When called to a higher purpose, will you heed the call? That is the conundrum that a corporate executive finds himself struggling to answer as he befriends the Messiah on Venice Beach. Yes, you read that right.
LA Jesus is the ultimate throwback to the classic comedies your parents swore by. The kind they keep praising to no end before you concede and sit down to watch with them. Somehow, someway, you always end up having a good time, and writer/director Richard Boddington’s film is just that at nearly every level.
Businessman Dwayne Thomas (Bradley Stryker) seems to have it all, but his well-groomed exterior hides a soul yearning for comfort and purpose. Strolling along the beach for lunch, he offers some of his food to a passing homeless man (Terral Altom) rummaging through the garbage bin. Only, he doesn’t quite fit the bill of what Thomas is used to seeing around the boardwalk. A bushy beard, long locks of hair, and a pristine white robe are hardly the norm, but the man then makes a claim that catches Dwayne by surprise. He’s claiming to be the Son of God himself, Jesus Christ. And soon enough, his bold claims get backed with seemingly miraculous actions. Dwayne’s bewilderment is immediate, but as time passes by, he finds himself questioning his own beliefs and ultimately, his place in the world.
For those curious, LA Jesus plants its flag in the realm of faith-based filmmaking but never lets its genre confine it by resorting to liturgy. In fact, Boddington makes a specific point to highlight Dwayne’s adherence to atheism and the many questions and doubts he has within himself. Believing is one thing, but doubting is one of our foremost human traits that goes hand in hand with faith. These are brought to the forefront through the conversations that the two share, making the film surprisingly grounded. It’s push and pull, inquiry after inquiry. Boddington’s story is constantly examining what it means to be a Christian in the modern world, all while not shying away from criticism.
Altom as Jesus hits a sweet spot of someone going through the motions on a spiritual high. Not to be outdone, Stryker is the perfectly cast, quintessential businessman. Tough and polished on the outside but hiding deep insecurities within. And as Boddington proves, sometimes all it takes to confront them is a simple, honest talk. So instead of force-feeding gospel, we are treated to a series of somewhat repetitive, but no less humorous scenes between Jesus and Dwayne along the boardwalk.
LA Jesus is a delight in more ways than one. Well-acted and smartly written, it’s a topical dramedy that’s worth your time.
