Movie Review “I'm in love with a church girl”
Biographical and a Cultural Criticism
The movie shows Miles Montego trying too hard to change his lifestyle within a short period. Having been a major drug dealer for a while, and while still maintaining strong contacts with his former colleagues the conversion to Christianity is a tall order for Miles. He is in love with a strict church girl, has just gone through a traumatic loss of mother, faces criminal challenges from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and has to handle the accident of his girlfriend Vanessa. Miles’s conversion to Christianity ends up not being a climax or a wholly convincing biography.
The film features interracial stars, and it could thereby be seen as stamping authority on controversial interracial stereotypes. Miles is an African American and his association with drug dealing could be taken as a continuity of the stereotype that African Americans have a culture of violence and tendency to commit crimes.
Symbolism used in the movie
The opening scene shows a guard walking across the cell blocks while shining with godly light. The light could be symbolic of the presentation of God as an illuminating light over those imprisoned by life’s circumstances. The light could also show the ever present help or illumination of God even to those who are not Christians and His willingness to help them come from the mire of life. The illumination is significant to the plot as it signifies Mile’s seeing the “light” and getting converted to Christianity in the latter stages of the film.
Irony used in the movie
The irony used in the movie is the manner in which Miles, formerly a drug dealer, gets converted to Christianity and almost seems to surpass Vanessa’s faith, in spite of Vanessa initially struggling to convince him to attend church. This irony aids the plot of the film by validating all the issues that come to Miles’s way en route to him accepting conversion to Christianity. The deaths of Mile’s mother followed by Vanessa’s accident seem to strengthen Mile’s faith in God and prayer life thereby strengthening his Christian beliefs.
Allusion used in the movie
Miles had the allusion that he would someday date Vanessa. He is in love with her and the allusion that she was already his lover pushed him to pursue Vanessa relentlessly. As such, Miles’s allusion sets the course for the film by giving the plot a certain path-that of Miles pursuing Vanessa without giving up. As such, the hardships that come along the way only serve to make the plot more interesting.
Sound effect used in the movie and its enhancement of the movie's tone and mood.
The sound effect commonly used in the film is the background music. In several instances such as the conversations between Vanessa and Miles or where a member of Vanessa’s church talks about dating, Christian music plays in the background. The use of such music gives the movie a Christian theme and substantiates the main assertion of the film-conversion of a non-Christian to a Christian. The music gives the film a tone of joy and hopefulness due to the expectations of conversion and Miles ultimate adoption of a changed lifestyle coupled with a loving marriage.
Significance of at least one setting to the story's plot
The setting where Vanessa visits Miles’s house for the first time is quite significant to the film’s plot. This setting showed the appreciation that Vanessa began to develop towards Miles. It shows a turning point in Vanessa’s reconsideration of Miles as a potential partner. Prior to the visit, Vanessa had not considered Miles as one who was ready for marriage. The visitation sets the plt of the movie on a new course and one that ultimately led to a proposal and increased commitment between the protagonists.
Works Cited
Im in Love with a Church Girl. Perf. Adrianna Bailon, Jeff "Ja Rule" Atkins. 2013. Film.
