CHARLIE ST. CLOUD
A heartfelt second chance at life, marked by grief and discernment.
Should You Watch It?
You can expect a moving, heartfelt drama about grief, love, forgiveness, and second chances. The movie’s Christian elements are unusually overt for a mainstream drama, including positive mentions of God, prayer to Jesus Christ during a funeral, belief in miracles, and the possibility of forgiveness.
The film’s emotional core is appealing, but it is also predictable and somewhat sappy. Brief foul language, implied fornication, romantic elements, teenage drunkenness, and a graphic car wreck complicate its uplifting message.
If you are choosing for teenagers or adults, CHARLIE ST. CLOUD is an enjoyable and inspiring drama worth considering. For younger children, parents should weigh the content carefully.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESCharlie is a bright young man whose promising future is halted by the grief of losing his little brother, Sam, in a drunken car accident. Five years later, Charlie works at a local cemetery and keeps a daily promise connected to his brother.
Then Charlie meets Tess, a young yachtswoman preparing to sail around the world. When Tess faces a life-threatening situation at sea, Charlie must choose between pursuing the woman he loves and keeping his promise to Sam.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means CHARLIE ST. CLOUD is a good, enjoyable film with clear weaknesses. The drama is moving and heartfelt, and Zac Efron shines onscreen. His performance keeps the movie from falling into its own melancholy traps.
The plot is predictable and somewhat sappy, and the story is never too deep. Still, the movie’s emotional journey is enjoyably uplifting, making it a delightful drama despite its limitations.
The Worldview
CHARLIE ST. CLOUD presents a light, mixed pagan worldview with Romantic elements and supernatural aspects. Charlie believes he is speaking with his dead brother while grieving, and the film includes other spiritual imagery, such as an ambulance driver who prays and wears a pendant of St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes.
At the same time, the movie contains strong Christian and moral elements. It speaks positively about God and the Lord giving people second chances. It includes Christian prayer during a funeral, explicitly mentioning Jesus Christ, and presents forgiveness, miracles, heroism, and sacrificial service in a positive light. A man also asks for forgiveness.
The film’s ideas about grief and second chances can point toward the hope of new life, but its supernatural elements and mixed spiritual framework depart from a biblical understanding of death and redemption. Scripture says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light mixed pagan worldview with Romantic worldview elements and some supernatural aspects as grieving man believes he is speaking with his dead brother while he is grieving, some overt Christian elements include positive mention of God and how the Lord gives people second chances, Christian prayer during funeral with mention of Jesus Christ, ambulance driver prays and wears pendant of St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes (although man says he believes there are no lost causes), and man asks for forgiveness, plus some moral elements of heroism and a soldier loses his life in battle; five obscenities and two profanities; violence includes graphic car wreck in which little brother is killed by drunk driver, guy punches man and knocks him out, baseball hits guy in crotch, woman and man hit their heads in shipwreck; unmarried kissing in a couple scenes and implied fornication; implied underage drinking, drinking and driving, which results in car wreck that kills little boy, beer and wine, and drunkenness depicted; smoking; and, lying.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Charlie struggles to release his grief and move forward. How can grief be honored without keeping us from the life God has given us?
Psalm 34:18 · Philippians 3:13–14The film presents forgiveness and second chances as important parts of life. What does biblical forgiveness look like, and why do we need it?
Ephesians 4:32 · 1 John 1:9The story includes a tragic choice involving drinking and driving. How can our choices affect other people, and what does wisdom require of us?
Proverbs 14:16 · Ephesians 5:15–18The movie includes prayer to Jesus Christ and other spiritual elements. How does Scripture distinguish Christian prayer from other spiritual practices?
John 14:6 · 1 Timothy 2:5The Final Word
CHARLIE ST. CLOUD is a moving, uplifting drama with a strong emotional center and clear Christian references. Its predictable story and troubling content call for discernment, especially with younger viewers. For teenagers and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
