Joe Bell
Joe Bell

Joe Bell

2020Movie93 minEnglish

The true story of a small town, working class father who embarks on a solo walk across the U.S. to crusade against bullying after his son is tormented in high school for being gay.

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Insights

IMDb5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes25%
Metacritic39/100
Google Users76%
Director: Reinaldo Marcus GreenGenres: Drama, Biography

Plot Summary

Joe Bell, a deeply religious man from Oregon, embarks on a cross-country walk to raise awareness about bullying after his son, Jadin, is subjected to relentless torment. He hopes to visit various cities to share his story and promote acceptance. Along his arduous journey, Joe confronts his own past and struggles with his faith, all while grappling with the profound impact of his son's experiences.

Critical Reception

Joe Bell received a mixed reception from critics, with many praising Mark Wahlberg's performance and the film's intentions but criticizing its predictable narrative and heavy-handed message. Audiences were similarly divided, with some finding it a moving and important story, while others felt it was overly sentimental and lacked nuance.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Mark Wahlberg's committed performance in the lead role.
  • Criticized for its conventional storytelling and an overly earnest, at times preachy, tone.
  • Some found the film's message about bullying and acceptance to be impactful despite its narrative shortcomings.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's emotional core and the important message it aimed to convey regarding bullying and acceptance. While some viewers found it to be a moving and inspiring story, a portion felt the execution was somewhat heavy-handed and predictable.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Joseph Wesley Bell, who died in 2017. His son, Jadin Bell, died by suicide in 2013 after enduring severe bullying.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Reid Miller is quite engaging here as the bullied gay youngster Jadin Bell. His time at school is torrid, and he seems unable to secure any help to protect him from the bigoted assholes he must face each day. His father (Mark Wahlberg) is s...