 recounts events in the life of author and inspirational speaker John O'Leary. As played by Joel Courtney, he makes a thoroughly sympathetic protagonist.){kind=link}
The touching though flawed fact-based drama Soul on Fire (Sony) recounts events in the life of author and inspirational speaker John O’Leary. As played by Joel Courtney, he makes a thoroughly sympathetic protagonist.
Gregory Poirier’s faith-tinged script, moreover, has a goodhearted tone and contains almost no problematic content. Yet the story it tells is, by its very nature, too grim for little kids.
As a nine-year-old (James McCracken), John caused an explosion and fire by playing with matches and gasoline that not only destroyed his family’s home but left him hovering near death.
Burned over 100 per cent of his body, he was initially given little chance of survival by the doctors treating him.
Yet, with the encouragement of his loving parents, dad Denny (John Corbett) and mom Susan (Stephanie Szostak), a caring male nurse named Roy (DeVon Franklin), and Hall-of-Fame St Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck (William H. Macy), John gradually healed and emerged from the hospital after a five-month stay.
Still, a difficult readjustment to life lay ahead.
Flash forward to his college years and O’Leary is a hard-drinking, party-loving fraternity brother. His freewheeling escapist lifestyle eventually gets reigned in, however, after he falls for fellow student and aspiring occupational therapist Beth (Masey McLain).
John initially hesitates to woo Beth, imagining that his scarred body and fingerless hands will prove an insurmountable barrier to romance.
But Beth’s compassionate influence on his life will ultimately contribute to his ability to spread his message of hope and resilience.
Although marred by some forced humour and awkward interactions, considered overall, director Sean McNamara’s screen version of O’Leary’s 2016 memoir On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, makes for uplifting viewing.
This is especially true of avid baseball fan John’s relationship with Jack. The latter is shown to be as clever as he is generous.
While the presentation of John’s wounds and pain-wracked recovery is restrained, it would nonetheless be too upsetting for youngsters.
Teens and their elders, on the other hand, will appreciate the light that awaits at the end of the dark tunnel John was forced to traverse.
The film contains frightening events, gruesome sights and at least one crude term.
The OSV News classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG – parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.