With or without a dollar sign, the title “Faith Ba$ed” is potentially misleading, since this isn’t one of the many Christian-themed movies that lays claim to that label, but a mockumentary-style farce about two boneheads who decide to write and direct such a film. They know nothing about filmmaking. Luke (Luke Barnett) cleans pools and sells herbal weight-loss tea in a pyramid scheme. Tanner (Tanner Thomason) tends bar and seduces women by showing them “Schindler’s List,” a choice that ostensibly highlights his sensitivity.
Their idea is to make a Christian movie set in space, which is where just about all of the jokes in this comedy land. Directed by Vincent Masciale, “Faith Ba$ed” shows the hallmarks of being made on a shoestring budget with a blind optimism befitting its heroes. Luke and Tanner share names with the actors who play them (Barnett also wrote the script). In small roles, established performers like David Koechner (as a born-again action star), Margaret Cho (flashing money at Luke and Tanner before they even have a concept) and Jason Alexander (woefully overbroad as the herbal-tea guru) look like they showed up as a favor.
The usually excellent Lance Reddick has the indignity of a more substantial part as Luke’s adoptive father, a pastor. That character and his good-natured flock essentially function to redirect the object of the satire: “Faith Ba$ed” isn’t really a spoof of religious movies, but of low-budget filmmaking in general, a well-worn target that quips like “Let’s talk cameras. Who here understands how they work?” don’t come close to hitting. Pity, or prayer, couldn’t change the fact that “Faith Ba$ed” is abysmally unfunny.
Faith Ba$ed
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes. In theaters and available to rent or buy on iTunes, Vudu and other streaming platforms. Please consult the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before watching movies inside theaters.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
