Nearly three decades ago, Mike Rowe says, 70 percent of Americans described themselves as extremely patriotic. Today, that number has fallen to less than 40 percent. Rowe, though, is on a mission to remind us of the enduring values that define our nation. Put another way: He wants to show Americans who are on the fence why America is still worth loving.
His new documentary film, Something to Stand For, features Rowe traveling to Washington, D.C., as he features lesser-known stories from American history that involve well-known patriots. TBN, Fathom, Impact Productions, and mikeroweWORKS are the companies behind it.
Rowe is quick to emphasize it’s “not a political movie.”
“I didn’t make it for Democrats or Republicans or liberals or conservatives,” he says. “I made it for regular citizens who see themselves first and foremost as Americans -- Americans who understand that, even though this great country was formed by imperfect people, and even though we’re still very much a work in progress, we still have a lot to be proud of.”
It draws from Rowe’s podcast, The Way I Heard It, and his TV show, The Story Behind the Story.
Here are three things you should know about the movie:
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1. It’s a Throwback to Paul Harvey
Americans of a certain age grew up listening to radio man Paul Harvey (1918-2009), whose Rest of the Story broadcast captivated audiences with its unique blend of intriguing anecdotes and surprise endings, often revealing little-known facts about famous people and events.
Rowe says he followed Harvey’s unique pattern of storytelling for Something to Stand For. He calls the stories “short mysteries.”
“With Paul Harvey’s mysteries, you got to hear a story that you had never heard before, about somebody famous that you already know,” Rowe says in the film. “Your job as a listener was to try and figure out who he was talking about before he got to the end of the mystery. These stories are a lot like that.”
The film depicts Rowe sitting on a theater stage, talking into an old-style microphone as we watch reenactments of the stories and try to guess the subject. It’s a gripping, entertaining style of storytelling.
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2. It’s Patriotic Stories with a Twist
Early in the film, Rowe asks the audience not to shout out any answers they might know before they are revealed. I suspect most of these stories will be new to viewers. (Personally, I knew only one or two answers.)
The film throws viewers a curveball by avoiding the use of reenactors in period clothing. For instance, a story set in the 1700s might feature actors in modern attire and vice versa. Only at the end is the scene presented in its authentic historical context. This clever filmmaking technique places the story itself at the heart of the experience.
Each story is a lesser-known episode from American history, covering the Revolutionary War, the 1800s, the wars of the 1900s, and the Civil Rights Movement. It includes stories of men and women, young and old, black and white.
Rowe calls the film a “tribute to the American spirit and the heroes who helped shape our country.”
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3. It’s a Homage to Everyday Americans
Something to Stand For is more than a history lesson. In between stories, we watch as Rowe interviews ordinary Americans: a veteran who survived a 2005 blast that killed his comrades, another veteran who fought in Korea and who is visiting the World War II memorial, and a man whose job is to keep the Vietnam Veterans Memorial clean. The film begins in a diner.
The movie is unrated but does have a few PG-worthy moments, including mild language (details below), violence, and thematic content. We see war recreations with discussion of flying body parts. One of the film’s last scenes involves a lengthy conversation about bull testicles. (They’re cooked and eaten, and Rowe has fun adding edgy humor to the story.)
Something to Stand For is the type of patriotic film America needs: one that spotlights heroes of the Right and the Left while reminding us of the shared history, values, and sacrifices that unite us as a nation. We need more films like it.
Something to Stand For is unrated. Coarse language: h-ll (4), d--n (2), possible misuse of “good Lord” (1).
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Family-friendly rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Originally published Thursday, 27 June 2024.