Category: Entertainment Business

China Cancels Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves had his breakthrough role in 1989, when he starred in the sci-fi comedy “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Two movie sequels and two television series based on the film soon sprang forth.

The more serious side of the actor’s artistry emerged in dramas that included “My Own Private Idaho” and in action films such as “Point Break” and “Speed.”

Keanu, however, was destined for super stardom. He achieved this high watermark when he landed the role of Neo in a film that would ultimately become the “Matrix” franchise series.

In a realm that few celebrities experience, he was able to continue to sustain his fame with yet another cinematic franchise, the “John Wick” film series.

In terms of his ancestry, Keanu is the personification of diversity. His father is Native Hawaiian, Chinese, English, Irish, and Portuguese. His grandmother on his father’s side is Chinese Hawaiian, a woman who imbued a young Keanu with Chinese culture and philosophy. His mother is from Beirut, Lebanon, the place where the actor was actually born. His father left when Keanu was only three years of age, but a reunion with his dad occurred when he was thirteen. It took place on the island of Kauai.

Despite his Chinese heritage, his years of collaboration with Chinese film entities, and his mega-star status with the Chinese population, Keanu was recently severely censored by Chinese authorities for his participation in a benefit concert for Tibet House, a non-profit organization affiliated with the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Previous entertainment figures that were canceled by communist officials for their expressions of support for Tibet include Richard Gere, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, and Brad Pitt, who was canceled and then brought back.

In a predictable development, China’s streaming platforms have now erased almost all of Keanu’s works from their catalogues as well as from search results in the Chinese language that appear under his name. His most well known movies that have been wiped away include “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “Speed,” and “The Matrix” films.

Bizarrely, “Toy Story 4,” for which Keanu voiced a character, has been left online. However, the actor’s name has been purged from the credits.

Keanu’s newfound redacted status in China at a time of heightened geopolitical tension is a strong indication that Beijing censors will prohibit his upcoming projects from being distributed.

Unlike a host of other creative artists in Hollywood, Keanu appears to be the complete opposite of a self-centered celeb. Known to be a dedicated team player as well as an individual who actually safeguards his privacy, Time magazine once characterized him as “Hollywood’s ultimate introvert.”

A special part of his appeal is a humility that he exudes when the cameras aren’t rolling. He has demonstrated a genuine goodness in many a real life circumstance. The internet is replete with stories, interviews, and pictures of Keanu in virtuous action.

The first of his good deeds to go viral occurred when video footage emerged of him offering his New York subway seat to a fellow passenger who was carrying a heavy bag.

Another incident that spread like wildfire on social media was one involving a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Bakersfield, California. Keanu spent time reading to fellow passengers, dining with them on fast food, and entertaining them with his country music performances. He generously posed for photos with his traveling companions, took the lead in helping them deal with the stress of an emergency landing, and assisted others in getting to their destination.

Additionally, in an unusual sort of re-negotiation of a contract for the “Matrix” sequels, Keanu took a pay cut so that more money might be available for use on special effects and costumes.

After his sister Kim was diagnosed with leukemia, he reportedly gave 70 percent of his $35 million compensation for the first “Matrix” film to leukemia research.

Every stunt man in “John Wick 3” received a Harley-Davidson motorcycle courtesy of Keanu, following a difficult stunt-oriented filming session.

He told Esquire, “That fight was 17 shooting days. We trained every day for seven hours for three weeks going through all the motions. We learned the term ‘super-perfect.’ You want to go for super-perfect. So, obviously I was getting paid well. And so, you know, just as a thank you to those guys. Got them some gifts.”

After hearing that Al Pacino was not going to be a part of “The Devil’s Advocate” due to a shortfall in the movie’s budget, he took a pay cut to bring the legendary Pacino back in.

More than a billion kids around the globe have benefited from a leading children’s charity that Keanu set up.

Consistent with his low-key persona, he generally keeps his religious convictions under the vest. On one occasion, when an interviewer asked permission to inquire about his religious beliefs, he politely replied, “Please don’t. I think it’s personal and private.”

In a separate interview, when asked whether he was a spiritual person, he revealed that he is indeed very spiritual and a believer in the Almighty.

