Alva James-Johnson: The film

There's a movie you probably haven't heard much about.

It doesn't have the erotic appeal of "Fifty Shades of Grey" or whips and chains to grab many people's attention.

This movie portrays another kind of dynamic. And it's just my speed, even though some might consider it a bit prudish.

The movie I'm referring to is "Old Fashioned," a faith-based film that hit theaters in February and came to Columbus on Valentine's Day. The first week it showed at Carmike 15 and the second week at the Ritz 13, where it played until Thursday.

Described by some as the polar opposite of "Fifty Shades of Grey," the award-winning Indie film tells the story of a man who pursues a woman without objectifying her and treating her as a sex toy. The film was written by Rik Swartzwelder, who plays the protagonist, alongside Elizabeth Roberts, who plays his love interest. It's a refreshing scenario, to which many youths should be exposed. But as you can see, films like that don't stick around long in the theaters.

I saw the film last weekend with a church youth group that I led with three other adults. With teenagers bombarded with so many sexually explicit images these days, we wanted them to see an example of a wholesome romance. Most of the teenagers may already see healthy relationships in their families, but we also wanted them to see it emphasized on screen.

Some of the girls in the group are into Hallmark movies and didn't mind seeing another romantic drama. The guys said they would've preferred a more action-packed film, but they went along for the ride. Hopefully it will sink in some day.

What I liked about the movie was that it was in a contemporary setting. The guy pursuing the woman wasn't a saint, but a former college frat boy who regretted his past indiscretions and made a conscious decision to change his behavior. The woman, who had a history of abusive relationships, realized that she deserved to be treated better, and she eventually embraced what others dismissed as a weird code of conduct on the part of her suitor.

"Old Fashioned" wasn't a box-office hit like "Fifty Shades of Grey," which conveys the seductive relationship between a business magnate and a young college student based on dominance and submission, bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism. But "Old Fashioned" has done pretty well considering its fo

cus on the old-fashioned values of chivalry, dignity, respect, integrity and love.

The film has exceeded box-office expectations, already grossing $1.6 million in 224 theaters across the country, according to news reports. I think it's one of the best-kept secrets around.

Alva James-Johnson, 706-571-8521. Reach her on Facebook at AlvaJamesJohnsonLedger.

This story was originally published February 26, 2015 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Alva James-Johnson: The film ."