The courtroom drama completely undoes the whole thing. It's just completely contrived.

It has a pleasant but not particularly striking look; endearing performances from a familiar cast of esteemed veterans and earnest newcomers, and a storyline designed to provide a few initial chuckles.

Unfortunately, the final stretch of the movie becomes a riff on God’s Not Dead, though PETA, er, “AFAB,” becomes its cartoon courtroom villain instead of liberal academia.

The combination of the big heart in the story and the always strong work by Harden makes this a solid family film.