“Do I believe in God, faith, inner faith, the self, passion, and things? Yes, of course! I’m very spiritual … Supremely spiritual … Bountifully spiritual … Supremely bountiful,” he said.

When it comes to Keanu, in art and in life China’s loss is the rest of the world’s gain.

Disney’s ‘Turning Red’ Has Parents Concerned

Disney’s brand was always thought to have been family-friendly. Not so anymore.

Now the Mouse House’s products actually have to be pre-screened to determine whether or not they are suitable options for children’s viewing.

With all the digital devices and content providers that have permeated the media universe, it is difficult for parents to even keep up with what is out there for kids and adolescents to access with a simple click.

Disney, via Pixar, is currently streaming a movie that is over-the-top in terms of its unsuitability and potential to cause outright harm to our youth.

The film “Turning Red” is being marketed as a coming of age story. The setting is a Chinatown community located in Toronto, Canada. Lead character Meilin “Mei” Lee is 13 years-old and is in the process of transitioning to full-fledged womanhood.

Curiously, in this new state of transition, Mei discovers that whenever she feels angry, upset, or otherwise emotionally charged, she turns into a giant red panda. This condition is oftentimes accompanied by an unpleasant scent and some unfortunate occurrences.

The cinematic tale is apparently meant to be an allegory about female puberty, a kind of symbolic representation of the physiological, psychological, and emotional changes that occur in a female’s life as she journeys from youth to adolescence.

The panda manifestation, red in color, problematic, and emotionally intense, only happens to the women in Mei’s family.

The representation of the menstruation process is disrespectful and debasing in nature. But this is far from the worst of the film’s flaws. Adding to the potential mind, body, and soul-altering mix are the exploration of sexual urges and blatant participation in occult practices.

The movie is directed by Oscar winning Chinese Canadian filmmaker Domee Shi. As if on cue, mainstream media critics are showering it with praise. On the other hand, a whole lot of parents are not. Faith-filled folks in particular are really riled up.

The red panda is depicted in promos as cute and cuddly, which is seemingly designed to appeal to small children. However, there are numerous scenes in the film that in no way should be viewed by this demographic.

Christian parents should be especially concerned with the depictions of ancestor worship, polytheism, ritualistic practices, and supernatural transformations.

In the film, the transformation of little girl to panda is viewed as a curse. The only way for Mei to be relieved of the curse is to have the oldest male in the family, which in her case happens to be her grandfather, perform a ritual ceremony that coincides with the next red moon.

Prompted by the themes in the film, one prominent pastor is warning parents about the movie. Mike Signorelli, founder and lead pastor of the multiple location V1 Church in New York City, recently released a video on social media and conducted an interview with CBN’s Faithwire, all in an effort to inform parents of his religious concerns over “Turning Red.”

A former atheist, the pastor was led to Christianity by a friend after a year of faith discussions.

According to Pastor Signorelli, the sexual content of the movie as well as the menstruation metaphor are enough, in and of themselves, to make the film inappropriate for the younger demographic.

“If you extract the spiritual aspect of this movie, just on the basis of the content being about menstruation and this coming of age, it’s not appropriate for children,” he advised.

However, Pastor Signorelli finds the occult-related content even more disturbing.

“Even within the first eight minutes, you have chanting, communication with ancestors, and immediately a red flag should start to go off,” he stated.

He also noted that scenes in the film contain numerous concepts that conflict with a biblical worldview. He warns of danger in the fact that “the movie contains an intermingling of spirituality and ritual.”

This intermingling occurs, for example, during the ritual to rid Mei of the red panda spirit. She crosses into another “dimension” and encounters a deceased ancestor.

It occurs in a nightmare sequence too, one in which statues with glowing red eyes appear to be tormenting her, a scene that the pastor believes would be highly disturbing to an audience of children.

During his clerical tenure, Pastor Signorelli has had extensive experience in a deliverance ministry, one in which he has had a key role in confronting evil itself. This enables him to recognize imagery in the film that is not merely inappropriate, but dangerous to the spiritual well-being of our young ones.

“I believe that every parent — not just a pastor, but a parent — has a mandate to actually screen material, because every single device you have in your home is a portal, either a window into the things of God or, unfortunately, things that I believe are demonic,” he said.

In his post, the pastor offered a summary of his major concerns.

