Breakthrough – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital Code

“When Joyce Smith’s (Chrissy Metz) adopted son John (Marcel Ruiz) falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost as John lies lifeless. In the face of every bleak medical case history and dire scientific prediction, Joyce’s unwavering belief inspires her community to pray for John’s recovery. Based on the incredible true story, Breakthrough is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle.” – Official Description

Breakthrough is based on the book The Impossible written by Joyce Smith in 2017. The movie was directed by Roxann Dawson and runs 116 minutes. In addition to Metz and Ruiz, the movie stars Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Sam Trammell, and Dennis Haysbert.

This movie falls under the genre of “Christian fiction” alongside films like the God’s Not Dead series. These types of movies are considered “feel good” and inspirational, but they often suffer from predictability, a reliance on drama, and mediocre acting. Breakthrough does suffer from predictability and a long running time, but the movie offers strong performances from its adult cast members.

Breakthrough tells the story of the Smith family. Joyce and Brian Smith adopted a 9-month-old boy from Guatemala and named him John. The story picks up when John (Ruiz) is nearing his 15th birthday. Though embraced and loved by his parents, friends, teachers, and basketball coach, John sees his birthday as an annual reminder that his biological parents did not want him. It’s an emotional struggle that places a barrier between John and those around him.

Joyce feels disconnected to John. She tries cracking jokes and dancing to the music he listens to – partly to connect with him and partly to annoy him. Like many teenagers his age, though, John does not see his mom as being “cool” and would rather constantly listen to his earbuds than talk.

Meanwhile, Pastor Jason Noble (Grace) has been in his new role as his church’s lead pastor for around six months, but Joyce and many other members of the congregation have yet to accept or even like him. Pastor Jason, with his hip hairstyle and skinny jeans, has the church band play fast, upbeat worship songs that even include a rap element at times. While this may appeal to the younger church members, many of the long-time attendees (Joyce, in particular) are not fans.

After church one Sunday, John goes on a sleepover with his two best friends. They play outside and, despite warnings, decide to try skating across a frozen lake. The ice cracks and all three fall into the freezing water. While one boy is able to pull himself out, John gets hit in the head and begins to sink. Rescue teams are called, but fifteen minutes pass before John’s lifeless body is found and rushed to the emergency room. The doctor (Trammell) and his team do everything they can think of to revive John, but the task seems impossible. By the time Joyce arrives, she is told to take her time and say her goodbyes. But Joyce is a woman of faith. She calls, “Holy Spirt, save my son!” And . . . there is a pulse.

The movie’s biggest flaw is that a majority of the story is given away by the trailer. It is a predictable story, but then again, it’s based on a true story. Still, the movie doesn’t offer anything that would surprise viewers or go against their expectations. What you expect is what you get.

Unlike many popular Christian films, though, Breakthrough does address some tough questions. Several characters, though willing to pray for John and his family, are clearly struggling with understanding why God might save him and not their own relatives and loved ones. Why are some saved and some not? The movie does bravely address this, but it doesn’t spend enough time with the question. It’s almost tacked on as an afterthought.

The movie’s biggest strength is in the acting of its adult cast members, and of particular note is Chrissy Metz in the lead role of Joyce Smith. Metz is the movie’s emotional core. Without a strong performance from her, the movie would fall apart instantly. Luckily, she delivers! Despite having never played a mother before, Metz feels like a natural in the role. Her standout scene is Joyce’s prayer over her son’s lifeless body. Breakthrough is an emotionally stressful movie, and this is the movie’s most emotionally heavy scene. According to the special features, Metz’s performance was so strong in this scene that her fellow cast members had trouble acting in response. It’s a stellar and moving performance.

Another strong performance is given by Mike Colter as Tommy, the firefighter who finds and rescues John from the lake. Colter commands the screen and the audience’s attention from the first second he appears. Despite not believing in God, Tommy can’t find any other explanation for how he found John’s body, and Colter manages to put a lot of heart and emotion into the character.

The story is also driven by the relationships between its characters. Though Joyce refuses to leave her son’s side, even to the point of risking her own health, her husband, Brian (Lucas), can’t bring himself to be in the same room where his son is fighting for his life. Pastor Jason wastes no time in rushing to be with and help the Smith family, forcing Joyce to reconsider her harsh opinions of him. The movie gives the relationships room and time to grow, allowing for character development in the leading characters.

Unfortunately, the movie is so intent on having these characters grow from a tragedy and stressful situation that it starts them off in a bad place. John does not fall into the water until nearly the thirty-minute mark of the movie, meaning that the audience has a half hour to meet these characters in “normal circumstances.” Despite John’s importance to the story, he is not likeable. He ignores his mother, is defiant of his teachers, and aggressive to some of his classmates. There is a line between teenage moodiness and outright rudeness. The audience is given no reason (outside of his mother) to connect with or care for John.

And Pastor Jason isn’t portrayed much better. It’s easy to understand why some members of his congregation don’t like him. He’s disrespectful and puts off a “My way or the highway” attitude about everything. While this characterization is likely to keep the audience from seeing his future importance to the Smith family, it makes him a hard character to appreciate.

With sermon references to The Bachelor and words like “lit” used when talking to teenagers, it feels like Pastor Jason is trying too hard, and ultimately, the movie also feels like it’s trying too hard. The soundtrack includes an edited version of “Uptown Funk,” early scenes include brand name product placements, and characters talk about popular athletes like Steph Curry (which is weird since he’s the executive producer of the film . . .). It feels like the movie is trying too hard to be relevant and “cool.” However, this attempt actually takes viewers out of the initial story.

Overall, Breakthrough is a decent yet predictable movie. Viewers know what they’re going to see before the film even starts. Chrissy Metz delivers a standout performance, but the rest of the movie is hindered by a rough start, unlikeable characters, and a long running time.

Is There a Scene After the Credits?
No.

Special Features
The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital Code combo includes the following special features on the Blu-ray disc only:

• Audio Commentary by DeVon Franklin and Roxann Dawson* – Producer DeVon Franklin and director Roxann Dawson take viewers through the movie with more detail and insight on each scene.
• A Tapestry of Miracles: Making Breakthrough (25:31) – This feature serves as a mini-documentary and introduces viewers to the real-life counterparts of the movie’s characters. It also provides more information on the social media campaign for prayers for John, the casting, and the importance of hope in any story.
• “Carry My Soul” Phil Wickham Deleted Scene (3:41) – This deleted scene, with optional commentary from the producer and director, was cut for time but shows another scene of worship in the church.
• Trapped in Icy Waters (6:05) – Viewers can hear more details about the real John Smith’s medical case including the real-life 911 call that was made to save his life. It’s an interesting feature, but the true crime TV style narration is a bit distracting.
• Gallery (2:33) – Viewers can manually scroll through or watch a slideshow of behind-the-scenes photos and publicity stills for the movie.

*Found on both the 4K and Blu-ray discs

There is a surprising amount of detail and thought put into the special features for this release. The strongest feature is the mini-documentary “A Tapestry of Miracles.” Seeing and hearing from the real-life Smith family adds another emotional layer to the story. The feature also does a nice job of explaining how the story gained international notoriety and led to the making of a movie.

Takeaway
Overall, Breakthrough is a decent yet predictable movie. Viewers know what they’re going to see before the film even starts. Chrissy Metz delivers a standout performance, but the rest of the movie is hindered by a rough start, unlikeable characters, and a long running time.