I Still Believe

The Erwin Brothers followed up I Can Only Imagine with another music biopic, and while I Still Believe doesn't quite reach the same heights, it's a worthy successor. KJ Apa (Riverdale) and Britt Robertson have genuine chemistry as Jeremy and Melissa Camp. Their early romance scenes have a sweetness that doesn't feel manufactured. The film's greatest strength is its refusal to sugarcoat the reality of watching a loved one die of cancer. The hospital scenes are unflinching, and Apa's portrayal of a man watching his faith crumble and rebuild in real time is affecting. Gary Sinise adds gravitas as Jeremy's father. The musical performances are well-staged, though the film sometimes uses concert footage as emotional shorthand rather than doing the harder work of dramatizing internal struggle. The ending — the real ending, beyond Melissa's death — is where the film finds its deepest truth about love, loss, and second chances. Released just as COVID shut theaters, it didn't get the audience it deserved. Streaming is a good way to discover it now.