Flywheel 2003

Jay [Alex Kendrick] Austin is a car salesman who consistently cheats his customers, even to the point of overcharging his own pastor. He trains his rotund salesmen, Bernie Meyers [Tracy Goode] and Vince Berkeley [Treavor Lokey], to do likewise. Jay attends church only because his wife Judy Austin [Janet Lee Dapper] wants him to go, and he even fakes giving a tithe donation. His relationships with Judy, who is pregnant, and his son Todd Austin [Richie Hunnewell], who disapproves of his dishonesty, begin to strain as foreclosure looms over his lot.

When conscience finally gnaws at him, Jay stumbles upon a broadcast of a pastor declaring that “you’re in the shape you’re in today because of the choices you’ve made.” The moment is spoken aloud on screen, and the message sticks. > you’re in the shape you’re in today because of the choices you’ve made. The simple, piercing line becomes a turning point: Jay is suddenly pulled toward a born-again Christian awakening and a dramatic shift in how he runs his business.

From that point on, Jay apologizes to Judy and to Todd and resolves to sell cars honestly from then on. He confronts his bank’s looming threat of foreclosure with a new resolve, choosing integrity over easy profit even as debt piles up and the threat of losing the dealership hangs over him. The family’s faith and hope become intertwined with his business decisions, and the change in strategy is blunt: honest sales, fair pricing, and a vow to treat customers with respect.

Yet the challenge intensifies when a fresh, seemingly innocent newcomer arrives: Kevin Cantrell [Daniel Titus] shows up to work for six weeks and asks pointed questions about the new, ethical approach. When pressed about not squeezing every last dime from a sale, Jay explains that they must “live with how [they] run the business,” and that if you treat people right, it’ll come back to you. The encounter leaves Kevin unimpressed at first, but it also foreshadows a deeper test of Jay’s faith and his resolve.

Even as the honest approach starts to draw customers, Kevin’s undercover presence reveals itself to be part of a larger investigative report. Jay’s dealership is portrayed as the only one that operates with integrity among the others caught in the broadcast probe. The public verdict has real consequences on the lot: suddenly, thirty people show up to buy cars in a single day, and Judy steps in to help close deals under the bright glare of local television scrutiny. The bank’s demands continue to hover, yet the surplus from these sales helps cover the bills and keep the finances afloat, at least for the moment.

As the truth about the prior dishonest practices emerges on TV, the story expands from the showroom into the home. Hillary Vale [Lisa Arnold], a WALB-TV reporter, covers the evolving situation, and her on-air updates capture the community’s shifting perception. On a follow-up broadcast, those who were overcharged begin to come forward with restitution, and Hillary’s audience hears more of the real impact behind the numbers. The reflection prompts Judy and Jay to lean further into their faith, reinforcing the film’s central message about mercy, restitution, and the power of choosing a better path.

Back at home, the emotional stakes rise: Judy’s contractions signal the arrival of a baby, and Jay rushes to the hospital with his wife. The couple welcomes a daughter named Faith, a living reminder of Jay’s renewed faith and the spiritual journey that redirected his life. This new chapter culminates in a quiet, symbolic moment: Jay drives away with his son in their beloved 1958 Triumph TR3, repaired by Max Kendall [Walter Burnett] with a newly installed flywheel, a small triumph that mirrors the larger transformation of Jay’s character and his business.

Throughout the arc, the film maintains a balancing act between humor and earnest moral reflection. Bernie Meyers and Vince Berkeley provide recurring comic relief that lightens the heavier moments, even as their presence underscores the moral shift taking place in the dealership. The tempo of the story ebbs and flows with moments of tension—foreclosure threats, undercover policework, and the pressure of live television—and moments of quiet conviction, prayer, and family devotion.

In the end, the narrative threads weave together into a portrait of redemption that remains grounded in everyday choices. Jay’s decision to treat customers with honesty does not erase his past mistakes, but it does redefine his future. The film invites viewers to consider how a single, heartfelt commitment to integrity can influence a business, a family, and a community. It is a story about accountability, second chances, and the unexpected ways grace can enter a life when someone chooses to change.

• Jay Austin [Alex Kendrick] remains the center of the story, a man whose conscience awakens and whose actions increasingly align with his evolving beliefs.

• Judy Austin [Janet Lee Dapper] stands as a steady partner whose faith and support help guide the family through financial and emotional trials.

• Bernie Meyers [Tracy Goode] and Vince Berkeley [Treavor Lokey] anchor much of the film’s humor while illustrating how attitudes about integrity ripple through a business.

• Kevin Cantrell [Daniel Titus] represents the external test of the new ethic, challenging Jay to justify the shift in strategy and the patience required for genuine change.

• Hillary Vale [Lisa Arnold] helps frame the public dimension of Jay’s transformation through journalism and community response.

• Max Kendall [Walter Burnett] and the Triumph TR3 provide a tangible symbol of repair and renewal, echoing the broader message of rebuilding trust and livelihoods.

This is a story about choosing honesty when it costs you something, about making restitution when you can, and about finding a new sense of purpose in the wake of past missteps. It invites viewers to reflect on their own choices and the faith that can sustain a family and a business through difficult times.