Product Details

• Actors: Alex Kendrick
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Christiano Film Group
• DVD Release Date: April 5, 2005
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (281 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009231SC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,637 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Flywheel is the first film from the creators of Facing the Giants and Fireproof. Used car salesman Jay Austin (writer/director Alex Kendrick) swindles his customers and teaches his assistant salesmen to do the same--but despite the profits, something gnaws at him. When he realizes that his own son doesn't respect him, Austin has a conversion and accepts God into his life. This would be the end of most spiritual stories, but Flywheel finds a warm comedy in the obstacles on the path of righteousness; Austin discovers that being right with God means grappling every day with what it means to be honest. Though the filmmaking is raw (the editing is often clumsy and the cinematography is flat), the story is well-paced, has a gently ironic sense of humor, and Kendrick's central performance is compelling. Kendrick is just as persuasive as a man struggling to emerge from a joyless life as he is when he's rediscovered his faith but finds it constantly tested. Though Flywheel is forthright about its Christian inspiration, the story is about actually living a moral life, not about abstract spiritual truths. The result is a movie that looks towards heaven, but has its feet on the earth. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

Two discs - 1 Flywheel the movie, 2 The Making of Flywheel. Inspiring family movie. Winner of the Gold Crown Award "Best Screenplay" 2001. About a dishonest used car salesman who turns himself around.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

132 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Establishment of a Ministry, February 13, 2009

By 

David A. Rivera "coming judgement" (Millersburg, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flywheel (Director's Cut) (DVD)

After seeing "Facing the Giants," then going to the theater to see "Fireproof," and subsequently also buying that DVD; I had to also see the initial effort by the Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia.

The intent of this movie was to be a ministry outreach to their community, and the goal was to show it in a local theater for one night. It ended up being shown for weeks, being shown elsewhere, and then released on DVD. Its success led to the production of the two later projects.

If you are going to judge it alongside Hollywood productions- yes, the quality is not on the same level; yes, the writing is not on the same level; yes, the acting is not on the same level; and yes, the production values are not on the same level. But, it's still not bad- especially for a first-time effort by a group of amateurs. And believe me, I've seen plenty of larger-budget movies by Hollywood professionals that were much worse.

You have to realize, that although the intent of this movie is to entertain; the heart of it is to minister. At the time when Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" was released and became a blockbuster, and more religious-themed movies began being to be produced, it was said that the movie theater was becoming the new church. Let's face it, the past efforts of Christian movies, produced by Christians, have left a lot to be desired. But with "Flywheel" the bar was raised.

As a Christian, knowing that this is a message movie, I watched it with "spiritual" eyes, so I was able to overlook its inadequacies. There is such an anointing on this movie, and it is very apparent that the Sherwood Baptist Church is yearning to bring glory to God, and to lift up Christ.

Even so, I don't believe it will turn-off non-Christians, because it isn't preachy. The Godly values that the movie portrays is really just a demonstration of ethical living and doing the right thing. The movie is a witnessing tool, because it shows that you can preach a better message with your life, and not just your lips. In other words, actions speak louder than words.

The goal for any Christian is to live a Godly life, and although many times we fall short, God's grace is sufficient. It's not about religion- it's about relationship. The movie shows what happen when we reach out to our Heavenly Father and are sensitive to what's in His heart. It's not about us. This movie shows what happen when we put aside what we want in order to do what God wants.

We sing for God to Bless America, but why would He, if we're not willing to bless God in word and deed. The Sherwood Baptist Church is doing that with "Flywheel" and continue to do so with "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof." If you're a Christian and you haven't seen all of these movies- you need to. Not only for the simple fact that they will bless you- but also to support this ministry. If you're not a Christian- these movies offer a practical demonstration of how God wants to work in our lives and our hearts, and how He wants to interact with us in a very real way.

124 of 127 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great spirtual film from "Facing the Giants" creator, November 7, 2007

By 

Ed Howell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flywheel (Director's Cut) (DVD)

For those who enjoyed "Facing the Giants," this is an earlier production made by the same Georgia church on a shoestring budget -- but still well done. This is the moving (and sometimes funny) story of a cheating, morally bankrupt car dealer who is behind on his bills. A spiritual experience leads him to re-evaluate his dealings in surprisingly different ways. Like "Giants," this film is better than you would expect considering the budget and is proof you don't need millions to entertain or move people. Film was run at Georgia area movie theater and shocked the church with the attendance, which prompted longer and wider play in the theater's chain. Obviously, success of "Giants" appears to be prompting a national release of this film by Sony, but that's a good move. I was looking for an older DVD, but I'll wait for the new release.

84 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flywheel is wonderful, May 8, 2005

By 

RDtoo "Some guy in Detroit" (Detroit) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Flywheel (2-Disc Special Edition) (DVD)

I found this on the shelf at Blockbuster and was surprised to find that it was an independently produced Christian film. This is a film about a less than ethical used car dealer who decides one day to start living his life with integrity and treating his customers fairly. The actors are amateurs but do a great job. There are some hilarious scenes in this film, some of them we find out on the commentary happened spontaneously and were unplanned by the film crew. The film looks good for a low budget though some scenes have the feel and look of a 1970s tv show. Don't let that keep you away. This is a great film for Christians and has a clearer message than the best selling book "Purpose Driven Life". I think a secular audience could enjoy this film as well as it dosen't "preach" at you per se, but tells the story of one man and his decisions. This is probably one of the best Christian films I have ever seen. A top notch effort by all involved. I look forward to their next film.