Calvin Campbell is a former professional baseball player sent to an early retirement due to his panic attacks at the plate. Even though he had all the talent for the big leagues, he struggles with the curveballs life has thrown him. His life is in a slow downward spiral when it is suddenly awakened and invigorated by the most unlikely person - Produce, a young-man with Down syndrome who works at the local grocery store. Faith, work, purpose and most importantly family, blossom into Calvin's life as their friendship develops. The unlikely pair becomes intertwined giving Calvin's life new meaning and purpose, but unfortunately leads to tragedy due to single decision echoed from Calvin's past.
Like most if not all faith-based entertainments, "Where Hope Grows" embraces the idea that God works in mysterious ways. But it also insists that God helps only those who help themselves.
Chris Dowling's second feature at first seems anodyne enough, but once the plot mechanics kick into high gear, the film becomes as unsurprising as a prix fixe menu.
DeSanctis is a force of nature, and for the most part this is less of a Bible thumper than a Bible tapper, but it gets downright shameless in the third act.
"Where Hope Grows" wears its heart on its sleeve, hawking its message of salvation through faith to anyone who's in the market for cheesy uplift and saccharine sentiment.
