Taking Chance, 2009, TV-PG, 1 hr 18 min


Taking Chance
Age Rating: TV-PG
Runtime: 78 minutes
Studio: HBO Films

A quiet journey of honor follows one Marine officer as he escorts a fallen young Marine home, reminding the nation what dignity, sacrifice, and respect look like.

Ratings:
My Rating: 74%
The Dove Foundation: N/A
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 57%
Metacritic: 76/100
TMDb: N/A

Plot Summary:
Based on real events, Taking Chance follows Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, played by Kevin Bacon, as he volunteers to escort the body of 19-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps from Dover Air Force Base to his hometown in Wyoming.
The film is not a combat movie as much as a solemn tribute. It shows the careful military process of preparing, transporting, and honoring a fallen service member, while Strobl witnesses quiet acts of respect from military personnel and civilians along the way.

Critics Review:
Critics generally viewed Taking Chance as a respectful, restrained, and emotionally powerful military drama. Many praised its quiet tone, Kevin Bacon’s controlled performance, and its refusal to turn the story into a political argument. Some critics felt the film was too procedural or emotionally limited, but its strongest defenders saw that restraint as the point: it honors the fallen without sensationalism. 

Christian Perspective:
From a Christian perspective, Taking Chance strongly reflects honor, sacrifice, service, humility, grief, and respect for the dignity of human life. It shows people pausing to honor the dead and comfort the grieving, which connects deeply with biblical values of mourning with those who mourn, showing reverence, and recognizing the worth of every person.

It also avoids glorifying war. Instead, it focuses on duty, compassion, and the sacred responsibility of caring for someone who can no longer speak for himself.

Family Friendliness:
As a TV-PG film, Taking Chance may be suitable for mature families, especially teens and older children who can handle serious themes of death, military loss, grief, and burial. It is not graphic or action-heavy, but the emotional weight is strong. Parents should be prepared to discuss war, sacrifice, death, and honoring fallen service members.

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