Sometimes it feels like Hollywood thinks we're all stupid. This latest film, starring grunty Gerald Butler, attempts to spin a yarn about how a drug-taking, fist throwing, gun-carrying biker dude suddenly sees the light, finds God, and sets off to Africa on his tod to protect little African children. Like an audience is actually going to swallow any of that guff. Problem is however, that this film is absolutely, positively based on a true story.

On his release from prison, Sam Childers (Butler) isn't really fussed about seeing his wife and daughter; what he really wants is a drink and to get high. So then, he won't be winning any Parent of the Year award any time soon.

He catches up with his pal Donnie (Michael Shannon) and the pair soon get up to their old tricks of drink and drugs. With neither of them working, they haven't got enough cash to buy either, so they resort to taking away from those that do, with the help of some fire arms.

After hitting one drug den, the pair find an unwelcome guest in their car. With Donnie driving, it's left to Sam to take charge of the situation, which he does. Needless to say, in his drug induced state, he takes it a little too far. So much so that he sees the errors of his ways, and seeks out a way to amend them.

Enter God. Sam gets baptised and decides he wants to put something back into the community he previously took from. Taking advantage of his manual skills, he builds a church, one that accepts people from all walks of life, like himself.

After a visiting guest pastor from Africa to his church, Sam decides that if he really wants to help, then perhaps he should go to Africa.

Soon enough Sam finds himself in Sudan; even though he was aware of the situation from watching the news before he left, he isn't prepared for how bad the situation is. With the country being destroyed by a civil war, victims from the conflict are all around to see.

Sam is so taken by the plight of the people, particularly those of the innocent children, he decides that he'll do something about it and build a safe haven. Despite having the best intentions in the world, Sam isn't quite prepared for the level of resistance he faces both at home and in Africa to his plans. He may well have found God, but Sam decides he has to use ungodly measures to get what he wants.

As you can see it's quite a big book, so i'm just going to skip to the end. Any objections?

Considering that Sam Childers' tale is indeed fact, this is one remarkable story. And although the story itself is undeniably impressive, the way it is told is less so. Director Marc Foster, who has directed the likes of Stranger Than Fiction and Quantum of Solace in the past, seems to struggle with the depiction of Childers on screen.

There are a few times throughout where the character changes his mood so quickly, it's almost as if he is suffering from being bipolar. It's like Butler is on Whose Line is it Anyway? and when the buzzer goes, he has to go from being happy to sad; it's that instant a change. Foster uses an uncomfortable visual shorthand to do this, which just makes the actions of his leading man less believable.

It's a shame as Butler, who hasn't flexed his acting muscle in the past in action and rom-com roles, shows shines of being able to handle something a little more dramatic, albeit with a gun in hand at times.

The film is also a little too long for its own good at a just over two hours in length. Some of the back and forth to Africa could most certainly have used a little trimming.

But although the title and trailer may allude to a 'Rambo in Africa' kind of storyline, thankfully it delivers something slightly more worthy and appealing.

Foster may well have tinkered too much with the main character, the story is still one that is capable of keeping an audience enthralled. It may well come across as being far-fetched, but it's difficult not to come away impressed by what the real Sam Childers achieved, both home and away.