“I cannot in good faith allow you to show this to your children knowing what I know about demonic spirits, knowing what I know about the cultures that demons create,” he said.

Parents, relatives, and guardians of children and teens would be wise to take heed of Pastor Signorelli’s words regarding this film and other youth-oriented media that have hidden agendas embedded within.

Corbin Bernsen’s Rebooted Life

Corbin Bernsen was recently blessed with the news of a new acting gig on a project with which he is intimately familiar.

The actor-director is best known for his role as a high-powered lawyer on the iconic Steven Bochco television series “L.A. Law,” which was on the air for eight seasons from 1986 to 1994. It won fifteen Emmys, including four for Outstanding Drama.

The success of the series generated sufficient demand for a movie version in 2002. As in the original show, the film’s stars included Bernsen, Blair Underwood, and Jill Eikenberry.

Like Hollywood loves to do these days, the hit show is being rebooted and will allow fans to watch Bernsen, Underwood, and Eikenberry reunite to star in the newly reconstituted “L.A. Law.”

Bernsen and Underwood will reprise their roles as Arnold Becker and Jonathan Rollins, while Eikenberry will again play her original character of Ann Kelsey in the re-launch.

Kacey Rohl and Juliana Harkavy, best known for The CW series “Arrow,” have also been cast in the reboot.

Bernsen’s career path over the years has positioned him in numerous starring TV roles such as “Psych,” “Cuts,” and “The Dentist,” and film roles that include the “Major League” movies. Currently, he appears as Kyle Nevin on the television series “The Resident.”

As a committed Christian, Bernsen has in more recent times channeled his efforts toward faith-oriented content. To this end, he and collaborator Chris Aronoff have created an independent production company called Home Theater Films, which has released faith-based movies such as “3 Day Test,” “Beyond the Heavens,” “Life with Dog,” and “Mary 4 Mayor.”

In an era when many prominent celebrities are highly vocal about their anti-life positions, Bernsen has been quite public about his pro-life stance.

Following the birth of he and wife Amanda’s first baby, the couple longed for a second child.

“We get pregnant [again], we find out it’s going to be a boy and we name it Henry. We got his room, we’re starting to get all the stuff together…,” Corbin said. However, during the last trimester check-up, the doctor approached the two of them with some dire news.

“We have a little problem, the amniotic fluid is not forming, the kidneys of the baby are disappearing,” the physician informed them.

Following the doctor’s directive, a decision was made to end the pregnancy. Bernsen described that fateful day, when he and his wife were persuaded to have their unborn child’s life ended.

“So we made this choice, we go in for what you can’t possibly tell me was not the worst day of my life and we terminate… You don’t have to use all of the words like ‘abortion’… they have these beautiful words that make it sound like it’s okay, [but] it was the worst day of our life,” Corbin said.

Time passed and the couple eventually sought to bring another child into the world. One day while attending a routine Hollywood meeting, Bernsen received a telephone call from his wife that he will never forget.

“We’re having twins,” “Amanda exclaimed.

“None of us were Christians, none of us believed in God, and we were having twins!” Bernsen remarked. He was stunned because twins did not run in their family.

“When I started finding my faith, I could put it in context that [there was] something much greater, more powerful. It brought me closer to God because I realized that God was in control in that situation,” he said.

Bernsen and his wife have been blessed with four sons. The experience has taught him a priceless lesson. It has even changed the direction of his vocation.

“I realized that God is continuously, wonderfully always in control,” he stated. “Now as I try to design movies I want to put that in there.”

Speaking at a National Religious Broadcasters convention a few years ago, Corbin shared the devastating personal story. But he also let it be known that the worst day is what eventually led him to God.

Mike Rowe’s ‘Story Behind the Story’

Mike Rowe is a familiar face to viewers all across the television universe.

The multi-TV show host and narrator extraordinaire has yet another production in the works. His new series, “The Story Behind the Story,” is set to debut this May on TBN.

Storytelling will be the means with which some tried-and-true values will be presented to a new generation, and perhaps re-instilled in those of us who may have forgotten how important they are in the cultivation of a productive and caring society.

When Mike was asked recently about the most effective way of teaching folks about the work ethic and broadening people’s understanding of the dignity and integrity that potentially accompany hard work, his answer was a straightforward one. Tell the story.

