Variety reviews three new Christian films

Today, Terry Mattingly at GetReligion.org asked the terrifying question of “whether we are about to witness the birth of what can only be called the Contemporary Christian Movie industry.” And right on cue, Variety critic Joe Leydon posted reviews of three new films — and, perhaps surprisingly, the news isn’t all bad.

First, the inaugural FoxFaith movie Love’s Abiding Joy:

The debut theatrical release from FoxFaith, Fox’s newly formed subsidiary dedicated to Christian-themed pics, is a repurposed made-for-TV drama likely to play better on the home screen. Originally intended for cablecasting — the telltale credits reference a “teleplay” based on a “television story” — “Love’s Abiding Joy” intends to be uplifting, but more often is enervating, as it slowly catalogues triumphs over adversity on the frontier plains circa 1885. Blandly sincere pic may appeal to auds seeking family-friendly entertainment with religious underpinnings, or movie buffs desperate for anything that even remotely resembles an old-fashioned Western. . . .

Second, the UFOs-and-Rapture thriller Unidentified:

“Unidentified” suggests the sort of no-budget sci-fier Ed Wood might have made if he’d become a born-again Christian and started proselytizing in film. It’s not quite awful enough to qualify as camp, which may work against its finding any audience. Indeed, it’s doubtful even the most undiscriminating devotees of religious-themed fare will flock to this ham-handed, lead-footed opus during its limited theatrical rollout. . . .

And third, the star-studded and much-delayed adaptation of the Book of Esther, One Night with the King:

Blessed with abundant production values and a minimum of campy excess, “One Night With the King” is a surprisingly satisfying attempt to revive the Old Hollywood tradition of lavishly appointed Biblical epics aimed at mainstream auds. This second release by Fox’s new FoxFaith label has a much broader appeal than earlier product produced by Gener8Xion Entertainment (“The Omega Code,” “Carman: The Champion”), and conceivably could attract ticketbuyers who have ignored other recent pics aimed primarily at devout churchgoers. Indeed, even a few diehard non-believers may be won over by the considerable charisma of top-billed newcomer Tiffany Dupont. . . .

Well that’s a relief. Can’t wait to see this last film for myself.