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UNPLANNED (2019)
Unplanned poster

CAST
ASHLEY BRATCHER
MARUA CORSINI
ROBIN DEMARCO
LEZI GONZALES
SARAH HERNANDEZ
KAISER JOHNSON
JARED LOTZ
EMMA ELLE ROBERTS
BROOKS RYAN
ROBIA SCOTT
ROBERT THOMASON
TINA TONER

BASED ON THE MEMOIR BY
ABBY JOHNSON

SCREENPLAY BY
CHUCK KONZELMAN
CARY SOLOMON

PRODUCED BY
CHRIS JONES
KOE KNOPP
CHUCK KONZELMAN
DARYL C. LEFEVER
CARY SOLOMON

DIRECTED BY
CHUCK KONZELMAN
CARY SOLOMON

GENRE
BIOGRAPHY
DRAMA

RATED
AUS:NA
UK:NA
USA:R

RUNNING TIME
106 MIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unplanned image

Although marred by the usual faith-based film distractions, Unplanned powers through on the strength of pro-life activist Abby Johnson’s story and Ashley Bratcher’s performance.

Abortion is still very much a contentious issue in the western world. It is especially prevalent with pro-life Christian groups, who – now with same-sex marriage a fight fought and lost – have dedicated their resources and ministry to combat. On the frontlines of this fight is Abby Johnson, an outspoken pro-life activist who was once a clinic director for Planned Parenthood. Johnson’s time in that position, and her eventual “conversion” to the opposite side of the fence (both figuratively and literally) was the basis of her memoir Unplanned, which has now become a feature movie through Pure Flix (a Christian production and distribution company.)

Johnson is portrayed by Ashley Bratcher who (we learn through a teeth grinding use of narration) lived a contradictory life as a devout yet unbashful pro-choice Christian, leading to her volunteering and working for Planned Parenthood for several years. During this time Johnson herself had two abortions, the process of both is recreated in rather confronting fashion (such is the nature of the procedure). These scenes, along with others, resulted in the film receiving an R rating classification, a first for the Pure Flix brand.

Directors Chuck Konzelman and Corey Solomon (the duo who wrote surprise faith-based hit God’s Not Dead) very much stick to a lot of faith-based movie tropes that will appease the initiated yet could potentially repel others. Unplanned is very much a pro-life Christian film that more than once taps into full-blown sermonising, which although caters to their base will hardly change the hearts of others. Music choices (a consistent weakness in this genre) are distracting in their awfulness, opting for over sentimental, tawdry Christian pop as opposed to the right music to elevate the right moments.   

Konzelman and Solomon deserve kudos for the depiction of Planned Parenthood staff as fleshed out characters as opposed to evil caricatures. Likewise, the depictions of women who choose to have an abortion are not demonised. That treatment is saved for the role of Cheryl (Robia Scott) a regional director for Planned Parenthood whose scowl is as ice-cold as her stance against the unborn. Planned Parenthood is indeed depicted as a callous and cold organisation, that profits on the back of its accelerated abortion services. Considering some of the reporting on the medical centre, it is a portrayal with much validity.  One the other side of the fence is 40 Days for Life, a pro-life Christian group presented with saintly fervour, and while this is all well and good make no mistake Unplanned is all about presenting one side as holier than the other.

Cutting through the fog of bias is Ashley Bratcher’s performance. Most of the films 106 minutes is solely on her, and Bratcher is terrific in her portrayal of a woman who finds her life flipped upside down when confronted with the realities of not only her professional life, but of her ideology. Assurance and confidence are replaced with uncertainty and shame, and a career dedicated to ending life is replaced by a ministry dedicated to cherishing life. A less pious film would have made Unplanned more effective, but the core truth of its story works well enough to make Unplanned an essential watch.

 

***

 

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