“I don’t think there’s one specific answer or playbook,” he said. “But part of the answer has to be storytelling. We have to do a better job of magnifying people who have prospered or found a measure of happiness by doing the very things that we want to celebrate.”

Stories have expanded the consciousness of human beings since time began, due to their inherent capacity to reach within us.

Mike has mastered the art of storytelling, a unique gift that many desire but few possess. He uses the power of parables to establish a set of circumstances and then proceeds to confront in a non-threatening way the ethical challenges that are hidden within.

“Nobody wants a sermon and nobody wants a lecture and nobody wants to be scolded,” he said. “And I certainly don’t want to do any of those things, either. So it’s a tricky balance.”

Mike’s experience as an actor, author, television host, and narrator will no doubt serve him well as he launches this latest venture. Best known for his programs “Dirty Jobs,” which airs on the Discovery Channel, and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It,” which originally aired on CNN but is currently on TBN, Mike’s TV bona fides can fill volumes.

He hosted “Worst Case Scenarios” for TBS and “The Most” for The History Channel and also held host duties on QVC, the home-shopping network.

In addition, he has been featured in a spate of television commercials, including ones produced for Ford, Caterpillar, and Viva.

He has a truly extensive background as a narrator, having served as the announcer on “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” for several years.

He is also the narrator voice heard on shows that include Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” “Shark Week,” “American Chopper,” “American Hot Rod,” “Wild Pacific,” “Silver Rush,” “Ghost Lab,” and “How the Universe Works”; National Geographic Channel’s “Wicked Tuna”; and SYFY Channel’s “Ghost Hunters.”

Over the years he has viewed himself as a booster for blue-collar and white-collar workers alike. The contents of his projects seek to put in a positive light the qualities of diligence and self-initiative.

His motivation seems to spring from his rural upbringing and the powerful influence that his extraordinary grandfather Carl Knobel had upon his life.

“He could build a house without a blueprint,” Mike explained. “He only went to the seventh grade, but he was an inspiration to me. [He] went on to become a skilled tradesman.”

“…‘Dirty Jobs,’ which most people know me from, was a tribute to him,” Mike said.

He shared that finding ways to tell stories about people who have things in common with his granddad “was the impetus for so much of what I’ve wound up doing.”

“Nobody’s more surprised than me to see how that has caught hold,” he said.

His grandpa also built a portion of the Presbyterian church in which Mike was first introduced to his faith. In his family, faith was something that was omnipresent.

“Faith and church for me growing up wasn’t an event — it wasn’t a thing that was introduced to me,” he said. “It was a thing that was just there. It was there like the stable had always been there … there were Lenten dinners on Wednesday nights. I was in the Boy Scouts [at the church]. For me, church and the faith that came with it were as much a part of the community as anything else.”

He had the misfortune of witnessing firsthand how faith-related content is selectively removed from television product.

“When I started making TV, I realized that a lot of the places where I went, people’s faith and people’s church … they occupied the same kind of real estate. But when I saw the finished versions of other shows, those things were always cut out,” he said.

He has a word of advice for those who work in the television industry.

“’Don’t tell the story you want to tell. Tell the story you find.’ And by and large, if you commit to telling the story you find, you are going to find people who have an element of faith in their life.”

Kelsey Grammer to Star in ‘Jesus Revolution’

Filmmaking is a collaborative art form. If the right team members are assembled for a given project and all set the bar high, the odds of success increase.

However, hard work and sheer desire to succeed are not enough to secure the ultimate goal. It also takes a high degree of skill and natural talent to make for movie magic.

An upcoming project titled “Jesus Revolution” appears to have an exceptional combination.

The script tells the true story of the “Jesus movement,” the 1960s youth-oriented embrace of Christianity that began in a small community of Southern California hippies and ultimately wrapped its arms around the globe.

Little could the affectionately termed “Jesus freaks” have known at the time that they would spark a national religious awakening, one that continues to this very day.

Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn have penned the movie script and Erwin will also direct. This is the same Erwin who directed the hit films “I Can Only Imagine” and “American Underdog.”

Brent McCorkle will co-direct, and Jon and brother Andrew Erwin will serve as producers, along with Kevin Downes, Josh Walsh, and Daryl Lefever.

