I found the interview, ninth entry down on the left side.
This page from their website is pretty clear that it’s specific, religious faith:
I think people are sort of drawing the wrong inferences about a PG rating. It doesn’t have to mean that anyything is “bad” but that sometimes a movie may contain thematic material which some parents would want to provide “guidance” about if their children see it. Naked religious proselytization would be a perfect example of that. There is apparently a scene in this movie where a high school football coach preaches about Jesus to one of his players:
There’s nothing wrong with the MPAA determining that a parent may wish to be present during a scene like that or may not wish their kids to see it at all.
The same CPC victims who are bitching about this would have a hemmorage if their kids were exposed without warning to a pitch for the LDS Church.
I think Lute is misinformed about this film. It’s definitely evangelically Christian in its message.
I get my information directly from the filmmaker. How can I be misinformed?
Yeah, one scene.
Telling someone “[N]obody’s forcing anything on you. Following Jesus Christ is the decision that you’re going to have to make for yourself.” is “preaching”?
What does that have to do with pregnancy? 
Much ado about nothing. Who really looks at those ratings anyway? If the trailers look good and the reviews are decent we go. If not we stay home.
Disclaimer: My youngest child is 19, he decides for himself what is appropriate for him. I hate to think of bringing up a child today, for sure I would block the SDMB on the 'puter…
The filmmaker is a prevaricating douchebag. The scene speaks for itself.
Because a Christian filmmaker may indeed see a Christian message as just generic old faith. He won’t be likely to acknowledge anything else - like a fish in water doesn’t know he’s wet.
Because a filmmaker often makes different statements in interviews, or even in print or web ads for his film, depending on what audience he’s speaking to at the moment. If he was talking to Fred Phelps, he’d spin it very differently then if he was talking to the Dope.
Because movies may change radically from one edit to another, even if the shooting is completed. That particular interview may have been talking about another cut, and the one screened to the MPAA might be more blatant than the one he was talking about.
The fact is that the word “Christian” is used many times on the film’s website, and there are links to inspirational stories about Christians in football. I don’t have a problem with a Christian movie, but to say that this isn’t one is ludicrous.
I think it’s both obvious and puzzling that the MPAA spokesperson is back-pedaling, and it’s very annoying. It’s not, however, the first time the MPAA has annoyed me, nor will it be the last.
Saying “It will change your life forever” is a message, especially when it’s it’s made in the context of a smug assumption that it’s the only reason one would not “accept Jesus.”. I wouldn’t want my kids exposed to that kind of heavy-handed preaching without my knowledge.
The reality you live in is an interesting one, and sounds fun. You should make a movie out of it.
If I had kids, I sure as hell would want to give them guidance before they could watch something that would purportedly change their life forever. No other movie about teen pregnancy and hard times would get a G rating; this one shouldn’t get a free pass.
This movie was made by “Sherwood Pictures” which is a, I’m using their words, ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church. They also produced another movie called “Flywheel” which is as equally hokey as this movie.
These folks are a little err… persistent. I point blank had to tell them to leave me alone.
[QUOTE=WhyNotThe fact is that the word “Christian” is used many times on the film’s website, and there are links to inspirational stories about Christians in football. I don’t have a problem with a Christian movie, but to say that this isn’t one is ludicrous.[/QUOTE]
Good thing I never said it’s not a Christian movie. Sure, it has a Christian message, and the filmmaker acknowledged that the scene referenced by Dio is what likely the primary reason for the rating, but to judge the movie on a single scene? I’d think Dopers are better than that.
Yeah, it’s a message but it’s not exactly preaching. More like witnessing.
Where’d you get the idea that it mentions teen pregancy? AFAIK, the only pregnancy talk is between the coach and his wife.
Obviously, I am delirious. How is it a Christian movie, but not a religious one?
It has a Christian message, and a Christian website, and it’s produced by a ministry of a Baptist church. I don’t think anyone here is basing their judgement of it as a Christian movie on one scene.
Really, it’s OK to admit you are wrong. We won’t think any less of you. You were misled by a misleading interview. Nothing wrong with that.
It’s not impossible to be Cristian without being religious. Just ask anyone who believes in God but doesn’t go to church.
Sorry but you’re not a very good authority on prevaricating douchbag filmmakers.
Who’s judging it? We’re commenting on a rating. I’m a parent and I try pretty hard to monitor what kind of religious content my kids are exposed to and offer some explanation or guidance to them about certain things. I wouldn’t appreciate being sandbagged by a film that tries to get my six-year old alone by selling itself as some kind of innocuous entertainment and then hitting her between the eyes with a Jaysus sermon. The PG rating doesn’t even prevent kids from seeing the movie, it’s just a heads up to parents that it’s got an overtly religious theme to it and not every parent is going to agree with that theme. Even the more abstract “faith” message (specifically any idea that people can’t be moral without religious faith) is something I would have a significant disagreement with.
I diagree. Witnessing is talking about one’s own experiences. Talking about what Jaysus can do for YOU is preaching – so is telling somebody that they “need to get right with God.” …not that I think it’s a very significant distinction between witnessing and preaching anyway. I don’t necessarily want my kids exposed to either without parental guidance.
Sorry for not putting these replies in a single post but I’m having browser trouble and would rather lose some short posts instead of one long one.
That’s not what I meant. It sounds to me like Dopers are using that one scene as evidence that a good portion of the movie, if not the whole thing, evangelizes.