Film Review - Not A Fan

Are you a fan of Jesus? Or are you a follower?

Close enough to Jesus to get the benefits but not so close to require sacrifice?

Not A Fan is a feature film followed by six small group studies and weekly episodes—all focused on encouraging people to journey from being a fan of Jesus to becoming a completely, committed follower.

It was created by Kyle Idleman, the Teaching Pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky—the fifth largest church in America. Idleman is also the author and presenter of the Award-winning video curriculum series H2O: A Journey of Faith and The Easter Experience.

The film tells the story of Eric Nelson, a nominal Christian living a compartmentalised and hypocritical existence. His faith takes second place to the pursuit of pleasure, money and lifestyle, until a life-changing realisation leads him to take up the calling of truly becoming a follower of Christ.

Not A Fan blends drama and teaching in a manner very similar to Rob Bell’s NOOMA series, and although a number of viewers will struggle to relate to the affluent middle-class American characters, the movie portrays Eric’s life choices and struggles of faith well. In doing so, it extends the challenge of Luke 9:23 to viewers as they see the transformational power of the choice Eric makes to ‘deny himself and take up his cross daily’.

An engaging and accessible discipleship and small group resource.

Just released in New Zealand, the film and small group materials are available from Life Resources, www.lr.org.nz

Review by Martin Barratt

Not A Fan
Director:  Shane Sooter
Genre: Christian
Rating: PG
Duration: 1 hr 20