Movie Review: Father Stu

While the new film Father Stu may initially come across as a simple bad guy breaks good by becoming a priest and righting his past wrongs, it also manages to tell an earnest and emotionally rewarding story. What could have been a pandering, emotion-laden tale of one individual finding his “divine” purpose in life, instead proves to be a heart-felt and well-executed story of personal discovery and salvation.   

After a near-fatal motorcycle accident, Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg) is forced to abandon his lifelong ambition to be a professional boxer. So, he decides to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting, despite lacking any experience or training. Then, through another series of startling events, Stuart comes to the realization that he is supposed to be a Catholic priest. Although his family (both father [Mel Gibson] and mother [Jacki Weaver]) are skeptical of his sudden career path alteration – as is his girlfriend (Teresa Ruiz) – they are quickly won over by his devotion to both God and the path he has chosen to follow. 

Writer/director Rosalind Ross makes an astonishing feature debut with Father Stu. Although the true story of Stuart Long is the real framework of this heartwarming story and the strong performance from Wahlberg serves as its backbone, the sure-handed and not-too-treacly directorial touch that Ross lends to the project allows all of these elements to coalesce into a piece that is subsequently elevated above the level of that of a worn-out melodrama. 

The story portrays Stuart as a humble man who, despite being diagnosed with a disease similar to ALS while studying to become a priest, never loses his faith in God nor his love for the people around him. Wahlberg’s remarkable physical transformation throughout the film (some with the aid of prosthetics and some with old-fashioned “method” acting) allow him to inhabit the title character and this creates an innate connection between audience and actor that carries the emotional weight of the film straight through till the end credits when the actual people in the story are presented to the audience. 

Mark Wahlberg in “Father Stu.” © 2022 SONY PICTURES DIGITAL PRODUCTIONS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

David Meyer’s production design places the film in a slightly gritty reality that somehow manages to keep it grounded so that it feels as though it may be playing out in more current times. The cinematography of Jacques Jouffret accentuates this by portraying the proceedings in a matter-of-fact style that makes the entire “true story” aspect seem all the more earnest and topical. 

Although there may be better “boxing” and “religious” movies out there to enjoy, there are not too many that offer the one-two combination of both in such a rewarding and non-preachy package as does Father Stu.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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