Welcome to Paradise

There is a problem inherent with family entertainment. It has to engage the children while still being something the adults can also enjoy. A family film may seem light but it faces some of the most difficult challenges in any genre of movies. When you add to this the growing trend for evangelical Christian programming there is the added danger of becoming overly preachy. Some television shows have managed to combine God oriented family values with entertainment. Among them are hits like ‘Highway to Heaven’, ‘Touched by a Angel’ and of course ‘7^th Heaven’. The latest film by director Brent Huff, ‘Welcome to Paradise’ makes a valiant attempt to bring to the big screen what these television series have succeeded in doing. It works well enough for the type of film although at times it does seem more like something the Family Channel should run. It tries to address too many admonishing parental subjects but overall the film is good for the whole family to enjoy. It sets out to inspire but that will be completely up to the spiritual inclinations of the viewers. The film is better at showing some of the more advanced topics such as prejudice, single family homes and trying to fit in. Because of this the youngest members of the family may not fully understand what is portrayed here. Family films with a strong dose of values is rare enough now so even with its flaws the film is one that is good for a family movie night. It has a great cast, good direction and may miss somewhat in the script department. Sure the kids may want to see something get blown up or something with a more music video vibe but let them learn to see and watch an actual story line.

The tone of the film is set up right off the bat. It opens with a shot of a city, Dallas, moving in to a nicely appointed cathedral. Inside a choir is singing. The church is popular and filled to the rafters. Off to the side sitting with the other minister is Rev. Debbie Laramie (Crystal Bernard). She gets up to read the announcements for the congregation. Debbie seems overly warm, fanning herself and even going to the point of taking off her robes while still at the pulpit much to the snickering of members of the congregation. She is a bit too modern for the pastor especially when she tells everyone to stand, give the person next to you a high five and tell them how good they look. She gets called on the carpet for her actions in church and for having an ‘arrogant’ attitude towards everything from the structure of the services to their music. Debbie wants to draw in more young people but as the pastor explains they don’t have money and this is the richest church around. For her rebellious ways she is transferred immediately to the small parish of Paradise. Debbie is told point blank that this is her last chance to remain a minister. She is certain that the real reason is they don’t want a woman as a minister. She is also a single mother with a teenaged son, Hayden (Bobby Edner). We all know how well teens, especially in a family movie, take the news that their whole lives are about to be up rooted with a move to a small town. The boy knows all the right buttons to push from ‘if dad was alive’ to ‘you’re never home’.

Rev John Sullivan (Brad Stine) was the assistant minister and sure it would get the job when the senior minister past away. Debbie is assured that the town will welcome the fresh change that she will bring. She uses her new position to do things her way. She starts right in to stir things up by bringing in an elderly, homeless black man, Trevor Goodman (Lou Beatty Jr.), she met on the street to play guitar and sing for the all white congregation. Her one real supporter at first is Patsy Nellis (Connie Ray), a cheerful woman who runs the local bakery. The opposition is found at the local country club where the big fish of this small pond gather. At the top of the town’s social strata is John Sullivan , the former assistant minister, and his wife Helen Brown-Sullivan (Elizabeth Dennehy ). Her father, Bobby (Brian Dennehy) is the richest and most influential man in these parts. Since John could not make it as the minister of the church or a tele-evangelist he now sells cars for his father-in-law. Meanwhile the son is playing a lot of basketball and becoming friends with the couch, Kent Dylan (William Shockley). Okay we all know that with a single couch and a widowed mom where this is going. Debbie has to overcome being the weird new preacher, Hayden has to learn to fit in and not give in to peer pressure such as smoking and, of course, the snooty rich folk have to be taken down a notch or two.

The script is often predicable but still it gets the message across. Unlike many films of this type it never goes overboard with the moral values. They are present and strongly presented by never by hitting you over the head with them. There is honesty in the presentation and it shows that you can bring a religious based film to the audience without being heavy handed about it. The movie is well paced with the various themes developed in an organic way. There is nothing forced about how the situations come about or even how they are resolved. The more universal themes like being the fish out of water and fitting in may seem like an after school special but still comes off as enjoyable.

Crystal Bernard may be best known for more comical roles but she handles this more dramatic part with skill. Her innate ability for humor pervades her character making her likeable and able to emotionally reach out to the viewer. It is only natural that Brian Dennehy is believable as the father here. After all his is the real life father to his on screen daughter. Mr. Dennehy is one of the best character actors around. He can take center stage and make it his own or play a part like this with equal ability. He is always a wonder to watch. His daughter Elizabeth shows that there has to be a genetic component to acting. She manages to be a presence in this film that just adds to the enjoyment.

First Look Home Entertainment is one of the most eclectic distributors around. They bring to DVD everything from little art house gems to family entertainment like this. ‘Welcome to Paradise’ is something that the whole family can sit and watch together and perhaps even talk about it afterwards.

Posted 10/03/07