‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ is a testament to the power of song

By Josh Ball

For the last 150 years, Christians have sung the words “whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say ‘it is well, it is well with my soul.’” Horatio Spafford’s words remain as one of the most beautifully poetic Christian hymns.

After the success of “I Can Only Imagine,” the band MercyMe was struggling to write a hit. Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) was on tour when his son collapsed. A decade later, Sam Millard (Sammy Dell) struggles to connect with his father, who prepares to headline a tour for the first time after the headlining Audio Adrenaline cancelled. In an effort to build his relationship with his son, Bart takes him on tour. Last minute pick up, Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia) opens for the band. In the course of the tour, friendships are forged, deep hurts are healed and the song “Even If” is written. The movie was excellent.

The acting was one reason for this. John Michael Finley reprises his role as the lead and embodies the doubting Bart Millard just as well as in the first film. His chemistry with Sammy Dell, his on-screen son, was phenomenal, evoking real-life father-son relationships. Milo Ventimiglia deserves more big roles. His portrayal of Tim Timmons was executed to perfection. All these actors had to navigate hard topics. Each of them delivered their lines with flawless emotion and timing.

The writing was refreshingly well done. Every one of the characters felt like you might meet them in real life. What was the most impressive were the comedic moments. Balancing the drama of the serious subject matter with jokes was important to get right. Each of these lighter moments was done perfectly. They emulated real life moments of using humor to heal. I most appreciated that the writers were able to do this without seeming like they were disrespecting the real struggles of real people. Crucially, comedy was used to highlight the seriousness, not undercut it. This made the darker moments hit more forcefully.

The score added to this. While it is not destined to be as iconic as the classic scores, the swells of strings added a somber motif to climactic moments. A film composer’s job is to draw the viewer further into the movie and Brent McCorkle executed this expertly. He let the music take a backseat to the story, but it stood out at the perfect moments.

Only one thing stood out as needing improvement: the pacing. Some scenes seemed like they were edited into the movie out of order. One touching moment between Sam and his father was undone in the next scene. It felt like the writers were scared of resolving the conflict too early. The simple solution was to put the scene later in the movie.

The most compelling character was Milo Ventimiglia’s Tim Timmons. He kept coming back to the story of Horatio Spafford and “It is Well with My Soul.” As Timmons deals with his own suffering he constantly is deeply impacted by the hymn. Music is one of the most powerful tools God gave humanity. Timmons had a desire to write a deeply personal song expressing both his grief and his gratitude like Spafford. He asks Millard to help him finish the verses. Millard, drawing from his own struggles, obliges.

The result is “Even If,” a song that continues to impact many today. It is a simple declaration of faith in the midst of suffering and is one of the most impactful songs on my life. Much like its predecessor, “Even If” is a deeply personal song. It bears in its chords the pain of a dream that is falling apart. I saw MercyMe in concert, where I heard the story, but it is more impactful as a movie.

The personal nature of the song and its lyrics makes it incredibly strong and healing. “Even If” and its inspiration, “It is Well with My Soul” stand out as excellent examples of what music and poetry can do. “I Can Only Imagine 2” reminds the audience of the power of music and stands as a testament to that truth.

Josh Ball is a junior history major. He thinks everyone should listen to “Even If” and hopes someone will read past the cheesiest title he’s ever written.

“I Can Only Imagine 2” is currently playing in theaters

Pictures courtesy of Lionsgate