The movie will feature six-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer in the starring role. Kelsey will portray the late great founding pastor of the Calvary Chapel churches, Chuck Smith.

The beloved Pastor Chuck was a valuable mentor to a young hippie of the era named Greg Laurie, who currently serves as senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship. Joel Courtney will portray Laurie in the film.

While on a search for the truth, Laurie meets fellow hippie Lonnie Frisbee (to be played by Jonathan Roumie of “The Chosen” fame). Frisbee is a street preacher.

Laurie and Frisbee team up with Pastor Chuck, who opens his small Southern California church to a generation of young seekers, unexpectedly igniting a spiritual phenomenon of which the Bible is, and remains, the central focus. Contemporary Christian music plays an integral role in stirring the hearts of young people and elevating the worship experience.

Kelsey is joined in “Jesus Revolution” by Anna Grace Barlow (appearances in “Supernatural” and “The Big Leap”). Barlow plays Laurie’s friend Cathe. The lead actor’s experience and recognition from portraying the character of Dr. Frasier Crane for 20 years on two hit television shows, the first of which was “Cheers” and the second being the “Cheers” spin-off “Frasier,” will be of great help to the viability of the project.

“In his iconic performances, Kelsey has a proven ability to connect with audiences in a real, vulnerable way, which will make him a tremendous presence in this film,” Jon Erwin stated.

Kelsey’s movie career includes roles in franchise films such as “Transformers” and “X-Men.”

His inimitable voice can be heard as Sideshow Bob in “The Simpsons” and as Stinky Pete in “Toy Story 2.”

He is the first actor ever to be nominated for multiple Emmy awards for his portrayal of the same character on three different television shows (“Cheers,” “Frasier,” and “Wings”). His trophy shelf includes six Emmy awards (five primetime and one daytime Emmy).

Classically trained, Kelsey studied at Juilliard. Prior to his TV and movie career, his stage performances included Broadway roles in “Macbeth” and “Othello.”

Kelsey also has his own production company, Grammnet Productions, which produced his award-winning television series “Boss,” as well as additional TV programs that include “Medium,” “Girlfriends,” and “The Game.”

The road to all this amazing success has been a highly bumpy one for Kelsey. He was only two years old when his parents divorced. He and his younger sister were raised by his mother and maternal grandparents.

At he age of 12, cancer took the life of his father figure, Kelsey’s grandpa.

At the age of 14, he had to endure hearing the tragic news that his father had been murdered during a home invasion.

In 1975, his sister was kidnapped, raped, and murdered in Colorado.

Five years later his two teenage half-brothers died from a shark attack while scuba diving.

In 2008, he would suffer a heart attack.

And in 2010, a miscarriage would cause further heartache for him and his family.

Having to deal throughout life with the cumulative magnitude of tragedy eventually led Kelsey to seek out ways to alleviate his pain. Like so many others, addictive substances would lure him in. Thankfully, he was able to achieve sobriety once again through faith and rehabilitation.

“I just put [that pain] where it is: in the past. But it’s a pain that you can always stumble into again – it’s with you 24/7, especially in the case of tragic death, and there have been a few of those,” Kelsey shared. “It’s just part of life. Maybe I learnt a little earlier than most, but it’s just the way it goes.”

He describes himself as a “failing Christian.” In his words, “As a Christian, we always fail because we can’t become Christ. But I can try at least to emulate the best qualities, even if I may fall short.”

“Jesus has been a profound influence in my life. I am proud to be a part of this film,” he said.

A man of faith, the actor finds inspiration in his involvement with the “Jesus Revolution” project.

People of faith who await the movie’s release look forward to the same.

Mourning the Passing of Rock Icon Meat Loaf

Marvin Lee Aday, more famously known as the rock star Meat Loaf, passed away recently at the age of 74.

He was simply one of the best-selling musical artists of all time.

Meat, as he liked to be called, was the musical performer on more than 100 million records that were distributed worldwide.

He made his way to the top rung of rock stardom in the United Kingdom and in Europe.

His nickname was given to him in part by his dad. But the completion of the famed label came from a high school football coach.

He went through a legal name change in 1984, but not one folks might have thought. He changed his first name from Marvin to Michael.

To the surprise of many meat eaters, his carnivorous nickname did not actually reflect his personal eating habits. Many individuals were stunned to find out that Meat was actually a vegetarian for more than a decade.

