Title: Hidden Secrets
Run Time: 90 min.
Produced by: Pure Flix Entertainment
Rating: N/A (I would suggest PG)
Staring: John Schnieder, David A. R. White, Tracy Melchior, Reginals Vel Johnson
Theatrical Release: April 30, 2007.
Score: 3 out of 5
Review By: Philip
“When your past becomes your present” is the tag line for Hidden Secrets. It creates an interesting image. Years after going their separate ways, a group of friends reunite when they all must return home for the funeral of an old friend. Of course memories, old loves, and hidden secrets come to the surface. What makes this story unique is that the characters deal with their issues in light of their faith and struggle to follow God’s story for their lives.
Unfortunately Hidden Secrets falls short of what it could have been. It is loaded with talented actors but the material is flat. There are brief moments of success. The comedic writing and timing was excellent, and in fact, they try to bill this movie as a comedy of sorts. It really is more drama with touches of humor. Perhaps, if they had decided to be one or the other the story would have been more solid. Also, the messages of hope and redemption are strongly and positively presented, which is nice to see for once in a motion picture.
In the end there are some miss-steps. The director never seems to find his rhythm. A number of the scenes feel disconnected from the rest of the movie and thus, leave you wondering “why was that there?” Just as you settle in you are disrupted by some transition scene that simply was just unnecessary. Some of these were intended for comedic effect, while others were meant to move along one of the many sup-plots.
The many sub-plots created another issue. There were at least four sub-plots that did not directly affect the main plot, which revolved around the love triangle of the main characters. With so many plots to flesh out none of them receive anything more than a brush at the surface. As a result, some serious topics didn't receive adequate time because the writers had to wrap them up in neat little packages by the end of the movie. The story would have been better served had they simply focused on the main characters and their stories.
In the end Hidden Secrets played more like a well done TV movie from Lifetime than a full featured motion picture. Good character interaction and some truly funny moments make it worth the time. In the end the good message and decent acting garnered this movie its three of five rating.
