 |
| Copyright: Pure Flix Entertainment/GMC |
This Sunday, March 11, the GMC network will be present “Brother
White,” an original GMC World Premiere Movie. This will be the network’s first
original feature-length comedy and hopefully, not its last.
I got a chance to preview the movie this week and I have to
say, that I liked what I saw. “Brother White” is a fish out of water story
about a “white” pastor who moves his family from southern California to a “black”
church in Atlanta, Georgia.
David A. R. White (TV’s “Evening Shade” and the recent “Me
Again” release) stars as James White who is only one of dozens of associate
pastors longing to make the stage at a mega church located in Beverly Hills. He
serves under television evangelist Johnny Kingman (Ray Wise of “Twin Peaks”)
and is forever disappointing him. After a mishap on stage, James is sent
packing and accepts a position as head pastor at a very small, very “black”
church. His family, (real life wife, Logan White, Anna Margaret and Gibson
Sjobeck) are not happy with the move and the congregation of Divine Faith
Apostolic Church isn’t either.
Pastor White is aided by Deacon Hill (Reginald VelJohnson, “Family
Matters”), Veena Johnson the choir director (Jackee from TV’s “227”) and tasked
with saving the church as well as the neighbors surrounding it. Grammy
Award-winner Bebe Winans makes a special appearance as well.
“Brother White” is a smart, non-preachy, Christian comedy. The
beginning is a little over-the-top poking fun at TV preachers and rich
Christians, but becomes more heart-warming and realistic as it moves on. David
White may be the star, but Jackee steals the show. Nobody can roll their eyes
quite like her. There is a great scene where Lily, the pastor’s wife, is helping
the “quiet as a mouse” church secretary discover her inner beauty and her loud
voice. There are themes of redemption and forgiveness with just a hint of
cheesiness, but it is a comedy after all.
(Originally Posted on Examiner.com)
