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Editor’s note: This monthly series, “5 Family-Friendly Things,” spotlights five family-friendly entertainment choices on film, DVDs, streaming or television.
Omar is a man of faith with a big heart and a strong desire to save the street kids of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
He’s also a man who puts his faith into action.
He and his wife, Becca, operate an orphanage of more than a dozen boys, teaching them right from wrong and instilling in them the traits that helped Omar survive, including hard work.
Some of the children were abandoned. Others were abused.
Unfortunately, though, Omar’s orphanage is short on funds. Without a quick infusion of cash—specifically, $117,000—the bank will close the orphanage within a month. And those children will be sent back to the street.
Omar needs a miracle.
Perhaps a storm will help.
A hurricane hits Cabo San Lucas, flooding the orphanage and sending the rest of the community into chaos. This includes the Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament, which is plagued with cancellations from international travelers and is needing participants.
Witnessing Omar’s financial plight, a tournament official pairs Omar’s orphanage with a has-been fisherman and enters them into the competition, waving the hefty fees.
Could the Bisbee Black & Blue—the world’s richest fishing tournament—be the answer to Omar’s financial plight?
The new faith-centric Netflix film Blue Miracle (TV-PG) recounts this unlikely tale, which is based on a true story about an orphanage, Casa Hogar, that was on the verge of closing when the unexpected happened. It stars Jimmy Gonzales (Godzilla: King of the Monsters) as Omar and Dennis Quaid (I Can Only Imagine) as the fisherman, Wade.
It’s one of the most inspiring dramas of 2021, with themes involving second chances, fatherhood and prayer. (“God hears me every time,” Omar tells one of the boys.) It even has a positive message about temptation (Omar and Wade briefly consider cheating in order to win).
Quaid has mastered the role of an aging, gruff man. Gonzales is marvelous, too.
Chris Dowling, a Christian filmmaker who helped make faith movies such as Run the Race and Priceless, co-wrote Blue Miracle. Reach Records, the Christian label co-founded by Lecrae, produced the soundtrack.
Thankfully, Blue Miracle also is family-friendly, with only minor language—h-ll (1), p—ed (1), OMG (1)—and no sexuality or violence. Still, parents of small children may want to be cautious due to themes of abandonment and street violence.
Also worth watching this summer:
Spirit Untamed (Theaters, HBO Max)—A young girl develops a passion for horses — and horse-riding — after being sent to the wide-open frontier out west. Spirit Untamed includes a family-centric plot and is one of the year’s most kid-friendly movies. Rated PG for some adventure action.
Expedition Back to the Future (Discovery Plus)—Explorer Josh Gates joins actor Christopher Lloyd to search for the famous DeLorean time-traveling machine from the Back to the Future film series. Some families may not consider Expedition Back to the Future appropriate for young children—it includes minor language and scenes from the films—but parents who grew up in the 1980s probably will enjoy it. TV-14.
Oklahoma (Disney Plus)—A farm girl is courted by two cowboys in this 1955 musical classic. It was nominated for four Oscars and won two (Best Music, Best Sound). Oklahoma stars Gordon MacRae, Rod Steiger, Gene Nelson and Shirley Jones. It includes some of the best tunes you’ll ever hear in a musical. Rated G.
Meet the Meerkats (Discovery Plus)—Meerkats rescued from the illegal trade are returned to the Kuruman River Reserve in Africa and then followed by cameras as they adapt to the wild. It’s a fascinating animal documentary that has elements of a comedy and a drama.
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and entertainment for more than 15 years. He is the husband to Julie and the father of four young children.
