Breakthrough Reviews

Breakthrough, Directed by Roxann Dawson (The Americans) and written by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds) tells the true-life story of John Smith and his miraculous revival and recovery after being dead for nearly an hour.   John Smith (Marcel Ruiz – One Day at a Time), the adopted son of Brian (Josh Lucas – J. Edgar) and Joyce Smith (Chrissy Metz – This is Us) is an average teenager. He loves playing basketball, hanging with his friends, and testing the patience of his parents. In typical teenage fashion, he and two friends think they are invulnerable and go out on frozen Lake Sainte Louise. Unfortunately, the ice gives way under them. Rescuers manage to save his friends, but John stays under for 15 minutes and remains without a pulse or any functions for an additional 40 minutes. It is only when his mother is praying for a miracle after being told to say her goodbyes that a pulse appears… but physicians are certain John’s troubles are far from over. What ensues is two weeks that even the doctors believe are miraculous.   The story, despite the unbelievable (yet true) elements, rarely wanders far from being engaging. Much of this is because the filmmakers take few obvious liberties with what has been reported about the 2015 event. There are a few moments that stretch the imagination and seem out of place, but for the most part, the script is solid. Unlike many films with a religious message, Breakthrough doesn’t often get preachy or pushy with its message.   Metz delivers a strong performance with a few stumbles along the way. Her greatest strength is her capability of presenting real emotion in the most poignant scenes. These stumbles and some of the issues with the supporting cast could be because of an attempt to play particular traits of the real-life people, and if this is the case the film would have been better served if these remained underplayed. Most notable of these is That 70s Show’s Topher Grace as Pastor Jason Noble. He seems almost tentative and unsure before, during, and after the tragedy.   The most surprising technical element for a film of this type is the exceptional use of lighting, combined with inspired cinematography. The craftsmen use light and shadow to convey importance and focus the viewers’ attention in a particular way. These also contribute to the overall down-to-earth and straightforward tale.   Overall, Breakthrough’s message of hope in the face of utter hopelessness is uplifting and inspirational. Most fans of positive-message dramas will find something to love here, and fans of faith-based films will enjoy the refreshingly subdued story as well.