Ethan Walker
The Good Catholic is an American romantic comedy-drama film released in 2017. Written and directed by Paul Shoulberg, the film stars Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover, and John C. McGinley. The story revolves around an idealistic young priest, Father Daniel, who is content with his work but struggles with his faith. Daniel encounters a brash, edgy, and clever young woman, Jane, who claims to be dying and enters his life through the confessional. Their relationship evolves as they play games in the confessional, and Daniel eventually invites Jane for dinner with his fellow priests, Father Ollie and Father Victor. The film explores themes of love, faith, and the internal struggles faced by those in the priesthood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy, drama |
| Director | Paul Shoulberg |
| Writer | Paul Shoulberg |
| Stars | Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover, John C. McGinley |
| Release date | 8 September 2017 |
| Rating | 5.3/10 |
| Themes | Love, Faith, Religion, Celibacy |
| Plot | A young priest, Father Dan/Daniel, falls in love with a woman, Jane, who he meets in the confessional box. |
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What You'll Learn
The movie's central themes
The Good Catholic is a romantic comedy-drama that explores themes of love, faith, and the Catholic Church. The film follows an idealistic young priest, Father Daniel, who is happy in his work but struggles with his faith and a crisis of confidence. He meets a young woman, Jane, in the confessional booth, and the two form an unlikely friendship. As their relationship develops, Daniel is forced to confront his feelings and choose between his calling and the possibility of romantic love.
One of the central themes of the film is the exploration of faith and doubt. Daniel's uncertainty about his faith is a recurring motif, and his conversations with Jane, who is new to the church, highlight his internal struggle. The film also touches on the idea of finding one's bliss and the search for meaning and purpose in life. Daniel's restlessness in his role as a priest and his yearning for something more are central to the narrative.
The relationship between Daniel and Jane challenges the traditional expectations of Catholic priests, including the discipline of celibacy. The film portrays celibacy as a burden and suggests that erotic love is essential for self-realisation. Daniel's attraction to Jane and his struggle to reconcile his religious vows with his romantic feelings are central to the story's tension.
The Good Catholic also delves into the lives of priests and their individual interpretations of faith and spirituality. Father Ollie, for example, is portrayed as eccentric and rebellious, finding comfort in food and sports rather than strictly adhering to religious rules. In contrast, Father Victor is more traditional and devoted solely to God and the Church. The film presents different perspectives on faith and suggests that spirituality can manifest in various ways.
Another theme explored in the film is the role of the Catholic Church and its rituals. The movie portrays the Church as a comforting and community-building institution, but it also hints at criticism, suggesting that the Church's rules and expectations can be restrictive and outdated. The film's portrayal of the Church is nuanced, reflecting the complexities and contradictions inherent in religious institutions.
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The characters
The Good Catholic features a cast of characters that drive the story's exploration of love, faith, and the Catholic Church. Here is an overview of the key characters:
Father Daniel
Father Daniel, played by Zachary Spicer, is an idealistic young priest who is happy in his work but struggles with his faith. He is described as earnest and dedicated, yet uncertain and restless within the confines of his vocation. Daniel finds himself in a crisis of faith, questioning his relationship with God and the path set out for him by his late father. He yearns for meaning and experiences a turmoil of emotions when he falls for a mysterious woman who enters his life through the confessional.
Jane
Jane, portrayed by Wrenn Schmidt, is the edgy, clever, and charming woman who disrupts Father Daniel's life. She is a religiously indifferent coffee house singer who claims to be terminally ill, seeking funeral arrangement advice. Jane is brash, sexy, opinionated, and quick-witted, presenting a stark contrast to Father Daniel's personality. She invades his sanctuary during his hour of doubt, scattering sexual temptation and embracing life intensely.
Father Ollie
Father Ollie, played by John C. McGinley, is a more liberated and eccentric colleague of Father Daniel. He is described as quirky, rebellious, and comic relief. Father Ollie enjoys food and is a fan of Indiana University basketball. He provides Daniel with advice, encouraging him to find something "selfish, stupid, and human."
Father Victor
Father Victor, portrayed by Danny Glover, is the traditionalist and stern superior of Father Daniel. He is an elder priest, completely devoted to the Church with little outside interests. Father Victor becomes serious when discussing faith and passion, reminding Daniel of a priest's duty to God. He delivers a powerful homily on the relationship between God and love.
