Ben Walker (Kevin Sorbo) isn't looking for a second chance. He thinks he did alright the first time around. He's wealthy, the boy wonder of a powerful corporation, and has a gorgeous fiancé' who adores him (or at least his bank account). So when a scruffy old guy called Mike who claims to be an angel (John Ratzenberger) comes along and offers Ben a second chance, Ben turns him down cold. Turns out that Ben doesn't really have a choice… …and when he comes to, Ben finds himself back in the small town he worked so hard to escape, married to his old girlfriend Wendy (Kristy Swanson) and apparently the father of two daughters. To his chagrin, Ben discovers this version of himself is anything but wealthy, and to top it off, he finds out that he's now a minister…just as he's introduced to his new church. Could things possibly get any worse? Or will Ben discover his real life isn't all he thought it was? What If is great little film about the choices we make and the fact that there is indeed a plan for everyone's life. Ben Walker resists this idea, and angrily tells Mike that life has no point: you live, you die, that's it. But Ben didn't always think like that. Fifteen years ago he was on the brink of joining the seminary, and he and Wendy were preparing for a life of ministry together. But Ben left Wendy at the bus station one day and never went back. That day he didn't only break a promise to Wendy, but to God as well.

Kevin Sorbo is absolutely terrific as Ben, and wonderfully conveys the hapless protagonist's gradual transformation from oily and arrogant businessman to frustrated refugee in an alternate timeline to loving father, husband, and pastor. Sorbo has always been a charismatic actor, and his role in What If may be the highlight of his career. Kristy Swanson is likewise great as Ben's loving but confused wife Wendy, and John Ratzenberger imbues his angelic character with personality and down-to-earth sincerity. The script doesn't shy away from religious themes and tackles some weighty ones, but never becomes preachy or cliché.

There are a lot of spiritual films out there during the Christmas season each year, but few of them will hold a candle to What If.

TV's former pagan hero Kevin Sorbo is the star in What If.....which examines the proposition of what if he had instead of becoming a filthy rich conglomerate had gone into the ministry. That's what God has in mind to tell him when Sorbo has a freak accident with an airbag and John Ratzenberger comes down as his personal Clarence like guardian angel to show him the alternate universe.

It's quite an alternative that he has. A loving wife in Kristy Swanson and two daughters Debby Ryan and Taylor Groothius and he's the new incoming pastor of the church he grew up in and fell away from. Takes a bit of getting used to, but gradually he thinks less and less like a tycoon and more like a minister.

Since this all has to come to an end you might well ask what happens to Sorbo and Swanson. The only hint I give you is watch Bing Crosby's classic film A Connecticut Yankee In The Court Of King Arthur. Taken straight from that film.

This one might make it out of church basements with some of the names it has as stars.

"Nothing is gonna change...trust me." Ben Walker and his fiancée Wendy are planning their life together when Ben leaves on a trip for only a few months. A few months turns into 15 years and Ben has changed his entire life. His plans for becoming a minister and marrying Wendy changed to how much money can he make being a money hungry investment banker. When an angel comes to Earth and shows Ben what is life could have been like if he stayed on his original plan Ben has a choice to make. Not to cause an argument here but to me most of the faith based movies that come out are very cheesy and unbelievable. Movies like "5th Quarter", "Courage" and even "The Blind Side" to me are not that good mainly because there seems to be no real substance. Those movies are...if this doesn't happen then this can't...next scene everything works out perfect. Like in "Blind Side" when the family is told that if Michael doesn't pass this next test he will not be able to play, and then the very next scene is him saying I passed the test. This movie is the exception. While it does have it's cheesiness and is predictable it has something the other movies didn't...a real character facing real decisions. The only way to describe this movie is that it's very much like "It's a wonderful life" but with more God. To see Kevin Sorbo in a movie like this is strange at first but he does a great job. This is a definite must see for families as it will show what is important in life. Overall, not being a fan of faith based movies I really really enjoyed this one and I highly recommend it. I give it an A.