Movie Review: The Second Chance (2006)

Recording artist, College professor, and movie director Steve Taylor is a big man. He’s tall. He plays, among many, a big instrument—trombone. And he dreams big dreams.

I became a fan of Taylor’s long ago when Sparrow Records released Meltdown. The songs “Sin for a Season” and “Baby Doe” haunt me as much as “Meltdown” and “We Don’t Need No Color Code” bite with satire. Steve’s music was the most distinct in my collection.Steve Taylor is a powerful visual communicator. In the same way his music never smacked of Christianese (and probably smacked a few Christians across their consciences), his movies look at spiritual and church life in all of it’s gritty reality.

Taylor’s movies are not discussed much among film reviewers, but should be. Blue Like Jazz, adapted from Donald Miller’s runaway bestseller, was ballyhooed and booed when it released. Taylor’s first movie, The Second Chance, is nearly forgotten and overlooked. The film, shot in Nashville, released the same year as Facing the Giants. Sherwood Pictures captured the mindshare of Christian moviegoers that year and ushered in what I call “The Golden Age of Christian Filmmaking.”

The Second Chance ruffled a few feathers. Megachurch meets innercity mission church. Evangelical superstar meets humble servant. Suburban life meets street reality.

Trailer

The Plot

Ethan Jenkins (Michael W. Smith) is a former rock star who comes home like the Prodigal Son to serve under his father, megachurch pastor Jeremiah Jenkins (J. Don Ferguson, Remember the Titans, My Cousin Vinny). Jenkins’ church, The Rock, planted another church, The Second Chance, in the inner city under pro-basketball-player-turned-pastor Jake Sanders (Jeff Obafemi Carr, Blue Like Jazz).

Sanders is tired of being used by Jenkins’ to raise money, ease his racist guilt, or both. On “Second Chance Sunday” when The Rock raises money for their inner city daughter church, Sanders stands in the pulpit looking at Jenkins’ congregation and says:

“If you aren’t willing to come down and get a little gravy on your shoes, just keep your damn money.”

Leadership at The Rock grows incensed and sends Ethan in. Some just want Ethan out of their hair. Others think it will be a growing opportunity.
At the beginning, Ethan works at The Second Chance with a sizable chip on his shoulder. Plus his prejudices and fears stand out like a clown in full costume and make-up in the middle of a choir dressed in robes. The chip is knocked off quickly and he shifts his attitude to service, but his prejudices still wear a red clown’s nose.

Ethan’s pride butts heads with Jake’s pride. Will either man learn anything? Will anyone in either congregation be shepherded?

Review

Many so-called faith-based films from this time period feel like afterschool specials, direct-to-DVD independent films, or made for basic cable. Not The Second Chance. It plays as a straight up drama.

Jeff Obafemi Carr never falters as a leading man. Great supporting performances by Don Ferguson, David Alford, and Kenda Benward lift the film even more. Michael W. Smith plays himself, so he comes off as authentic. Some of his lines are a little wooden, but enough of his performance scores that you can overlook it. Smith’s performance is only hindered by something that is a strength to the movie: you don’t like him in the beginning. You’re not supposed to. He is one of the ones being transformed through the story.

There are no bad angles, lighting is consistent, sound is spot-on—in other words, the low budget production doesn’t distract you. You don’t even notice it because the technicians are so capable.

Taylor nails the story’s emotional arc. When Carr achieves apotheosis, you’re moved. (I cried.)

Tai Anderson (Third Day) creates a score that is brought to life by the greatest studio musicians in town and whose orchestra is conducted by David Hamilton. Just take a look at the names listed in the IMDb profile under music to see.

The story is before its time. Watching it now, you might feel someone sat down and crafted a script after George Floyd died or in response to Black Lives Matter. This movie beats those issues to the punch by more than a decade.

Moments to Consider

Here are the three reasons I urge you to cue up The Second Chance soon . Just make sure to leave time for discussion after the final scene fades to black.

1. It is often said the most segregated hour in America is during church on Sunday. The Second Chance takes this painful fact and makes it my problem… and yours. So we all live with prejudice. What are you going to do about it.
2. Much ink is spilled (and pixels energized) over the poor quality of Christian cinema. The Second Chance is powerfully shot by seasoned photographer Ben Pearson who easily transitions from behind a still camera to a movie camera. The acting is genuine and emotive (even Michael W. Smith’s). Pros like the late Don Ferguson, Kenda Benward, and others move the story. And although Taylor was a freshman director on this film, his commitment to excellence and detail present a finished product. In my opinion, The Second Chance is the finest Christian movie next to The Hiding Place [IMDB | Amazon Prime].
3. We all need to be reminded of the power of our salvation. We are both saved from our pasts and saved to an abundant life. While you watch, you will be engaged in the master plot, but you will be moved by several of the subplots. At the end of the movie, you will be encouraged.

Watch the Full Movie on YouTube