Movie Review: I Can Only Imagine
By: Pastor Bob Tousey
The
Mercy Me song “I can only imagine” has always had a special place in my heart
and very often I will use its lyrics when delivering a message at a funeral to illustrate
that while we are on this earth we can not possibly imagine what Jesus has
prepared for us. So, when I heard about the movie I was excited. I am happy to
say I was not disappointed. While the movie has a slightly different plot than
I imagined when I first heard about the movie my heart was touched as I watched
the story unfold.
The
plot centered upon the story of song writer Bart Millard and his family as he
was growing up. His parents divorced, and he was raised by an abusive father. If
anyone is sensitive to scenes of domestic violence the movie may not be an
appropriate choice for you. However, it delivers a message of redemption and
grace. As Bart matures into a young man and sets out on his own to pursue a musical
career, he and his dad are estranged. However, his dad is diagnosed with cancer,
begins to read the bible and is transformed into a loving and kind man. The two
eventually reconcile and his dad’s transformation was the motivation for the
song “I can only imagine”.
There
are other story lines in the movie which depict Bart’s wife’s life long love of
Bart, Bart’s struggle in showing his love back. The movie also depicts the
struggles the band Mercy Me faced in their early days. All in all, it is a
wonderful and enjoyable movie which I highly recommend. While this review
shared some details, there will still be many enjoyable surprises for you as
you watch this movie. Go ahead, buy some tickets, you will be glad you did.
