Indie Film Review “The Gospel of Dating” Dating shows and the Divine come together in a whimsical, authentic, unfeigned romp addressing faith, hope, and love
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
What IS the source of REAL love?? How can we find it?? And perhaps, even after we have, is it everything we might wish it to be? The “cure” for discovering that one person who will become the center of our natural life, to share everything with, and to be happy being around is challenging enough to ascertain, much less pursue. However, how much more difficult or awkward might it be when others are orchestrating for it to happen FOR us…and for their OWN aims??
Bishop Shama Gresham (Michael Orlando Peters) has an issue. His beloved church has found itself faltering in attendance and financial stability. While his trusted and loyal member LaTanya (Nicole Pringle) thinks they just need to move on, Bishop Gresham wants to save the legacy HE feels his “house” represents. So when an opportunity arises in the form of a Christian dating show wanting to feature the church, he jumps on it, even as their innocently unwitting “star”, Angela (Rachel Brooks), has no idea what’s really happening behind the scenes.
Next, my Mind:
Our own, often stubborn will, desires, plans, and innate concepts of what WE feel is truth collides with unrelenting reality, conflicting values, treacherous ambitions, and the always volatile waters of seeking genuine connection and love through the power of personal beliefs thanks to the 95-minute indie feature film from writer/director/executive producer/cinematographer/editor Khiray Richards along with executive producers Shennice Gossett, Alan Green, Carey Rose O’Connell, and Ben Yennie. What stands out first and foremost for me initially is the means by which the film finds its core in Christianity, yet doesn’t do so to “preach at” or force anything upon anyone. As a matter of fact, it’s really the opposite. We’re given this system of foundational conviction in a manner that fully supports the religion, but in a way that truly offers the kind of forgiveness, hope, and acceptance it should, rather than judgement.
Now, there IS plenty of that latter notion occurring, but it’s in the context of the narrative that sees a deeply struggling church and its current leader at a crossroads, with the subsequent choice made to “save” it quickly illustrating how fragile, even  bluntly ignorant, our OWN truths can be vs. that which we SHOULD be adhering to…plus the potential price paid for blindly accepting something that SEEMS beneficial, but really isn’t. While this may sound overtly serious in nature (in many respects it is!), now throw in the MANY lighthearted elements and romantic angles here and it’s the kind of romcom that is rare anymore…ENJOYABLE! It’s a total hoot, eliciting a wealth of laughs, especially when one can appreciate WHAT is being made fun OF. Yet, the INTENT of messaging doesn’t get LOST in that, either. There’s a myriad of necessary, potent, and simply excellent, God-centered thematic explorations that give the film its spiritual punch without being pushy about it.
The comedy is intelligently written to be both silly AND satiric in its forays to poke at the entire  “The Bachelorette”-style endeavor, purposefully over-exaggerating those facets, while still maintaining the nucleus of what it all is meant to convey on a higher level. Principals ranging from what we value vs. others, just wanting to be liked for who you are, new beginnings that need to start small in order to grow, how we judge things out of our own ideas and consequently the hypocrisy that’s born of it, to being willing to meet people where they are, seeing our own imperfections, getting out of our own way, greed leading to poor decisions, having accountability, seeing how sincere rebuilding of anything must come from the heart, soul, Spirit, and God, and allowing OUR designs to get interrupted by God’s to see things come to pass, acknowledging the gifts others can bring to our grander fold, and more all get looked into here. On top of the dating show competitions and insanity that’s a complete riot to witness! And this is all unequivocally HUMAN. That’s the grounded reality the film presents along with the chuckles.
Again, make no mistake, the dramatic aspects the story presents are no less impactful or imperative to the proceedings, and really it is the BLEND of these approaches that also makes the film a worthwhile endeavor to watch, be entertained by, while still finding yourself contemplating a LOT of compelling, persuasive spiritual and worldly perspectives offered. I am being, perhaps, far more vague in providing more specific details the narrative’s course takes, but that’s also intentional, as this is one of those projects you really need to WATCH to absorb all it has to give. All I will reiterate is that the dating show component is, once more, a stitch to witness (the BTS “interviews” are priceless!) and the finale actually ends up working as a cathartic, triumphant, and moral lesson-teaching wonder. As far as the acting, ensemble casts for me need to take the figurative stage as a unified, coherent force to make it all work. Here, that is precisely what occurs.