Supporting Characters
The film also features a monk and other supporting priest characters, including one described as "proper and wise and old-fashioned." These characters add comedic relief and further explore the themes of faith and the Catholic Church.
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The plot
The Good Catholic is an American romantic comedy-drama film released in 2017. It was written and directed by Paul Shoulberg and dedicated to his recently deceased father, Donald Shoulberg. The film stars Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover, and John C. McGinley.
As their friendship develops, Father Dan invites Jane over for dinner with his fellow priests, Father Ollie and Father Victor. During the dinner, Victor asks Daniel about his primary passion, reminding him that a priest's duty is to be devoted to God. Offended, Jane leaves, and Daniel runs after her, removing his clerical collar before knocking on her door. Throughout the film, each priest rehearses a homily: Dan teaches that death gives meaning to life and to enjoy the present; Ollie teaches compassion and to be there for the suffering and dying; Victor preaches that no one sees God, but He lives inside each of us.
The Good Catholic explores themes of love, faith, and the internal struggles of a priest facing a crisis of faith and choosing between his calling and true love. It has been described as a secular yet respectful outlook on its subject matter, sparking conversations about the accuracy of its portrayal of Catholic priests and the Church.
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Reception and reviews
The Good Catholic received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 5.3/10, with some viewers praising the acting and humour while others found it underwhelming and generic. One review on the platform notes the film's "choppy pacing" and "insincere dialogue", while another commends the "excellent secular humanist talk by the elder priest at the end".
A review on IMDb describes the film as "a fairly saccharine, well-meaning exploration of genuine issues of love and faith", while another viewer on the same platform comments that the film is "glueing [them] to the screen". The review goes on to praise the acting, stating that "Glover [is the] finest [they've] ever seen" and that "McGinley [is] hilarious as usual but also moving".
The film's depiction of Catholic priests has been a point of contention among viewers. One IMDb review notes the film's portrayal of a monk who smokes and a priest who may be breaking his vow of chastity, and while they understand that "priests are human and temptations are real", they believe it is important to point out that "not all Catholic priests act this way". Similarly, a review on Common Sense Media mentions the strong language used in the film, including the word "f---ing", which some viewers may find objectionable coming from priests.
The Good Catholic has also been characterised as a romantic comedy or dramedy, with some viewers finding it funny and romantic, while others felt that it lacked depth and fell into generic tropes. A review on America Magazine describes the film as "brazen" in the way it tries to have it both ways, exploring both happy and unhappy themes.
Overall, The Good Catholic seems to have sparked conversation and invited a range of interpretations and reactions from its audience.
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The cast and crew
The Good Catholic is an American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Shoulberg and produced by Zachary Spicer, John Armstrong, and Graham Sheldon. It was released on September 8, 2017, by Broad Green Pictures.
The film stars Zachary Spicer as Father Daniel, a young priest who is happy in his work but unhappy in his faith. He finds himself in a crisis of faith when he meets Jane (Wrenn Schmidt), a brash, edgy, and clever musician who claims to be dying. Jane enters his life and sparks a romantic interest that challenges his devotion to the Church.
The cast also includes Danny Glover as the traditionalist and stern Father Victor, a character devoted solely to God, and John C. McGinley as the eccentric and more liberated Father Ollie, who enjoys food and Indiana University basketball.
The Good Catholic features a range of themes, including the exploration of love and faith and the internal struggles faced by those in the priesthood. It offers a secular perspective on these topics and has been praised for its natural writing and acting and unique comedic content.
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Frequently asked questions
The Good Catholic is a romantic comedy-drama about a young Catholic priest, Father Daniel, who is happy in his work but unhappy in his faith. He meets a young woman, Jane, in the confessional box and the two become friends. Jane is brash, sexy, opinionated, and claims to be dying. As their friendship develops, Daniel finds himself questioning his faith and his future in the priesthood.
The Good Catholic explores themes of love, faith, and the search for meaning in life. It also tackles the issue of celibacy and the internal struggle between following one's calling and pursuing romantic love. The film contains religious themes and explores the relationship between God and love.
The Good Catholic received mixed reviews. Some critics described it as a "well-meaning exploration of genuine issues of love and faith", praising the acting and natural writing. Others found the story plain and the dialogue insincere, with one critic stating that it was "not a great movie". The film has been praised for its unique content and natural chemistry between the actors, but also criticised for its lack of familiarity with clerical life.
