When animosity between a pastor and his bartender daughter results in a lawsuit, the judge orders them to swap roles for a week in James Houston Turner’s personal story ‘Square Pegs’ directed by Bill Rahn.
Square Pegs is a faith-based drama that explores themes of grief, bitterness, and finally understanding. The film follows a single father and pastor, Mac played with gravitas by Wayne Deloriea, and his estranged daughter, Jodie the powerful Meggie Jenny.
The source of their troubles is an accident that cost the life of Mac’s wife and Jodie’s mother, Meredith, as both Mac and Jodie blame each other for their loss. This grief and anger lead to an estrangement in their relationship and is made much worse by Jodie’s belief that Mac has always prioritized his church duties over his family and her spiteful attempt to make him sell the family home for her share of the estate’s money.
The film takes an interesting turn very early on when the judge presiding over their lawsuit (Catherine Trail) orders Mac and Jodie to switch roles for a week. Mac must become a bartender at Jodie’s workplace, while Jodie takes on the responsibilities of running the church. This forced role reversal allows them to experience each other’s lives firsthand, hopefully leading to a better understanding.
At its most basic level, Square Pegs doesn’t tell us anything different than other films of this genre, staying pretty close to the beats and concepts of its predecessors. Director Rahn avoids flashy, visual tricks to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, he uses close-ups and mid-shots to help convey the emotion of the characters, creating a sense of comfort for the viewer. Meanwhile, Turner’s script also remains pretty straightforward, with his main protagonists beginning the story miles apart before gradually getting closer. It’s not a spoiler to say that in the end, they both realise the error of their ways. What Square Pegs does have however is a sense of heart and the feeling that this has been written by someone who has experienced the feelings on show.
Scott McClannahan’s cinematography also evokes previous faith and Hallmark-based TV dramas by focusing on natural landscapes while both he and director Rahn work together to create scenes that are softly focused and warmly lit depicting moments of prayer or reflection. All of these technical aspects work together to support the story’s main themes of faith, doubt, and growth.
Although you can’t say that Square Pegs is in any way edgy, it does ask some difficult questions that deal with the idea of faith during difficult times and asking where God is during life’s darkest moments. Through Mac and Jodie’s character arc, the film suggests forgiveness and reconciliation are possible, even in the face of seemingly challenging odds.
Overall, Square Pegs is a heartwarming drama that tackles universal themes of family, forgiveness, and empathy. While its Christian-based elements are aimed toward a specific audience, the message of reconciliation is easy to pick up by anyone who has experienced a broken relationship.
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