Movie Review: The Identical (2014)

Good afternoon, Arrowheads! I recently watched the movie The Identical on Amazon Prime Video with my family and boyfriend. Though I initially didn’t think The Identical would turn out to be a Christian movie, it ended up being a stand-out faith movie that I would love to share with y’all. So, let’s get to the review!

The Premise

During the Great Depression, twin boys are delivered to William and Helen Hemsley, a young couple who is struggling financially. William Hemsley is afraid he won’t be able to provide for both babies, and he seeks help from God at a tent revival. There, he meets the pastor, Reece Wade, and Wade’s wife who suffers from infertility. Pastor Wade preaches that it’s better to give than to receive, and mentions the couple’s inability to have children. William believes God is telling him what to do through the sermon, and he gives one of his twin boys to the Pastor and his wife. The movie then follows the lifetime of the twin boys: both blessed with musical abilities. Due to their differing circumstances, one will see their dream of being a famous musician become a reality, and one will watch from the sidelines. Which one will it be?

What I Loved:

The Parody of Elvis Presley’s Life

The main POV the film follows is Ryan Wade, the Pastor’s son. His journey in music parodies Elvis Presley in the style of music he listens to, his dance moves, and his circumstances. Being that Elvis himself had a twin that was stillborn, the movie feels like a what-if scenario of what could have happened had Jesse Presley survived.

Clean Content

Being that the film centered around a man seeking to make a career in rock ‘n roll during the 1950s/60s/70s, I figured there would be a lot of cussing, drinking, and promiscuous behavior. I’m happy to say this film was family friendly, although there are a couple scenes at a bar. I don’t recall any foul language either.

The Acting

Blake Rayne, who played the main character, Ryan Wade, was the stand-out actor in the film. His scenes provoked real emotion and felt realistic to the viewers. His portrayal of a dreamer especially resonated with me, and the ups and downs he went through were inspiring to watch.

The Message

The overall message of the film can be summarized by one of the film’s quotes. I can’t recall what the quote is in verbatim, but it was something along the lines of, “If God is in your dream, then nothing can stop it.” This message itself makes the film amazing in my eyes. The movie also features other Christian faith content, but was not overly preachy.

Overall

Overall, The Identical greatly surpassed my expectations, and I am eager to watch it again in the future. I highly recommend it to fans of clean or Christian films, and Elvis Presley fans alike.