Lifted (2010)

I saw this movie with no expectations, but i was at least waiting for something watchable, but oh my...This is probably the worst movie i saw in the last 10 years, i could say the acting is awful, but awful isn't quite the word to describe it. I just hope someone takes my advice and avoid losing 100 minutes of your precious life.There's nothing good about this movie... The kid isn't a wonder-kid, it doesn't sing all that well. The dad is laughable because it's a military hip hop wannabe, it's makes Vanilla Ice look like 2pac. There's a lot more i could say, but i want to forget about this very soon, so i will say no more...

Henry is a middle school student who enjoys singing while his mechanic father William raps. His mother Lisa has been sober for more than a year and rides her bicycle to meetings. For some reason Henry is harassed by bullies at school. One day he is running from the other boys and sees a church as a place where he can escape. Pastor Johnson lets him stay in the church and runs the other boys out, and he listens to Henry sing. Henry is quite talented, and most of his songs have a Christian message.William gets a letter calling him back into service. Even though he served in Iraq, he is a reservist who can be called back, and this time he will serve in Afghanistan. Lisa isn't sure she can cope, but she is willing to try. The problems for this family include the fact that the army doesn't pay as much as a civilian job. Lisa and Henry must move in with her abusive, racist father, who despite living in Honey Boo Boo's neighborhood seems to think "ghetto" is a bad thing. Henry's grandfather gets very angry if the boy listens to or performs that garbage. Also, the man next door wants to not only hit on Lisa but give her a "hit", if you know what I mean. She tries to resist, and she tries looking for a job, but life is hard.There may be a way out. Henry learns of an "American Idol" type competition for Alabama teenagers. Can Henry make it to the competition? Will he win? He certainly has the talent. The judges include country superstar Jimmy Knox, a redneck named Bubba (at least I think that was his name) and an uppity white woman. And Henry's musical taste isn't exactly what one would expect from a white boy from Alabama.I won't give away the ending, but this movie honors those who serve our country in a very moving way.The leading actors all do a good job here. Dash Mihok is a loving father who serves his country honorably. Nicki Aycox delivers an effective mix of vulnerability and drive. Uriah Shelton shows a lot of determination in the face of obstacles, and of course he can sing. Ruben Studdard does a fine job as a true man of God. I don't know the name of Henry's grandfather, but he is genuinely hateful and has no redeeming qualities. Still, that means a good performance. This is a movie about music, but I will say the only music I enjoyed came from the 40-year-old pickup of Henry's grandfather. I agree with him about good music. Still, the singers and rappers in this movie do a good job even if their style is not my taste. We are not subjected to the really awful performers because the audio continues to come from Kymrence Young as the judges give bad news to pretty much everyone else.I heard one bad word bleeped, and a racist term that could be heard on "All in the Family". And then there's the way Henry gets treated by his grandfather. There is another violent incident which the audience should enjoy. Let's not forget people who use. There are family values here, but it's not all good clean entertainment. It's a worthwhile effort.

Lifted was a great movie!! It was like a hidden treasure that appeared in my movie file as a recommendation. Great suggestion! I watched the film 3-4 times.The movie has a great storyline. The main character, Henry Matthews, is facing the challenges of being a tween growing up in the South. Nevertheless, he has a strong bond with his father and pastor in the community. Though the Matthews family is financially poor, they are rich in love and talent. The family faces real-life issues and overcomes obstacles with faith, music and unity. The story is uplifting, and the musical talent is great! I highly recommend this movie for anyone, especially for veterans and even families with children 10+ years.

I have watched this movie 5 times in the last two months. I have had everyone who comes to my home watch it! This movie inspires me to thank every military member I see in my path! It has a twist in the storyline which makes it unpredictable and entertaining. It touches deep to many people with addictions, loss of family members and abuse! Life struggles are a common thread we all share and this story touches on them and gives hope. My five year old loves to sing along and I am floored by Henry's amazing voice! I hope to see him go far with his singing career. I don't recognize these actors but I believe they did a wonderful job in their roles. I felt sadness, anger, happiness, worry, hope and love. Great movie! Thank you