Commenting on the vegetable eating irony, he told Entertainment Weekly, “There’ve been vegetarians who wouldn’t speak to me because of my name. I was sitting with Jon Bon Jovi at one of those awards things, and I say, ‘Oh, man, I love k.d. lang. I’d really like to meet her.’ They went to find out if it was okay, and she goes, ‘No. His name is Meat Loaf.’ I stopped being a k.d. lang fan after that.”

Meat’s vocal specialty was an ultra-dramatic performance amid an orchestral blanket backdrop. His recordings combined European opera tradition with American hard rock. The result was a unique brand that he shared with longtime composer-songwriter Jim Steinman.

Steinman wrote and produced many of Meat’s best known works, including his 1977 debut album “Bat Out of Hell.” The album was based on a futuristic rock opera version of Peter Pan, titled “Neverland,” which was produced by another rock legend, Todd Rundgren,

The recording came about from an unusual collaboration of musicians that included the pianist and drummer from Bruce Springsteen’s “E Street Band,” members of Rundgren’s group “Utopia,” and a well-placed Edgar Winter sax solo.

The album was actually rejected by four record labels. However, two breakthrough television performances by Meat, the UK’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” and the U.S.’s “Saturday Night Live,” propelled the album’s ultimate release.

It would go on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 43 million copies sold globally, and two sequel albums to follow.

Meat had an acting stint in addition to his mega-successful musical career. He was a scene stealer in the cult films “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Fight Club.”

He also starred in numerous other films that include “Roadie,” “Motorama,” “Crazy in Alabama,” “Stage Fright,” “Spice World,” “Leap of Faith,” and “Americathon.”

Meat played dual roles in the original Broadway cast of “The Rocky Horror Show” and also appeared in the musical “Hair.”

High-profile associates in the music business paid tribute to the rock singer at his passing.

Queen guitarist Brian May wrote on Instagram that Meat was “Always full of madness, with the innocent sense of naughtiness of a five-year old, Meat was forever young.”

Bonnie Tyler, who recorded an album with Meat, described him as “a larger than life character with a voice & stage presence to match & is one of those rare people who truly was a one-off talent and personality.”

Alice Cooper, rock legend in his own right, said, “Meat Loaf was one of the greatest voices in rock ‘n’ roll, and he was certainly one of my closest friends in the business.”

Cooper said there is no one like Meat, and that “his shoes can never be filled.”

Unlike many of his colleagues, Meat was an independent thinker and soon projected a right-of-center persona. In 2012, he was one of the few well known entertainment figures to campaign for then-GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

When Meat was a contestant on the 2011 season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” then-host Donald Trump asked the rocker if he thought he should run for president.

Meat answered, “Absolutely. I would vote for you. In fact, I’ll help you with your campaign.”

Meat and President Trump became fast friends on the show, so much so that the 45th president issued a statement about Meat’s passing, describing the singer as a “great guy.”

“He was smart, talented, open, and warm. His success was enormous — we all loved him. Meat Loaf will be greatly missed!” President Trump said.

Meat also held traditional religious views that placed him at odds with many current entertainment industry figures.

He grew up singing in the church choir, studied the Bible, and attended a Christian college. His faith influenced his work, with many of his songs containing Christian concepts.

At one point he collaborated with a female vocalist named Shaun Murphy, aka Stoney, whom he met during the Detroit performances of the musical “Hair.”

The album that the two released in 1971, titled “Stoney and Meatloaf,” contained a Christian-themed song “(I’d Love to Be) As Heavy as Jesus.”

Some of the lyrics are as follows:

“I just want to rise above, above that devil’s glove

And see God in every single man, I just want to spread joy like that little boy

Who once walked, walked this promised land,

And I’d love to be as heavy as Jesus.”

Meat shared his very active and consistent prayer life via an interview.

“I’ll be honest with you. I pray every night and if I skip a night, I apologize for skipping it,” he stated. “I thank [God] for my blessings because I’ve been very blessed and I pray for my family and I pray for people who are ill…”

Rock opera pioneer Andrew Lloyd Webber described Meat’s afterlife in this way:

“The vaults of heaven will be ringing with rock.”

Clearly the world was blessed by his talent.

