MIAMI RHAPSODY (1994)

Directed by: David Frankel
Written by: David Frankel
Studio: Hollywood Pictures
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Gil Bellows, Antonio Banderas
Rated: PG-13

About the film:
A young woman has accepted a marriage proposal but begins to have misgivings when she reflects upon the infidelity that runs rampant among her own family members.

Movie Quote:
“I figure marriage is kind of like Miami: it’s hot and stormy, and occasionally a little dangerous… but if it’s really so awful, why is there still so much traffic?”
Gwyn Marcus (Sarah Jessica Parker) in Miami Rhapsody (1995)

Bible Quote:
“Marriage should be honored by all.”
Hebrews 13:4a (NIV)

Commentary:
Finding a positive quote about marriage from the annals of Hollywood is a lot more difficult than you might think. Not so with the Scriptures. Instead of being the butt of jokes or the object of derision, God esteems the marriage relationship quite highly indeed.

Sure, Hollywood loves to tell romantic stories where boy meets girl, boy loses girl, and boy reunites with girl in wedded bliss. But at some point after the “I do’s” get vowed, Tinseltown begins to lose interest in the marriage relationship. It is often depicted as being either a burdensome shackle or a bothersome detail to be discarded in search of “true love.” This is a pity because a strong marriage based on the promises of God is eminently more interesting to watch than the self-destructive, godless versions being formed daily within today’s society and reflected in our culture’s entertainment.

When God is kept at the center of a marriage, the union between that man and woman is so strengthened that severance is virtually impossible. No earthly relationship is perfect, but marriage was designed by God. When we follow His blueprint, success is guaranteed.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. How does God define marriage? What responsibilities does He place upon the man and the woman within the context of their relationship?
2. How has our society’s attitude towards divorce affected our view of marriage? How would God want us to view it?

Michael Elliott
http://screensermon.blogspot.com