“Moving and Powerful, BREAKTHROUGH is one of those films that will touch your heart, as it reaffirms your belief in the power of God…” – Kathy Kaiser, Matinee Chat
BREAKTHROUGH – Rated PG – 1 hr. 56 mins.
DIRECTOR: Roxann Dawson (This is US, The Americans, House of Cards)
WRITER: Grant Nieporte
STARRING: Chrissy Metz, Topher Grace, Josh Lucas and Marcel Ruiz
Based on the real-life story of St. Louis native, John Smith (Marcel Ruiz), who tragically falls through the ice on Lake St. Louis, and drowns. When his mother Joyce (played by Chrissy Metz) finally gets to the hospital, only to find her boy has been pronounced legally dead, she prays for God to save her son, and as the miracles begin to unfold, John regains a pulse…
As the prayers continue for John in his tragic state, Pastor Jason Noble (Toper Grace), and the entire St. Louis community rally behind him and his recovery, even though the Doctors think that John won’t survive ~ as the miracle continues, when John walks out of the hospital, totally unscathed by his ordeal, a few weeks later…
I give BREAKTHROUGH a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN and WAIT AND CATCH THIS FILM ON DVD. Of course, if you live in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, and saw the true-story as it was unfolding on our air waves, you have no choice but to view this film on a big screen near you. You will be touched by not only the tragic events as they unfold ~ but by the miracle itself too ~ as there won’t be a dry eye in the house while you view this film. Metz is superb as the adoptive mother, who receives a true gift from her Lord and Savior, when he sees fit to bring John back from the brink of death. Ruiz is also incredible playing John, as he goes from fun loving teenager, to drowning victim, to a young man with a purpose, having been saved, and without any long term affects from his ordeal. Toper Grace is also really good playing the Smith’s Pastor, Jason Noble, as he is there to support the family every step of the way, whether Joyce wants him to be there, or not. The most important thing that I came away with from this film was the fact that “Miracles do happen”, and that with Faith in God, and your fellow man…things can change for you, and your loved ones, in the blink of an eye. So, if I liked this film so much, why not rate it a total MUST SEE? Because, even though I love true stories, and the passion and conviction portrayed within them, BREAKTHROUGH itself, plays out more like a “made for TV” movie, forcing me to also put out there, that if you don’t live here in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, or if you aren’t into Christian films, you might want to wait to see BREAKTHROUGH when it hits on DVD, but I still suggest that you see the film in its entirety, so that you too can experience what a “true miracle” John’s existence here on earth, truly is…
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 