Film Review #11: I Can Only Imagine 2
"Now we all have hepatitis."
The long-anticipated sequel to 2018's I Can Only Imagine features John Michael Finley reprising his role as MercyMe lead vocalist Bart Millard.
Warning: there are spoilers ahead.
Following a significant time jump, "I Can Only Imagine" has become the most successful song in the history of Christian radio.
Unfortunately, Bart struggles to navigate the complexities of his personal life, as a rigorous touring schedule repeatedly takes him away from his wife and their five children -- particularly their son Sam, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes following a childhood seizure.
As the story unfolds, Sam begins to resent Bart for constantly nagging him over his blood sugar level, but as an aspiring musician himself, quickly agrees to join his father on the road for MercyMe's upcoming tour.
Band manager Scott Brickell soon reveals fellow Christian singer Tim Timmons as the opening act for the tour.
While on the road, Timmons takes a liking to young Sam Millard, ultimately inviting Bart's eldest son to play guitar during his set.
Timmons is a man of great faith, marking his wrist with an "X" each day as a symbol of gratitude towards God, and carrying around a hymn book as he strives to write a song as impactful as "It Is Well with my Soul".
Midway through the grind of touring, Sam collapses due to low blood sugar, prompting further tension between the Millards, as Bart recalls the conflict with his own father.
In a stunning turn of events, Timmons now reveals to Bart that his wife is pregnant, but he may not live to meet his child, as he has been diagnosed with cancer.
He then hands Bart a demo recording of a song called "Even If", in hopes that Bart will help him finish the track.
Thus, Bart's journey of personal growth and reconciliation can begin.
When MercyMe's bus breaks down on tour, Bart attempts to mend his relationship with his son by being honest about his own struggles, and passing down his father's guitar to Sam.
After Timmons collapses and is hospitalized, Bart finally carves out the time to listen to his demo and help write the requested verses.
On MercyMe's final night of tour at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, Bart spots Timmons and his wife in the crowd, and fittingly closes out the show by debuting their co-written track.
"Even If" soon becomes MercyMe's most successful song since "I Can Only Imagine", Timmons beats his cancer prognosis to become a father of four, and Sam continues his musical career under the moniker "Sam Wesley".
My rating: 6 out of 10.
For its target audience, I Can Only Imagine 2 might feel like a slam dunk.
The success of its predecessor raised this franchise's budget from $7 million to $18 million for round two. The characters are likeable. The story is heartfelt. The demand was not in question.
To the average moviegoer, however, this sequel is hindered by its source material.
Quite frankly, the story doesn't feel quite as compelling this time around.
The dynamic between an abusive father and his son raised the stakes much higher than a father and his son simply miscommunicating over his son's Type 1 Diabetes.
Additionally, "I Can Only Imagine" has become a cultural phenomenon in a way that an alternative Christian single struggles to replicate.
This film's saving grace (pun intended) is Milo Ventimiglia's remarkable performance as Tim Timmons.
What were your thoughts on I Can Only Imagine 2? Feel free to leave a note in the comments below, let's discuss :)
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