Father Stu: Film Review
Father Stu, a biopic about boxer-turned-Catholic priest Father Stuart Long, is clearly a passion project for Mark Wahlberg, who developed, produced and acted in the film and poured millions of his own money into it. I think this movie will be powerful for those who have faith but is unlikely to do much for those who don’t.
This film, written and directed by Rosalind Ross, gives a brief overview of Stu’s life before focusing on his relationship with the Catholic faith. After a health issue causes him to give up boxing, he moves to Hollywood to become an actor. One day, he meets Carmen (Teresa Ruiz) in the supermarket and becomes so determined to win her over that he starts attending her church. After a near-fatal accident, Stu has an epiphany and decides to become a priest, despite his criminal history, tendency to swear and throw punches, and taste for alcohol. Stu, who is diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, is eventually ordained and is able to spend his last years serving God.
Stories like this usually make me bawl my eyes out and that didn’t happen with Father Stu. I could appreciate that it was sad but I didn’t have my typical visceral reaction. Something was missing for me and I couldn’t put my finger on it. The story was just not as compelling as it should have been and it didn’t hook me in and grab my attention.
This could have been because the movie skims over his earlier life a bit too quickly. There is a lot to pack in so it moves along at a fast pace until he gets involved with the church, from which point it slows down. I don’t really want the film to be longer (it’s already about two hours) but I just think I would have cared more about Stu’s life if the earlier parts – particularly his difficult relationship with his alcoholic father Bill (Mel Gibson) – were given more substance instead of being quickly brushed over.
Also, perhaps I struggled to connect to the story because Stu isn’t all that likeable, to begin with. He didn’t seem like a good person. But then again, that’s the whole point of the movie – he learns about faith, converts to Catholicism and becomes a whole new person. I imagine this tale of redemption and forgiveness will speak to those who already have faith but I don’t fall into that category.
Father Stu is clearly a passion project for Wahlberg as it aligns with his Christian values and also has parallels with his own life, given his past convictions. He threw himself into the role physically, gaining 30 pounds to portray Stu later in life. The transformation is impressive and it’s quite shocking to see the ultra-fit Wahlberg like this.
Wahlberg is the perfect fit for the earlier part of Stu’s life. He has the gift of the gab, charm, determination and no problem wrangling Stu’s motormouth dialogue. But I didn’t quite buy into his performance when it became really heavy, serious and emotional. Stu has a degenerative muscle disorder so Wahlberg had to physically inhabit his loss of motor functions and he was OK on this front. It didn’t move me to tears like Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything, for the most obvious comparison.
He is supported by a sincere turn from Ruiz, a suitably angry performance from Gibson and an excellent appearance from the ever-reliable Malcolm MacDowell as Monsignor Kelly. I wasn’t too convinced about Jacki Weaver as Stu’s mum Kathleen though.
I heard people crying in my screening so this film clearly works for some people and hits them in the feels. How you respond to Father Stu may simply come down to your religious faith. I personally didn’t feel all that invested in his story.
In cinemas Friday 13th May