Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

The Lost and Found Family

also known as “The Lost & Found Family,” “Mrs. Hobbes' House,” “What Goes Around”
MPA Rating: PG-Rating (MPA) for drug material and thematic elements.

Reviewed by: Elisa A. Walker
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Excellent!
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Family Teens Adults
Genre: Christian Drama
Length: 1 hr. 31 min.
Year of Release: 2009
USA Release: September 15, 2009 (church showings and DVD)
Copyright, Sony Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Sony Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures Copyright, Sony Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Sony Pictures

Love

Mercy in the Bible

Faith

Orphans in the Bible

Adoption

Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer

What about the issue of suffering? Doesn’t this prove that there is no God and that we are on our own? Answer

Does God feel our pain? Answer

ORIGIN OF BAD—How did bad things come about? Answer

Did God make the world the way it is now? What kind of world would you create? Answer

Teen Qs™—Christian Answers for teenagers
Teens! Have questions? Find answers in our popular TeenQs section. Get answers to your questions about life, dating and much more.
Parenting and family Q&As
Kid Explorers
Adventures in the rainforest! Learn about the Creator of the universe by exploring His marvelous creation. Fun for the whole family with games, activities, stories, answers to children’s questions, color pages, and more! One of the Web’s first and most popular Christian Web sites for children. Nonprofit, evangelical, nondenominational.
Featuring Ellen Bry
Lucas Till
Jessica Luza
Michael May, Greg Thompson, Cynthia Evans, Dolan Wilson, Bob King, Della Cole, Jeff Portell, Ken Colquit, Syvonne, Justin Carpenter, Stan Patterson, Teri Carpenter, Tonya Stoneman, Bruce Taylor
Director Barnet Bain
Producer Mrs. Hobbes' House Productions, Martha Almond, Bobbie Collis, Terry Collis, David E. Harshbarger, Jeff Ross
Distributor
Distributor: Sony Pictures. Trademark logo.
Sony Pictures Classics
, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment

“Sometimes when a door closes… a whole new world opens up.”

Five damaged foster children, two struggling foster parents, and one recovering widow—a story of love, hardship, and finding God. “The Lost and Found Family” is a heartwarming story that challenges the viewer about how God truly works in our lives, while encouraging the viewer to take a step back and see the work that can be done when we let God open doors for us.

Offensive Content?

I found nothing offensive with this film. But to be on the safe side, I will mention possible infractions in this film. The foster children have bad attitudes, trust issues, and bad manners—though who wouldn’t when they have been abused or abandoned. Teri (Jessica Luza) steals some of Esther’s (Ellen Bry—TV’s “St. Elsewhere”) jewelry. In the beginning of the movie, Esther’s husband has what seems to be a heart attack, but nothing is shown. Also, Justin (Lucas Till — “Hannah Montana: The Movie”) falls off his skateboard and scrapes his leg. Furthermore, Max (Michael May) has a heart condition and is rushed to the hospital; nothing is really shown except him lying on the floor looking a little flu-like. And, Teri is given speed by her friend but decides not to take the “tabs” and gives them to Justin (so as not to be tempted) who disposes of them for her sake.

“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother”; “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death”; “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (Romans 14:13; James 1:14-15; James 1:12).

Finally, this is a movie about foster children and foster-care, but it is shown in a very mild manner.

My Recommendation

Besides “Facing the Giants,” I don’t think I have ever seen a cleaner film. No violence, no sex and no profanity—wow! It’s a clean family movie for all ages; one of the few movies out there that an entire family can see comfortably, without any awkward moments. Although this was a great Christian film, had some touching moments, and had a great message about God, I would not go so far as to call it a “Blockbuster Hit.” Just be warned that this is a typical Christian film, with cheesy moments, borderline-average acting, a documentary-like feel, a substandard script and a sermon intermixed throughout the movie. I guess I wish Christian films could have bigger budgets so that they could reach a wider audience. In no way am I against Christian films or am I bashing them, I just think that Christian filmmakers should step it up a notch. Though corny and another run-of-the-mill Christian movie, I highly recommend it for its genre A+.

Violence: None / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—This movie was a treat to watch. I did not know anything about it when I first watched it. It was such a blessing not hearing curse words or seeing any violence. This movie is great for the entire family to watch. Great moral lessons from the Bible are located throughout the entire movie. I have recommended this film to everyone I know.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 4
Bonnie, age 32 (USA)
Positive—“The Lost and Found Family” has become a yearly teaching tool I use for my 5th grade preteen Sunday School class. After studying Sticky Situations and how a Christian should handle problems that arise when making the transition into Middle School and Youth, this movie ties many of our year’s themes together.

I purchased it from a local Christian bookstore, and this is my third year. We watch the movie about adults and kids in transition that are brought together in a foster family and their bad and good decisions that really bond them, in the end. Our kids love this, and the upcoming class has heard about this movie for movie day to the point they ask far in advance, if we are watching the movie the class watched last year. It opens the door to tie our year up with about 4 summary classes that follow from all we have studied over the past year.

The on-line material challenges the preteens to think and dig deep into what they believe and what the Bible has to say about making decisions. We have other families that borrow the movie, as well.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 4
Jerry, age 45 (USA)