Average Joe follows a Marine who becomes a high school football coach. He soon becomes the talk of the town after a personal routine catches the eyes of both parents and school administrators. Feeling pressure from everyone in his orbit, he’s forced to make a decision: stop the movement that’s caused a divide across the country or continue with what he feels is right.
Directed by Harold Cronk, the film follows Coach (Eric Close) and his life from childhood to the present. Played out in the form of a documentary, Coach, along with his wife Denise (Amy Acker), are long-lost lovers reunited after numerous tragedies. For someone who has overcome so much in their lifetime, Coach’s biggest battle was yet to be fought.
After joining the coaching staff for the local football team, in part thanks to consistent nagging by Smiling Sam Green (Exie Booker), he came to a life-changing conclusion: If God can save his marriage, he would glorify Him in everything that he does. His choice in doing so was to kneel at the 50-yard line after every game. The team had the freedom to join him or go about their business. Many players opted to join him.
It’s almost comical that the sight of something as simple as kneeling would rile up so many people. This is ridiculous for many reasons. First of all, kneeling on the ground doesn’t affect anyone. Secondly, this so-called “freedom of speech” is widely used to express opinions but seems to get questioned anytime it’s linked to religion. Lastly, and this is the biggest “ick”, Bible verses and football have been glued to each other for decades.
America is obsessed with the brutal sport, and while the country has come to terms with its violent nature, it seems to still wrestle with its Christian ties. To this day, teams pray before and after games and do so in mass (in high school, college, and the NFL). When I was in high school in the late ’90s, reciting a Bible verse was second nature. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as is in heaven” still rings in my head to this day (The Lord’s Prayer). It was never myself or any other players that started it, it was always our coaches.
The simple gesture of kneeling while giving glory to God caused chaos in their small town. The issue was exacerbated after a Facebook post went viral and grabbed national attention. Even with the masses and his administrators at his throat (and pressure from his wife), he stood true to what he held to his heart; a promise to God, who saved his marriage. Though he admitted he didn’t read the Bible, unbeknownst to him, he experienced exactly what was written in Matthew 10:22. “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” He didn’t realize it at the time, but he was living this verse down to the word.
What I enjoyed most about the film was the cast. I’ve seen Eric Close in enough law enforcement and military roles that playing a former marine felt like a perfect fit. David Jensen made a short but poignant appearance and Exie Booker has quickly become a favorite of mine after seeing him here as Smiling Sam Green and TEX Patterson in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.
The case went all the way to the Supreme Court and he ended up victorious. Depending on your vantage point, the film leans on religious liberty and a handful of buzzwords that certain groups tend to use. I’m not sure the faux documentary was the right way to go about telling this story. It dragged at times and it came with your run-of-the-mill cheesy moments that come attached with most faith-based films. But in the end, it’s a good example of faith in action.
Average Joe gets an 8 out of 10. The film premieres on Friday, Oct. 11. As more faith-based films become available, the industry will be forced to take notice. The way Coach was able to overcome a laundry list of traumas and grow to be a vessel for God is a good reflection of how the greats were in the Bible. God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things and this film is a good reflection of that in modern time.
The film is based on the true story of Joseph Kennedy.
-Jon Jones
Photos: GND Media Group