‘American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story’ Scores Big at the Box Office

Had a screenwriter pitched the making of the Kurt Warner story, Hollywood studio execs would probably have passed. Not believable enough.

But Kurt’s real life story is true, and events that unfolded are as awesome as it gets.

The undrafted quarterback hailed from a small college and stocked shelves in a grocery store to make ends meet.

He first played professionally on an arena football field in his home state, where the Iowa Barnstormers took him on as quarterback.

After a time he was signed as a backup QB on the NFL team of the then-St. Louis Rams. When the starter went down with an injury, Kurt was able to lead the team to one victory after another, culminating in a Super Bowl win, where he was named both League and Super Bowl MVP.

Some use the word “impossible” to describe his life trajectory. But the same would go for a lot of the bullet points of his bio, as the movie “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story” underscores.

On Christmas Day 2021, the film hit the big screens. It won the hearts of football fans as well as non-jaded cinema buffs who still enjoy stories that hail the human spirit’s triumph over adversity.

The original plan for the film was to have it released in Winter of 2020. But COVID-related delays ended up pushing the release date back.

The screenplay is derived from a book co-written by Kurt and journalist Michael Silver called “All Things Possible.” The movie itself is directed by the Erwin Brothers, Jon and Andrew, modern-day virtuosos of the faith-based genre.

This same duo made a film back in 2018 called “I Can Only Imagine,” which wildly exceeded box-office expectations by taking in over $70 million on a budget of only $7 million.

The Erwin’s latest project not only opened with almost $6 million, it remained in the top four over New Year’s weekend, tallying up a cumulative total of over $15 million.

It received a coveted A+ from audiences via CinemaScore and garnered mostly favorable reviews from the frequently hard-to-charm film critic community.

Zachary Levi plays the lead role of Kurt. Levi’s prior roles include him being featured in the 2007 television series “Chuck” as well as in the 2019 superhero movie “Shazam!”

Audiences first encounter a young Kurt as he watches renowned quarterback Joe Montana secure a Super Bowl win.

At each juncture of his involvement with the sport of football, it seems that Kurt is destined to deal with obstacles: Frustration at being benched and being kept off the field at Northern Iowa University because he doesn’t see eye to eye with his coach (played by Adam Baldwin); And when he finally gets his shot with an NFL team, how the offensive coordinator appears to take pleasure in making things as difficult as possible for the backup QB candidate.

Thankfully for Kurt, Head Coach Dick Vermeil (played by Dennis Quaid) has a hunch that the player before him has potential, and he keeps him on the team.

Intriguingly, the central focus of the film turns out not to be sports. Instead it is a love story surrounding Kurt and Brenda, Kurt’s bride of two dozen years (played by Oscar-winning actress Anna Paquin).

For Kurt, it is the proverbial love at fist sight. His eyes catch a glimpse of Brenda in a country music nightspot. After some tutoring in country dancing, Kurt musters up the nerve to ask Brenda to dance. Her response, “’Bout time.”

She refuses to give Kurt her phone number. Instead she tells him that, as a single divorced mother with two young children, he should want nothing to do with her life. She punctuates her message by driving away before he has a chance to respond.

He nevertheless manages to find out her address, meet her children, including one child who is blind from a brain injury, and eventually win Brenda’s trust. It all leads to an amazing scene depicting love’s first kiss.

In his initial game as an NFL starter, Kurt and the Rams shock a team known for its fierce defense, the Baltimore Ravens. After an upset win, the QB thanks the Almighty.

The Rams would go on to post a 13-3 record that season, as the team’s offense under Kurt become known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.” The Rams ultimately defeat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, with Kurt breaking Joe Montana’s record for passing yardage.

The accolades of Super Bowl MVP and League MVP are attached to his name, making him the first undrafted player to secure either of the titles.

Film credits indicate that Kurt would go on to play in two other Super Bowls, and he would become enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Credits also note that the two executive producers, the real life Kurt and Brenda, continue in nuptial bliss with their now-seven children.

What’s the secret to their marital success?

“You have to know that there is a plan for your life,” Brenda says. “We believe in faith, we believe that you have to have faith in your own strength and faith in each other, your relationship to make it through, no matter what.”

As “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story” illustrates, faith is the completed pass into the end zone.