DVD review; Flywheel

Are you tired of all the modern films that seem to lack both purpose and message? Then Sherwood Pictures has a DVD for you: Flywheel. Produced in 2003 by a church called Sherwood Baptist in Albany, Georgia, this film was the first of three amazing family films. Sherwood produced Flywheel as a local outreach to their community. The film was made in 5 months with a $20,000 budget and premiered in the local theater. The film was so popular that the theater kept it showing for six weeks. After that it continued to spread and pretty soon Flywheel was being shown nation wide. Flywheel is pretty obviously a first film, but its message, characters and storyline make up for that. The film looks more like a fancied-up home picture than a Hollywood film. It has good music, well done voices and good lighting, but it doesn’t have all the animation and finishing effects we’re all so used to. But that homemade feel actually helps the movie out. It looks more realistic allowing its message to hit harder and sink in deeper. The story is about a dishonest used car salesman, Jay Austin, who’s starting to go down hill. He has some serious debt, his son doesn’t look up to him and his marriage is falling apart. But one day something happens that begins to change his life. The pastor of Jay’s church comes to buy a car. Jay sells him a car for about $3,000 more than it was worth. The pastor naively believes that he got a good deal and prays that God will do unto Jay as Jay had done unto him. Jay knows he was dishonest and what the pastor intended as a blessing appears as a curse. Then begins a radical change for Jay. He realizes his mistakes and dedicates his life and his car lot to God. Things in his life start to improve. But Jay’s troubles aren’t over yet. Flywheel shows how God is faithful to those that truly follow him. It also has a very strong message about faith and prayer. Throughout the whole movie, Jay’s family continually prays for him and supports him when he makes good choices. They also try to point out his errors and help him change them, even though he doesn’t want to change at first. After Jay dedicates his life to God he starts to live off of faith. Faith that God will help him become a better husband, father and man in general. Faith that God will do what is best for Jay. And faith that God would come through and deliver Jay on His own timing. The film did and incredible job of getting these messages across. The sets for this film were very simple: consisting of Sherwood church, Jay’s home, the car lot and various other houses. The acting was realistic and very good considering that none of the people in this movie had any training. God truly blessed the people behind this film and allowed them to make a great out reach ministry. Overall Flywheel was very enjoyable and worth watching a couple of times. I highly recommend it.