Starring: Thor Ramsey, Erin Cahill, Michael Monks, Joey Fatone, Stephen Baldwin, Donald Faison, Andriana Manfredi, Clancy McCartney, William Baldwin
Distributor: Other
Runtime: 96 mins. Reviewed in Sep 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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A heartfelt and laugh-out-loud comedy film, Church People is the story of real people with real struggles and their unique paths to discovering what faith in Jesus is all about.
Here is an American spoof with a moral. The targets of the spoof are evangelical Americans, especially those who belong to the large, media-oriented churches (and financial profitability). Whether this comedy-parody would work so well in other countries is difficult to say. In Australia, there is Hillsong, and there are a large suburban churches which draw more than 1000 people each weekend.
Members of the more traditional churches do not have this kind of experience and would look on, puzzled and amused.
The film was written by TRamsey who plays the central character, Guy Sides, a pastor who has acquired a reputation, travels the countryside under the patronage of the leader of the church (Monks, who with his bald head, facial expressions, manner and style, resembles JK Simmons). He also has a business manager, always in suit and tie, not particularly religious, but eager for promoting the gimmick (Faison). When there is a gimmick of his signing a beach ball, this becomes his trademark, beach balls galore, signatures galore, his repetition of the same speech to the congregations, his love for the gospel but his audience not listening in any meaningful way. He wants to resign.
At the core of the story is a gimmick for the celebration of Good Friday, the suggestion, embraced by the leader, endorsed by his board, is that they should have a crucifixion in the church, similar to those in Mexico and the Philippines, but taking precaution that the crucified person does not suffer much, let alone die. The board has chosen Guy to be crucified. Guy then begins a campaign against the crucifixion, especially when his resignation is accepted, and an over-enthusiastic young convert is eager to be crucified.
The film also serves as something of a romance when the leader’s daughter, Carla (Cahill) arrives back from mission overseas, toys with Guy who does not recognise her, but then join in his campaign, anxious about her father. Also in the act is an egotistical singer, who despises his backup musicians, is infatuated by Carla, but persuaded to join in the protest against the crucifixion. And, then, unexpectedly, Gretchen turns up, Guy’s daughter whom he thought had been given up for adoption at her birth.
All kinds of shenanigans, the ever presence of Chad (Stephen Baldwin with the perpetual expression that is meant to be holy but also look clownish) a kind of guardian angel figure who knows everything about everyone.
After all the parody, and the leader of the church announcing the crucifixion with much satisfaction, Guy takes over and nails to the cross a personal object, the rest of the congregation following suit, a symbolic self-sacrifice and renunciation, giving some meaning to the crucifixion and the significance of Christ’s death.
Not really for non-religious, non-church audiences (except those who like a parody or want to enjoy some church embarrassment). But, for evangelical Christians, as noted, a spoof with a moral.
https://wonder.watch/church-people
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