantic elements combined with overt references to God, church and faith but in a liberal setting in Scotland; 11 to 15 obscenities and profanities, including a few “f” words; some light violence; brief sexual content includes quick shot of a teenage couple passionately kissing with the girl’s clothed breast caressed, and girl later seen waking up in his bed, but she feels guilty about the sexual encounter; depictions of Scot teenagers drinking alcohol; no smoking or drugs; and, teenage rebellion, teenage pranks against adults, frank discussions of teenage girl’s mental and emotional problems, including her eating disorder and suicidal tendencies (she seems to overcome her problems through her songwriting expression with two other youths.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Eve’s music becomes a way to express what she is facing. How can honest creative expression help someone seek healing, and when should it be joined with help from others?
Proverbs 12:25 · Galatians 6:2The film includes references to God, faith, church, and prayer. What might it look like to let God into a painful part of your life?
Psalm 34:18 · James 4:8The story includes romantic choices that leave Eve feeling guilty. How should guilt lead us toward truth, confession, and wiser choices?
1 John 1:9 · Ephesians 5:8–11Eve’s mental-health struggles are serious and should not be treated casually. How can Christians respond to people who are suffering with patience and compassion?
Romans 12:15 · 1 Thessalonians 5:14The Final Word
GOD HELP THE GIRL offers discerning adults terrific music, emotional honesty, and an unexpectedly positive attention to God and faith. Its romantic content, profanity, lewd moments, alcohol use, and serious mental-health themes make it unsuitable for children and young teens. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For younger viewers, consider.
