‘Jesus Henry Christ’ Movie Review – Sweet, Original and Funny
Dramedy film Jesus Henry Christ hits LA theaters today and if the title doesn’t make you at least a it curious about it, then hopefully this review will.
Director Dennis Lee’s second feature film (based on his short film of the same name) follows a young gifted boy, Henry James Herman, who not only can remember everything he sees (and I mean everything) but is bright beyond his years. At age 10, he writes a manifesto on the nature of truth, which of course doesn’t please the priest/headmaster of his school. And that’s only the beginning. Soon Henry departs on a quest to find his biological father aka “the sperm donor.” What he finds will change everyone’s life as a result.
When I saw the trailer for Jesus Henry Christ I figured I would enjoy the movie, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. One thing’s for sure, the trailer doesn’t capture even half of what makes this film remarkable.
I am a little wary of using the word “quirky” because it’s been so overused lately and might have a bad connotation to it, but as quirky as Jesus Henry Christ, it never feels forced, nor is it quirky just for the sake of it. Director Dennis Lee knows exactly why he depicts the movie the way he does and as a result it feels fresh.
Furthermore, Jesus Henry Christ stays consistent in its tone throughout the film, so if you get into it, you’ll enjoy it until the end. The film also has a really warm tone to it, similar to French film Amelie, which gives it a beautiful look that we don’t see too often.
The story itself is pretty original and driven by a wonderful cast consisting of Toni Collette (Henry’s mother), Michael Sheen (the sperm donor), Jason Spevack (Henry) and Samantha Weinstein (the sperm donor’s daughter). These four make a great pair, especially since each character is very specific, it creates a great dynamic onscreen.
Overall, Jesus Henry Christ is sweet, original and funny. Director Dennis Lee then adds his visual style and sensitivity on top of it and it brings it to a whole new level. So if you like quirky dramedies and character studies, you’ll love Jesus Henry Christ. And even if you’re not sure, just give it a try, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.
Jesus Henry Christ is currently available on Video On Demand (VOD) and is out in Los Angeles theaters (Chinese 6, Laemmle Monica, Laemmle Encino Town Center) today. The film will then be released in New York (Cinema Village) on May 4th.
You can also read my interview with director Dennis Lee here.
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