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Rating: PG.
Film Companies:
Halestorm Entertainment.
Cast: Fred Willard (Anchorman, Chicken Little, Everybody Loves
Raymond), Amy Stewart (Monkey Love), Andrew Wilson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Zoolander),
Gary Coleman (Diff'rent Strokes), Clint Howard (Cinderella Man, Curious George),
Larry Bagby (Walk the Line, Saints and Soldiers), Curt Dousett (The R.M., Saints
and Soldiers).
Crew: Kurt Hale (Director), Dave Hunter, George Dayton (Producers),
Paul Eagleston, Steven Rose (Writers), Bryan Lampropoulos (Executive Producer).
Synopsis: The tradition of church basketball is about to come to
an end in the Mormon church as a result of its nasty results in attitudes and actions.
But during the last season one man is given a team of misfits and commanded to lead
them into victory. With an all-star cast this film promises to be a hilarious comedy.
Theatrical Release: Rolling, began in May 2006.
DVD Release: Current.
Review:
As someone who watches Christian films no matter how
horrible so that I can write about them for you and promote those that are actually
good...It is my pleasure to say that Churchball is excellent. Okay, okay - you aren't
going to get great theological insights and occasionaly it enters the realm of cheasy
- but when you see the cast includng Fred Willard and Andrew Wilson, you should
expect it. It runs in the vein of comedy like Anchorman, Zoolander, and Bottle Rocket
- and attempts to combine both. Mixing actors and humor that is dry - like that
in Bottle Rocket with slapstick comedy works pretty well for Halestorm.
The basic idea of the film is familiar to many individuals who
have attended church. Church sports leagues can be some of the most unloving events
to be sanctioned by the church. Featuring flaring tempers and holier-than-thou attitudes
church sports are oftentimes an example of what not to be, rather than an image
of Jesus.
In this film this core truth is taken to an extreme, and played
for all it is worth. A team that hasn't won the championships in a church basketball
league in nearly twenty years is called upon by the bishop of the church to lead
the church to victory in the final season of church basketball. A team of bigger
losers has never been brought on the court, but in true slapstick comedy fashion
we are brought along on a silly road of humor and mistakes as our loser heros learn
that life isn't all about winning - while at the same time learning how to win and
care for each other.
So who should see this film? Everyone. Its a great film and
while it has some mildly crude humor, it is generally a clean film that reflects
in a humorous way on a great weakness within the church.
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