Published Mar. 31, 2022
Synopsis
Distributor: Sony Pictures | Release Date: 4/13/22 | Run Time: 124 Minutes
Based on a true-life story. When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long moves to Los Angeles to find money and fame. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk, he meets Carmen, a Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. However, a motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others, leading to the surprising realization that he's meant to be a Catholic priest.
Screening Notes
This is a good film. Mark Wahlberg is always bankable; his filmography includes 52 movies, and this is his best performance...and his physical transformation from a “ripped” boxer to packing on over 30lbs in just six weeks is remarkable. Mel Gibson sneaks in a pretty darn good performance too.
Father Stu is unflinching real-life, with funny, painfully honest, and up-lifting moments. I’m concerned that certain audiences will shy-away from watching because of the R-rating, which would be their loss.
Sure, a PG13 would generate broader commercial appeal but it would absolutely diminish, to the point of ruining, the heartfelt reality of this true-life story. I would consider this film as having a ”soft R-rating;” the language can get pretty foul and at times very “descriptive”, but there is not any sexual content, violence or graphic images. The film should connect with moviegoers who enjoy a relevant story about battling adversity and setbacks, sprinkled with romance, family drama, faith and religion, and humor. Hopefully, the faith-based community rallies around this film (which they should) and not be quickly dismissive because of the rating.
Boxoffice Estimate
Sorry to see this film open with only 2,600 runs. The film opens on Apr. 13, up against Fantastic Beasts, which couldn’t be further down the genre spectrum. The following three weeks post-opening is fairly clear sailing, with one family and two action films, plus two limited release titles…none of which particularly compete for the Father Stu demographic, so I would have thought the number of runs would be in the 3,000 to 3,400 range.
My modeling lands at an opening weekend totaling $11M, with a range between $10 and $12M, and a total gross between $36M and $44M.
Watch the Trailer !
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