A Greater Yes

by: Not applicable

Published by: Pure Flix (June 30, 2009)

Reviewed by Carrie Padgett

A Greater Yes DVD/movie is based on the true story of Amy Newhouse, a Texas teen whose life and death brings hope, redemption, and healing to an entire community.

Amy has a boyfriend, a loving family, and is a student athlete. She believes God has a purpose for her and she’s passionate about serving Him. She spends a summer as a short-term missionary in Africa and comes home changed and on fire to serve her community. She begins a campus-based faith club and sets out to befriend the school loner/rebel.

Amy then is diagnosed with a mass around her heart that is pressing on her lungs. She enters the hospital for surgery and chemotherapy. She prays, believing God has always answered her prayers in the affirmative. Her school and community add their prayers and they seem effective. After several months the tumor shrinks and Amy is released.

Receiving a reprieve ignites Amy’s passion even more and she begins to speak to youth groups in her area, to the dismay of her boyfriend who feels unimportant in her new life. Amy decides to serve God on the mission field.

But the cancer is back and this time does not respond to chemotherapy.

The movie is interspersed with bits from Amy’s journal and shares her thoughts and feelings and affirms her belief that if God answers “no” it’s because He has “a greater yes” planned.

The movie is well produced and directed. The technical and production values are excellent. The soundtrack adds to the story without overwhelming it–which is an achievement given the temptation to load a story like this with praise and worship songs.

The acting is mostly competent. The best, by far, is Anne Underwood as Amy. Bradley Dorsey (also the producer and director) plays Amy’s boyfriend, Tyler. His emotion and bewilderment ring true. Paul Willis as bad boy Jordan is very good.

Overall, this A Greater Yes a good choice for families who want real life stories with hope, even when there isn’t a “happily ever after” ending.

Armchair Interviews agrees.