Extreme Days

What “Extreme Days” lacks in budget and polish, it more than makes up for in heart. it’s the rare film that has a sense of humor about itself, while delivering an easy-to-take moral message about God, friendship, life and death.

“Extreme Days” is a road flick which chronicles the adventures of 5 high school graduates as they cross the country in search of extreme adventure and some answers to life’s hardest questions. The death of a cherished uncle sets Cory, Brian, Will, Matt and Jesse on their journey in a jam-packed “Joyota,” and the trip unfolds in a series of raucous pranks, silly humor and occasionally sappy drama.

Whenever the film sticks to the humor and hi-jinks, “Extreme Days” scores. The jokes are silly and extremely self-conscious, but you’ll find yourself laughing in spite of yourself. The cast members almost wink at the camera to say “Yeah… we know it’s ridiculous, too,” making even the corniest of puns palatable.

Director Eric Hannah is best known for his extreme “The Moment Of Truth” sports flicks. And the sports clips are fun, but they’re nothing you haven’t seen on ESPN2. No matter. The surfing, skating and snowboarding rock as much as the soundtrack, which features several Christian artists and bands like Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, P.O.D and The Newsboys.

The drama springs from the mutual attraction of Jesse and Brian as she deals with a checkered past, and he makes her affection the object of a bet with his buddies. But while “Extreme Days” offers a welcome reprieve from the over-sexed teen flicks of today, its love story is too obvious to offer any real drama. it’s like an After School Special, where the happy ending is a foregone conclusion. And the somber tears seem awkward between the goofy slapstick.

Still, “Extreme Days” should be applauded for providing a fun family-safe alternative in the movie marketplace. It provides discussion about Godliness and virtue without sermonizing, and it’s one of the few films which doesn’t view the Christian life as a suffocating bore.

Far from a perfect film, “Extreme Days” is the kind of movie you WANT to see succeed, because it may pave the way for future films which support Christian values.