Featured DVD

Preacher's Kid

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dvd review

Preacher's Kid

By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Producer

CBN.com - Backed by Gener8Xion Entertainment (run by Matt Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network), Preacher's Kid opened in theaters nationwide last January. This week, movie fans can get the Christian film on DVD or Blu-ray.

A modern retelling of the prodigal son story from the Bible, Preacher's Kid focuses on how legalism hurts the Church and how our choices can lead us away from God -- if we're not careful. The film's good production quality supplements the moving story well. Those who didn't catch it in the theater can expect Preacher's Kid to be sort of a mix between the comedic Madea movies we get from Tyler Perry and the biblically strong Fireproof. With plenty of Christian teaching moments, Preacher's Kid balances the entertainment and ministry goals of the film, making it an enjoyable movie experience.

Set in Augusta, Georgia, Preacher's Kid chronicles the journey of a local bishop's daughter as she begins to question her commitment to her strict life that revolves around God and the church and her dreams of becoming a professional singer. When a black theater troupe comes to town, Angie decides to jump on their bus, hoping her work on the show leads to a recording contract. Feeling betrayed by the only family he has left, the bishop turns his back on her. Poor choices -- by everyone involved -- push Angie to her lowest point, causing her to question if she made the right move.

LeToya Luckett, an original member of Destiny's Child, makes her major motion picture debut in Preacher's Kid as Angie. You'd never know it though; Luckett does a marvelous job adopting the character, her inner turmoil and desire for fame, all while singing beautifully. The rest of the cast is -- for the most part -- spot-on, including some great acting scenes by Gregory Alan Williams (Baywatch) as Bishop King and Sharif Atkins (White Collar, ER) as Wynton, the sweet-on-Angie, choir director.

Preacher's Kid is screenwriter/director Stan Foster's second major motion picture; he wrote the original screenplay for Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004). With only a few hiccups in the storyline and character development, Foster's Preacher's Kid is an entertaining inspirational film. Some DVD buyers may find the Madea-esque character and similarities to Tyler Perry movies distracting. Other than that, Preacher's Kid meets the requirements with a good story, good acting, and good directing.

The DVD version includes some deleted scenes, but Blu-ray owners win out comparatively speaking. The Blu-ray combo pack features the deleted scenes, plus "Music of Preacher's Kid", "On Location in Atlanta", "The Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a Story" and more.

Hannah Goodwyn produces the Family and Entertainment sections of CBN.com. For more articles and information, visit Hannah's bio page.