A young Catholic priest questions his vocation in Paul Shoulberg's earnest but overly schematic and ultimately ineffectual comedy-drama. Working in an Indiana parish, Father Daniel (Zachary Spicer) serves as an assistant to the pastor, Father Victor (Danny Glover), and is joined by Franciscan Brother Ollie (John C. McGinley). Victor and Ollie represent the extremes of clerical conduct—the pastor is stern and legalistic, the friar loose and sensitive—and Daniel is torn as to who should be his model. But it is only when Jane (Wrenn Schmidt) walks into his confessional that Daniel's commitment is truly tested. The sharp-tongued singer-waitress claims to be dying and she vents to the priest, prodding him to reconsider his own life in the process. As their conversations continue, Daniel finds himself increasingly attracted to her, and he wonders whether he chose priesthood for the wrong reason—simply to please his father. The Good Catholic is blessed with a strong supporting cast, even if Glover lets his smooth voice do much of his acting and McGinley tries too hard to seem wild and crazy. But Spicer's suffering comes across as melodramatic, and Schmidt is more irritating than engaging as the woman who causes him to wonder where his heart really lies. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)
The Good Catholic
Broad Green, 97 min., PG-13, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $36.95, Oct. 24 Volume 32, Issue 5
The Good Catholic
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