'Average Joe' Reviews: "The movie makes no bones about its pro-religious freedom point of view. Even if you disagree with that perspective, it addresses important issues that are worth discussing"

         On October 10, 2024, Fathom Events released 'Average Joe', which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the film, "High school football coach Joe Kennedy has always been a fighter. He had no other choice. Abandoned by his biological mother, Joe spent his childhood fighting through the cold realities of foster care and group-home life. At 18, he finally found a home for his warrior spirit: in the Marine Corps, where he served in the Gulf War. Following a distinguished career in the Corps, he returned home not realizing that his biggest battle was yet to come. After retiring from the Marines, Joe felt led by God to help coach high school football--where he could pour into a generation of young men the love and guidance he so desperately sought at that age. Retired, happily married, building into kids as a strong role model... it all was finally coming together for Joe. Until he prayed. Yep, Joe was fired. For praying. Silently. By himself. After the games." The ensemble cast includes Austin Woods, Amy Acker, and Eric Close. But what did the critics say?

       Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru says, "In Average Joe, Joe Kennedy (Eric Close), a high school football coach, gets fired for kneeling to pray on the 50-yard line after every game. Based on a true story, the screenplay by Stephanie Katz is warm, witty and wise with just the right balance of heart and humor. It's far from a dry, pedestrian biopic on Joe Kennedy because the narrative occasionally gets interrupted by Joe and his wife, Denise (Amy Acker), being interviewed together. Amusingly, sometimes they have different recollections of key events like the details of how they first met. Katz keeps the film grounded in humanism, a truly special effect, even when Joe goes all the way to the Supreme Court while standing his ground. Fortunately, it avoids veering into sappy or preachy territory which could've easily happened with a less sensitive screenplay. He knows how to hook the audience through humor and wit. The performances by Eric close and Amy Acker are solid and the pace moves at just the right speed without any scenes that drag, so you don't feel the weight of its running time. At 1 hours and 50 minutes, Average Joe, directed by Harry Cronk, opens nationwide via Fathom Events. It would be a great double feature with You Gotta Believe."

Photo by Tyger Ligon on Unsplash

       Mike McGranaghan of Aisle Seat notes, "The concept of religious freedom has been one of the more divisive issues in our society over the past few years. Some people firmly believe that expressions of their faith should be allowed anywhere, anytime, in any form. Others counter that argument, saying proponents of religious freedom are only truly concerned with Christianity and that it’s often a convenient excuse to discriminate against groups like the LGBT community. Consequently, Average Joe will probably raise some hackles. The movie makes no bones about its pro-religious freedom point of view. Even if you disagree with that perspective, it addresses important issues that are worth discussing. It’s also leagues better than God’s Not Dead. You know the story on which the film is based. High school football coach Joe Kennedy (Eric Close) decides to walk onto the fifty-yard line after each game, kneel, and pray. He doesn’t ask his players to join him. He simply does it to give thanks. School officials don’t like it, saying it might implicitly make the team members think they’re supposed to join him. They offer several alternatives, including a private room in which to pray. Nope, Joe insists on doing it right in the middle of the field, just as he promised God. Meanwhile, his wife Denise (Amy Acker), finds herself a pariah at work because of his actions. Over time, the case finds its way to the Supreme Court. Who’s right in this scenario? That’s up to the viewer to decide. Average Joe is on Kennedy’s side. The movie makes a logical case for its stance, arguing that what the coach is doing harms no one and in no way intrudes on anybody else. Writer Stephanie Katz and director Harold Kronk lay out their points in a well-reasoned manner so that, even if you don’t agree with it, you can understand why people like Kennedy feel the way they do."