“Is it the flywheel, Dad?”
October 19, 2011
This heartwarming family film is great for anyone: a chronicle of the life of Jay Austin, a used car salesman that is just learning the ‘tricks’ of the trade. Literally.
Meanwhile, on the home front, his wife Judy and son Todd feel privileged to walk on the carpet beneath their feet as they delicately try to avoid stepping on Jay’s toes. Judy is frustrated at the way her husband has been selling cars dishonestly, and Todd feels unimportant to his father.
One day, Jay’s pastor comes to visit the lot and purchases a car for his daughter. As the minister leaves, he pauses to pray a prayer of blessing over Jay. The only thing is, for Jay it’s a blessing with a catch. After some serious thinking about his actions, Jay starts to turn in a new direction - but consequences come as he makes important changes in his life. Will Jay stick to his word?
You will find yourself both laughing hysterically and crying joyfully (not at the same time, of course) as you watch this great film. As Stephen and Alex Kendrick have noted, this first movie from Sherwood Baptist Church doesn’t necessarily have the same film quality as their more recent projects… yet this is one movie you won’t want to miss.
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Vince: “Oh, yeah, like I need to get on the ball.”
Bernie: “What you need to do is get on the treadmill.”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Katie: “Don’t you talk back to me. I’m tired of the lies, the deceit, the confection, and everything else.”
Jay Austin: “The confection???”
On a personal note, our family was able to drive by Sherwood Baptist Church and “Jay Austin Motors” (Mac George Motorcars) on a roadtrip last year 
“You can’t take it with you, Mr. Kirby.”
October 17, 2011
Meet lovable old Mr. Vanderhof (a.k.a. – dad, grandpa) and his colorful array of characters. Mr. Vanderhof lives in a little old house with… his daughter Mrs. Sycamore, who types plays on a typewriter (“just because it got delivered accidentally; if it had been a plow, she would have taken up farming”); son-in-law; 2 granddaughters, Essie Carmichael and Alice Sycamore, one who wants to be a ballerina and dances around the house making candies which she calls something like ”love-dreams”, and the other who is a stenographer, and the only “sensible” one in the family. Also included are: grandson-in-law Ed Carmichael, who was a football player and now plays the xylophone and runs a printing press from home; an enthusiastic inventor who spends all day in the basement, making fireworks with the afore-mentioned son-in-law; Reba the maid, and her fiancé who lives on relief (“Reba put the forks on the left, forks on the left, forks on the left…”); Mr. Kolenkhov, the Russian ballet teacher (“Confidentially, she stinks”); and soon to come, an eccentric toy-maker, to join the others in the basement.
Enter Tony Kirby, the famed rich banker Anthony P. Kirby’s son, soon to inherit his father’s business, and move up in the ranks of the family bank… “The Kirby’s have been bankers for nine-thousand years…” When Tony falls in love with Alice, the two families are bound to clash. And clash they do. The climax comes when Tony brings his parents to visit the Sycamores and various extended relations on the wrong night… and what happens is history. Well, not really. But Kolenkhov was sure that it was the beginning of the second Russian Revolution, or something like that.
A good ol’ black-and-white film for all to enjoy.
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Kolenkhov: “Ah, life is running around inside of me like a squirrel!”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Penny: “I don’t feel guilty. Do you feel guilty?”
The educational qualities include lessons on government, taxes, and Socialism. The Christian qualities include 2 really heartwarming dinner prayers.
The Saturdays
October 17, 2011
The Saturdaysis a lovely read about the four Melendy siblings, their father, and their housekeeper, Cuffy. Oliver, Randy, Rush, and Mona range in age from 7 to 12, with Randy (short for Miranda) being the star of the story.
It makes perfect sense for the rambunctious, twirling, dancing, and art-loving 10-year old to take center stage – after all, it was Randy’s idea which led to the forming of the Saturday Club – officially named I.S.A.A.C.; which led to Rush, the eldest brother, finding a lost dog after seeing the opera on his Saturday; which ultimately leads to the pup (now also named Isaac) rescuing the Melendy family from death by coal poisoning! Not to mention Randy meeting the true Mrs. Oliphant on her Saturday outing, which not only avowedly changes the siblings from calling Mrs. Oliphant “The Elephant”, but ends up sending them somewhere they would’ve never before dreamed of spending the whole summer…
Enjoy all this and more with a delightful dip into the life of The Saturdays!
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Randy: “Not just the Elephant. She’s swell, she’s a friend of mine now, and I’m going to see her. She was kidnapped by gypsies and lived with them for weeks.”
Rush, startled: “Recently?”
Randy: “No, no. Years ago when she was a little girl in France…”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Cory’s favorite quote consists of the entire book.
And please be sure to read the three sequels!
