Love- Kennedy -

However, the film’s heavy-handed approach may alienate some viewers. The score swells at every preordained emotional beat, and the spiritual messaging is explicit rather than subtle. Non-religious viewers might find the constant framing of suffering as a "plan" or a "trial from God" to be reductive, though it is faithful to the family’s stated beliefs.

Visually, the film has the polished sheen of a high-end made-for-TV movie. The Utah setting is beautiful, but the cinematography rarely takes risks. Where the film truly succeeds is in its honesty about grief; it doesn’t shy away from the physical toll of Batten disease, making Kennedy’s decline heartbreaking to watch. Love- Kennedy

★★★☆☆ (3/5) – A sincere, if formulaic, tearjerker anchored by a breakout performance from Jacey Bybee. Visually, the film has the polished sheen of