Review of Lebanon, Pa. (2011) by Thomas W — 21 Aug 2011

A mildly preachy, slightly provocative film that unfolds in Pennsylvania ... one of the most politically diverse states in the union. The central character, Will (a nice dramatic turn from "Cougar Town's" Josh Hopkins), hails from Philadelphia (a blue mecca) and returns home to the rural burg of Lebanon (a red haven) to bury his father.

While in town for the burial, Will meets his teenage cousin who reveals to him that she is pregnant. As she has applied for college in the fall, she hasn't decided what she is going to do about the pregnancy.

After her boyfriend finds out she is with child, he abandons her and makes her believe it was all her doing. This hot button issue isn't perhaps the best storyline for a film as politics are generally handled, watched and discussed in the privacy of one's own home.

I did appreciate how neither side is painted as monsters and the decision isn't ever treated lightly; but ... again, this is supposed to be a movie. While some drama is true-to-life, I like there to be some escapist elements in my film that I watch.

I don't want a moral conundrum placed before me as I chow down on popcorn ... can we say out of touch? Not once does this film take a Bible and slap one alongside the face which is what happens to some of the preachy, message-movies I have come across .

.. and I appreciated that. Perhaps that is why the film takes place in Lebanon ... looking at a map one can see that the filmmakers literally had hundreds of small towns to chose from; but by chosing a town sharing a name with a typically tyrannized nation (for NO reason as a large portion of Lebanese follow the same religion as those casting judgement upon them) the filmmakers might have been making another offhand statement.

This wasn't BAD and I have seen worse; but it isn't worthy of my recommendation, either.