"You can either lend a hand or get out of the way, I'm pretty sure I know what choice Jesus would make." When high school dropout Matthew, upset with his parents, vandalizes a church his punishment is to help fix it up. When he is sent to help woodcarver Ernest Otto (Ratzenberger) Matthew begins to learn a valuable lesson. As I have stated many times before my biggest problem with the faith based movies are that everything is too perfect and there is no tension. This movie is one of the few exceptions that I have found. This is also the only movie like this I have seen that actually threw me for a loop at the end. This is a very good movie and very much worth watching even if you don't normally like the faith based movies. Overall, along with "What if" this is one of the best faith based movies I have ever seen. I give it a B+.
11 Reviews
Enjoyed this a lot
office-2888216 August 2021
My wife and I watch at least one faith-based movie per week Regretfully the pickings are somewhat thin in terms of production values and acting. That is OK- it is really about the quality of the message and not the medium.
This movie had it all, and we really enjoyed it.
This movie had it all, and we really enjoyed it.
Families have hope when Jesus is involved
aimalfred1 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A great movie that the whole family can enjoy. It appears to be a wonderful remake of "The Last Brickmaker In America" with Sydney Poitier in 2001. With so many families in crisis, this movie shows that there is always hope when the family asks "what would Jesus do" and then follows through with actions.
One of the best movies I've ever seen - faith-based or otherwise.
hatlad14 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The acting in this movie is superb. And the dialogue seems quite natural - at least most all the time. Very well scripted and directed. And John Ratzenberger is amazing. (I kept finding myself amazed this was the same guy who played know-it-all windbag Cliff Claven in "Cheers." The range of emotion he displays in this movie really shows the depth of his acting. Kind of like comedian/comedy actor Robin Williams did in "The Dead Poets Society.")
Possible SPOILER ALERT here, but what I think really sets this movie apart from other faith-based movies is that in the end not quite EVERYthing ends up hunky dory. I'll leave it at that, but it added a sense of real world realism to the movie.
But, I'd have to give it an A+ overall. Very well done film and very uplifting story to watch. Full of good instructional points for youth OR adults.
Possible SPOILER ALERT here, but what I think really sets this movie apart from other faith-based movies is that in the end not quite EVERYthing ends up hunky dory. I'll leave it at that, but it added a sense of real world realism to the movie.
But, I'd have to give it an A+ overall. Very well done film and very uplifting story to watch. Full of good instructional points for youth OR adults.
Prayers are still answered
mrweather27 March 2013
In WWJD II: The Wooodcarver, John Ratzenberger plays Ernest, a hard working, decent and faith filled man. It could be my Dad or many other people's Dad, Grandfather, brother or husband. I wouldn't say that the movie is perfect, but nothing is. That's why I liked it. It's just down to earth and shows the messiness that exists in this world.
I don't think the film is overly preachy. Yes Jesus is mentioned, but in a way that shows hurting people that if they want a fulfilled life like Ernest has, they might try putting God first. And just because they do, it doesn't cause everything in their life to be rosy--just meaningful.
Of course, a lot of people become bitter and miserable when life seems to fail them. This movie shows how prayers often need humans to act unselfishly in order for positive change to occur. In that sense, I believe that prayers are answered. This movie affirms my belief.
I don't think the film is overly preachy. Yes Jesus is mentioned, but in a way that shows hurting people that if they want a fulfilled life like Ernest has, they might try putting God first. And just because they do, it doesn't cause everything in their life to be rosy--just meaningful.
Of course, a lot of people become bitter and miserable when life seems to fail them. This movie shows how prayers often need humans to act unselfishly in order for positive change to occur. In that sense, I believe that prayers are answered. This movie affirms my belief.
Get your stuff rught
lorettagayle-771274 September 2018
Wwjd11 the woodcarver
mitchellrharl12 January 2021
Pride in your craft
bkoganbing1 February 2016
As a celebration of individual craftsmanship The Woodcarver is an interesting film. But it's failure to really find a reason young Dakota Dalby's rebellion it falls way short of the mark. I'm still not clear if the young man in his own mind committed these acts of vandalism for sufficient reason.
But vandalize his former church he did and the pastor Anthony Harrison calls in his estranged parents, Woody Jeffreys and Nicole Oliver. They spend more time sniping at each other than paying attention to their son. In fact Jeffreys sees the vandalism as an opportunity for work for his contracting firm and their prefabricated material.
The thing is the original carver of the woodwork in the church is still with us and as a craftsman John Ratsenberger takes a great deal of pride. Pride in yourself is a sin, but pride in what you do with your own hands if you're blessed with such a creative spirit should be encouraged.
Which is the lesson taught to young Daulby. With a leavening of those initials that have become so popular, WWJD, what would Jesus do? There's considerable debate in our society about that proposition.
The Woodcarver is a good tribute to pride in your work and the dignity of a craft well learned and practiced.
But vandalize his former church he did and the pastor Anthony Harrison calls in his estranged parents, Woody Jeffreys and Nicole Oliver. They spend more time sniping at each other than paying attention to their son. In fact Jeffreys sees the vandalism as an opportunity for work for his contracting firm and their prefabricated material.
