The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry Review

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry isn’t out yet, but on September 18th it will be – in a theater near you. You are not only going to want to watch this film, but I believe you’ll want to invite everyone you know to come see it with you.

Hollywood keeps producing films that are not worth seeing - films that degrade women, encourage drug use and violence, and glorify the world. As a result, I don’t take my family to the majority of the films that are being put out by Hollywood; I simply opt not to go. But I want to take my family to the movies; I want to enjoy the taste of buttery popcorn while I watch a film on a huge screen in surround-sound. I want to watch the smiles on my children’s faces, as they sit next to me in a huge theater.

Unfortunately, most Christian films never make it to the big screen. Fireproof
(2008) and The Passion of the Christ (2004) are two of the last Christian films that made it successfully to widespread theatrical release. Isn’t it about time that we have another film that brings glory to God in the theater? The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry is this film.

Christiano Film Group (Time Changer, Unidentified) has done it again, this time with their biggest release to date. The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry stars Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat) as Sperry, and Robert Guillaume (Benson) as Barnes. The two are neighbors in a quaint town in the early 1970s. Their neighborhood is a safe one, where kids still ride their banana seat bikes and offer to mow lawns for a few bucks. Kids hang out with one another and fish under bridges while talking about their hopes and dreams. And, of course, there is a local bully who everyone loves to hate, and a group of three kids who are the stars of the show.

Dustin (Jansen Panettiere), Albert (Frankie Ryan Manriquez), and Mark (Alan Isaacson) are three best friends who are practically inseparable. One day, through the simple mowing of a neighbor’s lawn, Dustin and Jonathan Sperry meet for the first time. Sperry (Gavin MacLeod) invests in Dustin and his friends, and what follows is the journey of a lifetime - one that will impact generations to come and have eternal consequences.

I could tell you more, but I won’t spoil it for you. I will say that the film is fun and light at times, had me laughing out loud, and had me wiping tears from my eyes. It is a powerful and moving film that has had strong reactions from every festival it has been screened at. Look forward to watching this one on the big screen with your family and friends. You won’t be disappointed.

The Good

• The screenplay is incredibly well-written.
• The costumes, props and period-specific items are true to the setting and bring realism to the film. Small touches like sodas with straws, pulled up socks, photos of moon landing, and home décor are a huge plus.
• The cinematography and shot selections are excellent. There are times when the boys are walking and talking. You can hear their voices, but can’t see them yet. Eventually they walk into the shot and the transition and overall effect is clean, professional and very well done.
• Gavin MacLeod, in the role of Sperry, is remarkable.
• The interaction between Dustin, Albert, and Mark is fantastic. In fact, the acting as a whole throughout this film is believable.



DP Philip Hurn (left) and 2nd AC Jovan Sales (right)
with the boys before a scene

• Albert (Frankie Ryan Manriquez) is brilliant in his role and absolutely lovable. Rich Christiano was quoted at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival as saying, "Our sequel will be called Everyone Loves Albert."
• The interactions between Dustin and Barnes are my favorite part of the film. Robert Guillaume (Barnes) is extraordinary in his role.
• The musical interlude, where you see the kids having a bible study and then beginning to invite others (some who accept and some who reject), is a good scene. There is no dialogue, yet the message is clear.
• Rich Christiano does a superb job of not spoon-feeding the story.
• The contrasts that Christiano chose for the film are magnificent and detailed. For example, those who know Christ in the film have beautiful and colorful porches to their homes, while those who don’t know the King have dull and dreary porches. The boys who are the "good guys" all have white socks pulled up to their calves - as was the style at that time - while the "bad boys" have short, ankle-length socks. Another contrast is the appealing and colorful lemonade that Sperry has to offer and the dull, almost stagnant-appearing water that Barnes consistently has. Again, the detail that Christiano has in his film is phenomenal. I’m sure there is much that I missed.

Areas to Improve

• The film has an overt Christian message, as is the trademark of Christiano’s work. Yes, I put this point under both "The Good" and "Areas to Improve." The reason is that there are those who will approve of this approach, and some who will not. Regardless, this is Christiano’s trademark and I respect him greatly for taking a stand for the Christ.
• There is a scene with Dustin, his mother, and Barnes which is a good scene, but the mother’s parts seem "wooden" and lifeless. However, once Barnes leaves and it is just Dustin and his mother, she puts on a powerful, quality performance that rivals any I have seen. I wish she had been brought to this performance level in all of her scenes; she is definitely a gifted actress.
• The scene where the boys are given a lesson in the cemetery has a good message, but it is extremely overt and honestly a little creepy.
• My personal biggest issue with the film was the lack of period music. The late sixties/early seventies were filled with great tunes that could have been used in this film, and I was a little disappointed to see a period film without music from the era. However, I know that Rich Christiano has strong convictions regarding period music and I respect that. Learn more about Rich's thoughts on the film and this issue in particular in his exclusive interview.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry is a fantastic film that we, as Christian movie-goers, must support. We must support films like Sperry if we hope to have good quality, family fun entertainment with a message in our theaters, as an alternative to the worldly films being produced by Hollywood. Sperry has an overt Christian message, but it still plays well to audiences. I would encourage everyone to take anyone to see this film. It is refreshing to be able to say that without reservation.

Rich Christiano has put together a great film. Not only that, he has a distribution plan for this film that will bless the Christian community and will financially bless the ministries that sponsor the film. It is easy to get The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry into a theater near you, and to bless the ministry of your church at the same time. Want to learn how? Click here to find out about sponsoring this film with an almost non-existent risk to you and your ministry.

Well done, Christiano Film Group. I’m proud of this film, and I’m sure you are too. I pray that it will do well in theaters come September, and that Christian communities and community leaders across the nation will get behind The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.

Check out Christian-Movie.com's exclusive interview with
writer, producer, and director Rich Christiano

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