Peters is adept at both the dramatic and the comedic through his role as Bishop Gresham, a leader whose flock and now building’s history and meaning for him is threatened with being taken away. However, when an unexpected twist comes around based on a grant proposal he’d applied for, the ensuing mayhem becomes both a boon and a burden, causing him to revel in what could be, but also might compromise everything he believes in. I love the credibility Peters brings to this character. How the actor portrays a man stuck between his own ideology, other’s far more logical thinking, and what he’s really supposed to stand for is so well-played. Meanwhile, Peters exercises some understated humor that is steeped in a more deadpan delivery fashion that does ultimately suit his character, even as the more serious notes are likewise given due justice throughout the performance. Will Bishop Gresham find redemption….or ruin??
Pringle does an equally apropos job at being a stalwart voice of reason, truth, and dogged principle through her role as LaTanya, Bishop Gresham’s most dedicated congregation member who has more than one iron in the fire when events begin to unfold that she both initiated and also resisted, all while chasing her own dreams as well. As more and more of the situation gets further out of control, her ability to keep pushing for the Bishop to reconsider his attitudes and actions is tangibly heartening and formidable, which Pringle brings out in her performance with energy, humor, and committed performance. Brooks is all engaging charm, playful sass, and wholly transparent vulnerability in her turn as Angela, a relation (niece, perhaps?) of LaTanya’s who really doesn’t realize that her own shattered love (and now lonely) life will manifest into her chance to meet “Mr. Right” on a televised dating show!
Navigating through the craziness with far more decorum, patience, and admittedly excitement than one might anticipate (watch the film and you will see what I mean! LOL), Angela just may end up meeting that Price Charming….even if it isn’t known to her what is possibly being “manufactured” behind her back by powers that be who don’t really have her, or anyone else’s, true benefit in mind. Brooks is cuteness made real, but is no pushover or “just a pretty face” through this role, imbuing the Angela with a no-nonsense manner that shows she REALLY wants to be SEEN and loved purely, while being quite a little comedienne along the way, even if mainly in reacting to the men she has to choose from! Next, we have “The Bachelors”, and oh my, what a crew we have assembled for Angela to pick from….and an all-encompassing, uproarious crew to watch!
Jerry Wright is Kris, who needless to say makes a strong argument for “first impressions” NOT being so great, Darius Westmoreland is Elliot, the more athletic of the group who certainly lets it be known just HOW competitive he is, Hakim Esley is Ken, an affable enough gentleman who has a secret weapon with him…his MOM (Latanya Mitchell) who STEALS THE SHOW in pretty much every scene she’s involved in (Mitchell just OWNS IT, people!), Grant Tomlinson as Cory, a very nice young man who has a particularly stumbling and….poetic….way with words, Eddy Jay Rock as Shane, a seeming “everyman” who has a few minor faults hidden away but who could still have a chance, and Brandon McGee as Nick, who also seems to have it all and could be a part of a grander scheme that’s under way, even as he tries his best to BE “The One”. ALL of these actors absolutely NAIL it, each deftly portraying their character’s mannerisms and quirks to often hysterical lengths. It’s a total treat to watch them all, and hence why I extend both group and individual shout outs to the performances across the board.
Jerrold Edwards as Harvey, head of the entertainment group behind the show whose machinations could be from the Devil himself, which Edwards brings out with a vengeance in his performance. Cheyenne Tyler Jacobs is Yolanda Adam, the host of the dating show who likes to believe she has it all together FAR more than she actually does, both on and, well, on camera! Additional supporting roles arrive from  Kierra Edwards, Chani Louise, Nordia A. Meggie, Miles Triplett, Aaron Dorsey, and Stanley Williams. So, in total, “The Gospel Of Dating” is a contemporary romcom winner, infusing religious foundation with composed, balanced, and very palpable humanity while delivering a laugh-inducing and fully convincing portrait of just HOW imperfect we are, what we can do right, what we need to de better, and the power of belief that can finally prove to be exactly the thing we should strive for, to the benefit of EVERYONE around us. Oh, and find some love along the way! Let the WORLD, and audiences watching this film, say YES!
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
