Family Film Entertains, Explores Faith-and-Science Theme
by Randall Murphree
December 14, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The intersection of science and faith is the focal point of The Theory of Everything, a new DVD release from Blue Yonder Pictures and Christian Cinema. While its context sounds heavy, director David de Vos still creates a highly family-friendly story with intriguing relationships.De Vos himself stars as Doug Holloway, a young family man who's barely keeping his head above water -- a business on the verge of failure, a marriage going the same direction, and an unwelcome intrusion from his birth father, of whom he has no memory.
To his credit, Doug responds with integrity and responsibility when tracked down by a half-sister he didn't even know he had. She's eager to get their dad ruled incompetent so she can get to his money. But even in the middle of his business and family problems, Doug visits, then reaches out to the father he'd never known. The state asks him to take custody of his father, whose recent behavior has been suspect and abnormal.
When Doug goes to meet Dr. Eugene Holland, his birth father, the two men quickly forge a fast friendship. Doug brings emotion and faith to the relationship and Gene, a physicist, brings science. Gene still grieves over the death of his wife who died when Doug was born. She was a woman of great faith, and Gene has spent his life trying to prove scientifically whether or not God exists.
Gene Holland is played by Victor Lundin, noted as the first-ever Klingon in the classic Star Trek. Among other credits, Lundin appeared in Gunsmoke, Get Smart, Batman and The Greatest Story Ever Told. De Vos has comparable credentials including Back to the Future -- The Ride, The Making of Terminator 2, A day in the Life, Star Trek the Experience and Switched.
De Vos and his wife Stephanie produced the film and David McFadzen, creator of the TV series Home Improvement, is executive producer.
Some early scenes highlight Gene's theories -- dialogue peppered with technical language and boards covered with the symbols of his theories. But even in that context, Doug is hooked by instant fascination and connection to Gene. Thus a strong storyline surfaces as Doug learns about his birth parents and Gene learns about Doug's Christian faith.
This newfound relationship with his birth father is at first challenged by, then enhanced as Doug's wife and two young daughters become a part of the picture.
It turns out that Gene suffers from a degenerative brain disease. He probably has less than two years to live, but is usually capable of rational thought and behavior. For example, he advises Doug regarding some of his business problems and the business begins to turn around.
De Vos is intrigued by father-son relationships, and has written a number of stories exploring the theme. His father is an engineer, and de Vos said their discussions gave him a lot of food for thought regarding this film project.
"I read a book by Hugh Ross called Beyond the Cosmos and it really got me thinking about some of the implications of science and mathematics and some of the real cutting edge scientific explorations going," de Vos said. "Discussing that with my dad, who is a very curious man, who is an engineer -- he and I had some great discussions, just about what it meant from a spiritual perspective."
"Does God exist in higher dimensions?" de Vos asks. "Has He created dimensions beyond what we can see and does His spiritual realm exist in those? Do angels and demons walk and work in those dimensions beyond what we can see?"
They're fascinating questions, and The Theory of Everything may evoke some deep thinking. However, it also entertains with a compelling story and believable characters who reflect themes and realities that impact our daily living -- faith, forgiveness, restored relationships, integrity and compassion among them.
As De Vos' and Blue Yonder's debut project, it is a praiseworthy addition to the Christian film genre.
Randall Murphree, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is editor of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
