Synopsis
Jim Cummins (Jamey Sampley) is a Christian man who works an average job and who loves his family more than anything else in the world. When Jim is given the assignment to work on a national ad campaign for a western event, he learns a lot about how the West was really won.
Challenged to find evidence of families settling the West for his cynical colleague, Kevin (Dustin Ross) who thinks the West was settled by outlaws and gunslinger, Jim discovers some amazing facts. Still dubious, Kevin confronts Jim with the daunting question, “If you lived in the West, could you stand under the pressure of ruthless outlaws?”
Get ready for adventure as Jim imagines life in the wild, wild west, and witness the courage it takes for the Cummins family to stand for truth.
Howdy, pardners. What comes to mind when you hear about cowboys, outlaws, rodeos, wagons and extreme imaginations? A rip-roarin’ Dad the Hero adventure, of course!
In a world where fathers are constantly belittled and insulted, Take 7 Films’ Dad the Hero series makes no secret about how they feel fathers ought to be portrayed in media. (If you’re not sure how they stand on the issue, look very carefully at the title. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.) The character of Jim Cummins is your average everyman working a nine-to-five job, living a quiet life. But beneath that average exterior is an imagination that’s anything but mediocre! Jim imagines doing everything from drag racing to sky diving to ice climbing to back flipping off cliff faces into lakes (a stunt that actor Jamey Sampley clearly did himself!) And when his argumentative coworker challenges him on his own courage, Jim’s imagination takes us to the Wild West where he must face down a band of outlaws to protect his family.
Overall, it’s a decent production. The pacing is good, and there’s very creative cinematography. There is some weak acting early on, but once the imagination sequence kicked in, I was completely drawn into the story. The outlaws are classic bad guys, cruel and ruthless, and parents should be aware that they could frighten younger children. There is some drinking and smoking (only by the outlaws), and the outlaws seem to be soused for the entire film, which makes for some funny moments.
One of the things I admire about this story is the good example that’s given of a father being the spiritual leader of his family. Even in the face of potentially life-threatening danger, Jim is brave and calmly guides his family to be faithful and courageous. And he’s willing to give his life to save his wife and children from harm. We need more examples of Godly, masculine fatherhood in media, and the Take 7 team is doing their part. I can’t wait to see what they have up their collective sleeve next!
View the Trailer
Dad the Hero in the Wild Wild West
Release: 2008
Genre: Family, Western
Run Time: 63 min.
Website: DadTheHero.com
Production Company: Take 7 Films
Directed by: Jamey Sampley
Produced by: Take 7 Films
Screenplay by: Candle Sampley, Jamey Sampley
Starring: Jamey Sampley as Jim Cummins, Jon Taylor as Mr. Taylor, Gary Phillips as Boss, Dustin Ross as Kevin
