Unsung Hero (2024) | Film Review

Unsung Hero follows the monumental shift that occurs when the Smallbone family, due to downturn in their economy, is forced to uproot from native Australia to the United States in the early 90s. David Smallbone was an established music promoter when the film begins, and his overly hedged bet on a large concert promotion with Amy Grant ends up costing his family everything. This takes us overseas to a new, poverty-stricken reimagining in these United States.

As they adjust to life in Nashville with little to their name, David and his wife Helen are forced to scrape by with odd jobs for themselves and their plethora of kids while striving to find the faith to carry on rather than give up and return home to Australia. As this film stems from those very children (known publicly as Christian singers For King + Country and Rebecca St. James), you can already assume this story has a happy ending.

Uplifting family dramas often come layered in clichés, and Unsung Hero is no different in that respect. But the thing about clichés is that they seem repetitive because they are all too familiar. Ups, downs, defeats, accomplishments. That is life. Most importantly here, this is THEIR life.

Not only is Joel Smallbone a credited writer, director (along with Richard L. Ramsey), and producer on the film, Joel also took on the role of portraying his own father, David. One could easily assume that this must mean a softball approach to his father – a man who manages Joel and Luke’s band to this day – and his struggle to support his family. David is a lost soul for much of the film, searching for meaning and hope and suffering from a distinct lack of humility, and Joel tackles the role with honesty.

David is a flawed man, broken by his inability to provide for his family. As others give guidance or help – like the always welcome Lucas Black as a friend from church who offers financial assistance, and Terry O’Quinn sporting a sweet Australian accent as his father, Grandpa James – David continues to stumble with his inability to accept that the best things in life are already with him. For all of his faults, Joel should be commended for the willingness to showcase these elements to a national audience.

Many will proclaim this as a “faith-based” film simply due to the Christian music connection and the Smallbone family’s belief in God. But the film is sharing a universal message that – despite the obvious budget limitations – does an admirable job connecting the audience to the plight of this family. This critic has no personal interest in Christian music nor was I aware of this story, but I did come to love the Smallbone family. Anyone who has learned the values of hard work, integrity, and perseverance through the lower-class economy structure (guilty!) can relate to the Smallbone’s plight.

Lastly, and rather ironically, the true Unsung Hero of the piece is Daisy Betts as Helen Smallbone. Fierce, dedicated, and eternally optimistic, Betts’ Helen is unmitigated resilience with a smile. As her family pines for the American Dream, firmly straddling the line between comfort and homelessness, Helen remains unflappable in whatever challenge she is presented with at any given moment. She recognizes the emerging talent inherent in each of her children, especially daughter Rebecca, as well as the ability of her husband to overcome his harshest demon, himself. These are characteristics anyone with a strong mother recognizes all too well, and Betts’ performance gifts the film with a tremendous amount of heart.