STORYLINE:  As America’s fight for independence begins, a young drummer boy, an enslaved woman, and a divided family search for freedom. Through battle and loss, music carries hope in a deeply human story of faith and forgiveness.  (IMDb)

  Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger fought in the American revolutionary war, in The Patriot (2000).  Selma 2014) tells the story of MLK Jr’s voting rights match, as part of his peaceful revolution for civil rights.  Sofia Coppola directed the 2017 civil

war motion picture The Beguiled.  The new Angel Studios release, Drummer Boy, takes viewers back to the American revolution war.

  There have been some odd mix up of genres over the years. For instance, The Cove (2009) is a documentary that plays like a spy thriller.  This is a new one for me though, a musical war film.  That’s exactly what Drummer Boy happens to be.

  As a musical, the film features the tradIomal moments where characters breakout in the song.  There are no elobrate dance numbers, to accompany the songs though.

  The one song that sticks out is ‘Little Drummer Boy’.  After all, it is the partial title of the motion picture.  Through Drummer Boy, bits of the song are introduced as dialogue, and it all comes together in a performance, during the film’s climax.

  The story touches on a variety of topics that include family and freedom from both slavery and tyranny.  Being an Angel Studios release, Drummer Boy, over simplifies its themes. There important themes to discuss, and the film could have done a better job with doing so.

  The thing is, Angel Studios, started to put their religious agenda in the film, as that is their priority. The problem when they do this is it takes away from interesting films, and discussions points.

  With important themes, and a unique mash up of genres Drummer Boy fell short of its mark as it watered down its talking points.

Until next time, I will see you at the movies!