THE SECOND CHANCE
Dramatic and uplifting — a compelling call to live out your faith.
Should You Watch It?
THE SECOND CHANCE is a heartfelt Christian drama with a clear challenge: faith should be lived out in word and deed. Its story of two churches, divided by distance and perspective, becomes a call to courage, sacrifice, integrity, and practical care for needy people.
The movie’s strongest performances come from Michael W. Smith, who brings natural charisma to Ethan, and Jeff Obafemi Carr, whose passionate performance as Pastor Jake is the film’s real discovery. The drama is uplifting and encouraging, though the eight light obscenities and brief references to gang activity and drug dealing make it a poor fit for younger children.
If you want Hollywood to make more movies with explicit Christian content, this is worth supporting. For family viewing, use your judgment about the youngest viewers.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEthan Jenkins is the son of Jeremiah Jenkins, a successful televangelist who founded an inner-city church during the Civil Rights era before moving to the suburbs and building a large church there.
When Ethan is sent to help at the original congregation, he clashes with its passionate pastor, Jake Sanders. The two men must confront their differences and find the courage to build a bridge between their churches when the congregation’s future is threatened.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a good, worthwhile film with noticeable flaws. THE SECOND CHANCE succeeds as a heartfelt, dramatic, and uplifting Christian story. Michael W. Smith effectively uses his natural charisma, while Jeff Obafemi Carr brings plenty of passion to Pastor Jake.
The script could use more energy. At times, the camerawork and editing create minor confusion about exactly what is happening. Still, the film’s moral purpose is clear, its performances are promising, and its ending is dramatic, encouraging, and uplifting.
The Worldview
THE SECOND CHANCE presents a very strong Christian worldview. It speaks positively about Jesus, worshipping God, witnessing to troubled people, Bible passages, and living out faith through integrity, sacrifice, and helping needy people at the expense of personal comfort and pleasure.
The film challenges comfortable Christianity that gives money but does not offer personal involvement. It also emphasizes courage, bridge building, and practical service. Its Christian leaders are not presented as perfect, but the central conviction is that faith must shape what believers do.
The film includes a couple of politically correct elements, including a black pastor chastising white Christians and a metaphorical reference to Malcolm X. The pastor contrasts Plymouth Rock with “the Rock of Ages,” Jesus Christ. These choices may distract some viewers, but the movie’s central message remains a direct call to Christian action.
Scripture makes the same connection between belief and obedience: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian worldview with positive references to Jesus, worshipping God, witnessing to troubled people, and Bible passages and with very strong moral elements about living one’s faith, integrity, sacrifice, and helping needy people at the expense of one’s own comfort and pleasure, as well as a couple of possibly politically correct elements such as black pastor chastises white Christians and Christian pastor makes odd metaphorical reference to Malcolm X (who was a negative role model and who became an anti-Christian Black Muslim, which is a racist cult of Islam) and Malcolm’s misleading anti-American statement that Plymouth Rock “landed” on the black man, then pastor talks about trading in Plymouth Rock for “the Rock of Ages,” Jesus Christ; eight light obscenities; some threats of violence and man is beaten up; no sex, but Christians minister to unwed pregnant teenager; no nudity; no alcohol use, but Pastor leads class for recovering addicts; no smoking, but some light references to dealing drugs, such as man in car pays for small pack of drugs; and, civil disobedience, churlish behavior and two leaders of a large non-profit Christian group led by a televangelist engage in secret business dealings.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
What would it look like to live out your faith in word and deed this week?
James 2:17 · 1 John 3:18When can giving money become an excuse for avoiding personal service?
Matthew 25:35–40 · 1 John 3:17Why do courage and sacrifice matter when helping people in need?
Joshua 1:9 · Philippians 2:3–4How can Christians build bridges with people who see church, service, or faith differently?
Romans 12:18 · Ephesians 4:1–3The Final Word
THE SECOND CHANCE is a sincere, encouraging Christian drama with strong moral purpose and promising performances. Its light content concerns call for discernment with younger children, but older children and adults may find a meaningful challenge to put faith into action. WORTH THE TRIP.
