Faith Based

Faith Based is a 2020 satirical comedy film, featuring an engaging cast that includes Luke Barnett, Tanner Thomason, and Lance Reddick, among others. The movie is cleverly directed by Vincent Masciale and has been hailed for its humorous narrative and thought-provoking commentary on contemporary culture.

The film centers around the story of two unsettled, lifelong friends, Luke (played by Luke Barnett) and Tanner (Tanner Thomason). The pair find themselves at loose ends in their professional and personal lives, with Luke, who has some experience as a failed entrepreneur, continually searching for his next big thing, while Tanner is stuck in a dead-end security job and is generally dissatisfied with the monotony of his existence. Desiring change, they embark on a journey to reinvent themselves.

One day, Luke comes up with an unusual business plan – making a movie. But, not just any movie. He is struck by the realization that films with religious themes seem to make a lot of money regardless of how good or bad they are. This leads to an ambitious idea of making a low budget Christian film, despite having no experience in movie-making and having barely any money or resources to fund the project.

The concept is simple: they aim to create a science fiction biblical epic called A Prayer in Space, which marries faith and far-fetched dramatics. The ludicrous script merges religious themes with an outer space adventure, imagining Jesus returning to Earth from a thousand-year absence to battle a colossal, destructive alien force.

Lance Reddick plays Pastor Mike, the intense head of the local church where Luke and Tanner frequently attend. Intriguingly, he seems to be one of the few people who express some understanding of what Luke and Tanner are trying to do with their unusual film and offers some level of support and guidance – even if, like the rest of their community, he isn't entirely convinced of their project's potential.

Indeed, Luke and Tanner’s endeavor does not attract wide support. Even amongst their friends and family, there is doubt and derision, with many thinking the ambitious project is bound for failure due to the duo’s lack of experience and the dubious quality of their movie concept. Despite the odds and lack of community belief, the unshakeable faith of Luke and Tanner in their big idea propels them to overcome these challenges and strive ahead with their plan.

Faith Based is as much about the pursuit of a dream against all odds as it is about friendship, the dynamics of religion in the popular cultural sphere, and the vagaries of the film industry - especially the idea that profits can often eclipse quality. It is a film that satirizes the sometimes far-fetched storylines of faith-based movies, but it also portrays the creative, desperate, and often comedic lengths to which ambitious artists will go to bring their vision to fruition.

In addition to Luke Barnett and Tanner Thomason’s captivating performances, the film features appearances from other recognizable faces, including David Koechner and Jason Alexander, bringing depth and dimension to this wacky yet relatable universe.

The casting, along with an intelligent script and capable direction, blend to make Faith Based a satisfying, laughter-filled film. Every character’s journey contains an element of change and growth which leaves the viewer engaged until the end. The film successfully uses humor to highlight the many layers of our shared human experience and the lengths individuals will go in their search for meaning, purpose, and financial stability.

While Faith Based takes a satirical look at the movie industry and religious films, it delivers a broader message about belief, perseverance, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of dreams, making it an entertaining and provocative comedy with surprising depth.