The thing is the original carver of the woodwork in the church is still with us and as a craftsman John Ratsenberger takes a great deal of pride. Pride in yourself is a sin, but pride in what you do with your own hands if you're blessed with such a creative spirit should be encouraged.
Which is the lesson taught to young Daulby. With a leavening of those initials that have become so popular, WWJD, what would Jesus do? There's considerable debate in our society about that proposition.
The Woodcarver is a good tribute to pride in your work and the dignity of a craft well learned and practiced.
Not really a one of a kind movie
v_nazareth2726 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is just a ripoff of a classic.. The Last Brick maker In America.
I mean yeah they changed the story a bit, like woodcarver not brick-maker..church not school. But really its the exact same story really even some off the script is the same as well. The only difference is this one is a bit more obvious with the religion aspect.. and honestly I am not sure it's for the better... The least they can do is give credit to the movie they stole from. It's real original when you ripoff old movies, the writers should be so proud of themselves.
I mean yeah they changed the story a bit, like woodcarver not brick-maker..church not school. But really its the exact same story really even some off the script is the same as well. The only difference is this one is a bit more obvious with the religion aspect.. and honestly I am not sure it's for the better... The least they can do is give credit to the movie they stole from. It's real original when you ripoff old movies, the writers should be so proud of themselves.
Unconvincing actors and a boring, predictable plot, but John Ratzenberger manages to keep the movie afloat.
jimbotherisenclown-677-1642987 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I should probably begin by saying that I'm not the target audience for a Christian propaganda film like this. That said, The Woodcarver managed to occasionally catch my interest, due in a large part to the acting skills of John Ratzenberger and the honest beauty in the woodworking highlighted in the movie.
The plot of the movie is fairly straight forward, without any real surprises. The plot is focused on Ernest, an elderly woodworker played by the talented John Ratzenberger, and Matthew, a troubled teenager who begins the movie by vandalizing the church that Ernest is working to rebuild. The pastor of the vandalized church convinces Matthew to work with Ernest in order to repay the damage he caused. In the process of working with the boy, Ernest manages to impart his work ethic, values, and beliefs onto the boy, simply by living well and asking Matthew to stop before doing anything and first asking "What would Jesus do?"
Before I complain about the lackluster plot and acting in the movie, I should first give the praise where it is due. John Ratzenberger acts his role well, and I found myself most interested in the movie when he was on screen. The director also seemed to understand the beauty in the woodcarving scenes, which were lovingly filmed and liberally sprinkled throughout the movie. The sets are well-designed, and Ernest's house is filled with the little touches that mark it as the home of a skilled carpenter.
Unfortunately, that's it for the praise. The plot isn't bad, but is boring and predictable. Ernest, the 'good Christian', never seems to do anything wrong and has no flaws in his character to speak of. It's only due to the previously mentioned skills of Ratzenberger that the character manages to be at all interesting. The other actors deliver their lines without the conviction that you would expect from trained professionals, and sound more like a high school theatre troupe that has yet to come into their talent. The Christian message isn't heavy handed, but the movie still manages to avoid any challenging subject matter by having everyone simply accept it without any real internal debate or struggle. The questions they ask about Ernest's Christian message are simple and foolish, but the movie still doesn't bother to properly address them.
All told, if you are a Christian family looking for something to affirm your values, this movie will do the job. If you are looking for anything thought-provoking or at all interesting, look elsewhere. The movie never manages to be bad, but in the sea of cinema available, it commits the worst sin of all: mediocrity.
The plot of the movie is fairly straight forward, without any real surprises. The plot is focused on Ernest, an elderly woodworker played by the talented John Ratzenberger, and Matthew, a troubled teenager who begins the movie by vandalizing the church that Ernest is working to rebuild. The pastor of the vandalized church convinces Matthew to work with Ernest in order to repay the damage he caused. In the process of working with the boy, Ernest manages to impart his work ethic, values, and beliefs onto the boy, simply by living well and asking Matthew to stop before doing anything and first asking "What would Jesus do?"
Before I complain about the lackluster plot and acting in the movie, I should first give the praise where it is due. John Ratzenberger acts his role well, and I found myself most interested in the movie when he was on screen. The director also seemed to understand the beauty in the woodcarving scenes, which were lovingly filmed and liberally sprinkled throughout the movie. The sets are well-designed, and Ernest's house is filled with the little touches that mark it as the home of a skilled carpenter.
Unfortunately, that's it for the praise. The plot isn't bad, but is boring and predictable. Ernest, the 'good Christian', never seems to do anything wrong and has no flaws in his character to speak of. It's only due to the previously mentioned skills of Ratzenberger that the character manages to be at all interesting. The other actors deliver their lines without the conviction that you would expect from trained professionals, and sound more like a high school theatre troupe that has yet to come into their talent. The Christian message isn't heavy handed, but the movie still manages to avoid any challenging subject matter by having everyone simply accept it without any real internal debate or struggle. The questions they ask about Ernest's Christian message are simple and foolish, but the movie still doesn't bother to properly address them.
All told, if you are a Christian family looking for something to affirm your values, this movie will do the job. If you are looking for anything thought-provoking or at all interesting, look elsewhere. The movie never manages to be bad, but in the sea of cinema available, it commits the worst sin of all: mediocrity.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
