Saving Paradise Review: A Feel Good Coming Home Film

Release date: September 3, 2021
Running time: 102 minutes
Directed by: Jay Silverman
Written by: Van Billet
Starring: William Moseley, Johanna Braddy, and Mimi Kennedy

SAVING PARADISE is an inspiring story based on true events. A ruthless corporate raider is forced to return to his small town roots where he suddenly inherits his father’s nearly bankrupt pencil factory, which is the heart and soul of the depressed community. With the foreclosure deadline looming, he must decide to either let it close, or join the community’s fight to save it.

Your enjoyment of Saving Paradise will depend on how much you like the two leads, and thankfully they are fun to watch.  Seeing Mike (Moseley) and Charlie (Braddy) try to save the company and the difficulties that they face is fun to see.  It's your typical small town return film, but at least the actors are enjoyable characters.  I especially liked how strong of a character Charlie was, especially when confronted with her new boss.  And the film does have an overall feel good feeling, like a Christmas movie that is released in September.  In fact, this would be a perfect Christmas movie as the timeline within the film makes it conclude during the holidays.  

But Saving Paradise also feels formulaic, like a made for TV movie.  Some of the acting is overexaggerated, the story has some emotional parts that just didn't hit, and the entire film feels like something made for television.  Many of the characters are your typical small town caricatures; wholesome, set in their ways, and wise beyond their small town circumstances.  And the film was sometimes very predictable.  The initial story felt like something you have seen before, with a lot of the tropes and characters you have come to expect.  And there is this tragic circumstance that is included in the film that just felt strange to me.  I understand what they were trying to do but the whole thing seemed clumsily handled and bolted on.  

However, stick around with this film because there are some surprises after the predictable start and middle.  There are some films where the ending can make or break it, and Saving Paradise is one of those.  The ending throws in some unexpected ideas and events, a little bit of holiday magic, and a feel good finale that leaves you with a smile on your face

Saving Paradise has a mostly predictable story with rough edges, but it ends with a feel good finale that showcases the heart of this film. 

Rent it.

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Saving Paradise s available digitally and on demand on September 3, 2021.  

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