Hailed as the most successful Fathom Event of the year, LIFEMARK, an inspiring true story about life and adoption by the Kendrick Brothers, has been extended for another weekend in over 1,100 theaters.

Starring Kirk Cameron, the faith-based movie drama centers on 18-year-old David, who has tried to conceal his adoption – until his biological mother reaches out to meet him. How he handles the invitation – and another one from his biological father – is the emotional and riveting substance of this important new film.

We’ve all heard the criticism about Christian movies:

Predictable, syrupy, simplistic, unrealistic – even poorly made. And that’s some of the more polite jabs. In the end, though, it’s not the critics that count – it’s the customers who show up and then tell their friends.

After its opening weekend, LIFEMARK is maintaining a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the popular online review site.

Audiences are resonating with this new film because it’s answering a question so many in the culture are asking:

How can we reduce abortions and become a culture of life?

Whether they admit it or not, most Americans are uncomfortable with abortion. Pollsters can get different responses based on how a question is asked, but only heartless people can cavalierly shrug and deny that life is always better than death.

Most people also realize reality: not every woman who gets pregnant is in a position to parent. The solution to that problem is simple. We should be encouraging these women to make adoption plans and entrust their son or daughter to a married, loving mother and father.

“But wait,” many of these women say. “Give away my baby? They will hate me for doing it. They will judge me. They will never understand.”

Enter LIFEMARK.

Pulling the curtain back on the beauty and challenges of adoption, we see that these fears are ultimately unfounded. It’s true that adoption can be uneven, unpredictable, imperfect, emotional and even downright harrowing. But adoption also puts every child on the verge of everything. It gives children a chance to live a life they’d never otherwise have – and an opportunity to see God work in marvelous, mysterious and glorious ways.

Alex and Stephen Kendrick, along with Kirk Cameron and the entire cast of this project, should be lauded for putting forth such a positive, quality and important film that doesn’t just entertain – but also celebrates adoption and encourages its viewers to consider how and what the Lord might be calling them to.

If your schedule allows for a movie this weekend, you should go see LIFEMARK. It will be time well spent.

NOTE: To read Plugged In’s review, click here.