TxMike We found this one on Netflix streaming movies. As most others have recognized, we right away said "this is a different version of 'Family Man' with Nick Cage." And it is, although both of them were inspired by older movies which play on the same theme.That theme is, what would your life be if you had made a different decision at a critical point? Both movies treat the beginnings and the ends very similarly, but the middles are totally different. In "What If" Kevin Sorbo is Ben Walker who 15 years earlier was telling his girlfriend goodbye at the bus station as he was about to leave for 7 months. She was worried but he assured her "Nothing will come between us." Well 15 years later Ben is a very single, very smart, very wealthy, Harvard-educated businessman with an instinct for closing deals. And making lots of money. He is about to be made partner in his firm, and to celebrate he buys an expensive car. As he is driving towards his old home town the car acts up, gages all flash, the car dies.Reminiscent of the Don Knotts character in 'Pleasantville' who showed up with a new remote, John Ratzenberger as Mike the Angel shows up with a tow truck. He doesn't waste a lot of time telling Ben that he has been sent by 'the guy up there' to show Ben what his life would have been if he had returned to his girlfriend.That girlfriend is Kristy Swanson as Wendy Walker . After Mike the Angel puts Ben's lights out with one punch, Ben later awakens at his "home", complete with a wife (Wendy) and two cute daughters. It is Sunday, they are getting dressed for church, and Ben finds out he has just become their new pastor of this little white church in his hometown.So the movie, even with its serious theme has many funny parts. All three main actors are very good in their roles. We get to see how Ben handles this "glimpse" into the life he failed to choose.SPOILER, the ending: Ben is removed from his "glimpse" but is moved by the experience. He wants Wendy, he wants a family, and he wants to become a minister. When he looks her up, she is at that same station, about to take a bus to the city. He pleads with her to stay, but she thinks it is too late. She gets on the bus, then Ben watches it roll away. But then it returns, Mike the Angel is the driver now, and as it rolls away again Wendy is standing there with her suitcase. Then it flashes to a few years later, their daughter's birthday, Wendy pregnant, and we see the same scene that Ben had seen in old home movies during his "glimpse".

Tony Heck "Nothing is gonna change...trust me." Ben Walker and his fiancée Wendy are planning their life together when Ben leaves on a trip for only a few months. A few months turns into 15 years and Ben has changed his entire life. His plans for becoming a minister and marrying Wendy changed to how much money can he make being a money hungry investment banker. When an angel comes to Earth and shows Ben what is life could have been like if he stayed on his original plan Ben has a choice to make. Not to cause an argument here but to me most of the faith based movies that come out are very cheesy and unbelievable. Movies like "5th Quarter", "Courage" and even "The Blind Side" to me are not that good mainly because there seems to be no real substance. Those movies are...if this doesn't happen then this can't...next scene everything works out perfect. Like in "Blind Side" when the family is told that if Michael doesn't pass this next test he will not be able to play, and then the very next scene is him saying I passed the test. This movie is the exception. While it does have it's cheesiness and is predictable it has something the other movies didn't...a real character facing real decisions. The only way to describe this movie is that it's very much like "It's a wonderful life" but with more God. To see Kevin Sorbo in a movie like this is strange at first but he does a great job. This is a definite must see for families as it will show what is important in life. Overall, not being a fan of faith based movies I really really enjoyed this one and I highly recommend it. I give it an A.

renee0521 If we ever needed uplifting movies,we need them now. What If is just such a movie. It tells the story of Ben Walker,who left his sweetheart and ministry calling for a business opportunity. Fifteen years later,he is about to become a partner in a prestigious investment firm and has a trophy fiancée. While taking his new car for a spin,he encounters an angel in the form of a tow truck driver,who sends him to an alternate reality,where he is married to his sweetheart and has two daughters,one a rather rebellious teenager and they are getting ready for church,where he is the new pastor. Without giving away anymore,I will say that Kevin Sorbo is absolutely brilliant in the role of Ben,who must learn about faith & family if he wants to return to his old life. This movie is the story of second chances and redemption. This really is a movie that the whole family will enjoy.

in-d-lover Perhaps the fastest growing classification of movies, faith-based films have a tendency to sacrifice production value for message. While movies like Facing the Giants and Fireproof have solid messages, they lack in the aesthetic polish audiences get from most Hollywood releases. With "What If...", Dallas Jenkins manages to give audiences an aesthetically beautiful film with wonderful performances on both sides of the camera. The movie feels like a mid-budget Hollywood release, a remarkable feet considering the low budget and tight shooting schedule. Kevin Sorbo has a great presence throughout, and Kristy Swanson, still beautiful as ever, shows off her dramatic chops. And John Ratzenberger's performance is angelic, in a good-old-boy way. Still, great direction and performances don't make a great movie unless the story matches. Thankfully, the story of "What If...", albeit somewhat recycled, is outstanding. Living a life of luxury and power, Ben Walker (Sorbo) is chosen by God to receive a glimpse of what his life could have been had he made a different decision 15 years earlier. The bulk of the movie is spent in Ben's alternate reality where he learns the true riches of life. "What If..." doesn't hide the fact that it's a Christian movie. Still, it doesn't hurl religion at the audience with reckless abandon. In other words, it's a movie that even non-Christians can and should enjoy. Without sex, violence, or language concerns, it's perfectly suited for all ages. Raising the bar for faith-based films, "What If..." is hopefully the start to higher standards for movies delivering messages of the Highest Standard.