 |
| Available at Amazon.com |
Ladies and gentlemen: The Shopocalypse is upon us. We must confess our shopping sins and lift our voices with the refrains of the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir and repent our wicked ways of over-consumption. Reverend Billy is in the house!
Beginning on Black Friday and ending on Christmas Day in 2005, Reverend Billy and his Stop Shopping Choir made a cross country journey to try to get the country to buy less and give more. Along the way, they make stops at the Mall of America and at the Wal-Mart corporate headquarters before they reach their climactic Christmas Day conclusion at Disneyland in California. Reverend Billy equates Mickey Mouse with the devil, even wearing T-shirts with Mickey crucified on a mouse-trap cross.
What Would Jesus Buy? chronicles this crusade. Newcomer but no stranger to Reverend Billy (he directed a short film about the Reverend in the past), Robert VanAlkemade directs this whirlwind of a film with chock full of style and humor. It comes as no surprise that WWJB? is produced by SuperSize Me’s Morgan Spurlock, the mascot for all things anti-corporate. VanAlkemade and Spurlock make a fine team here, presenting their points in a way that is entertaining, funny, and also makes the audience think twice about their bad habits.
Most viewers may be put off by the in-your-face attitude that the film takes, I mean the message is preached at us by a pushy televangelist street preacher. But if they stick with it, they’ll find that there’s more they can relate to than they think. Can I get an Amen?
The film is presented in widescreen, most of the time. There are several videos of Reverend Billy TV spots that are full screen, like you would be watching it on TV. This just adds to the kitsch.
The Ten Commandments are Made In China – This was a very interesting featurette. It starts off with a pastor talking about a yard art statue of the Ten Commandments he received as a gift. He checked the bottom and saw that it was made in China. “There is no freedom of religion in the country that it was made in,” he said. Then the featurette focuses on two missionaries and their story of persecution while in China.
Snow Shoe, PA – This is more of a deleted scene than a feature. It shows a stop on the church’s journey to a post office in Snow Shoe, PA. They sing to the two employees there.
Public Access Revival – For those of you who may be turned off just by the title of this one, relax. It’s only approximately 4 minutes 30 seconds. But it is Reverend Billy speaking in a televangelist setting. Complete with “put your haaaands on the screen”.
St. Mark’s Send off Show – This is footage from the concert before they begin their mission. That lead soprano in the strapless red gown? If Randy Jackson were there, he’d say she were, “A little pitchy, dawg.”
In addition to the film’s entertaining theatrical trailer, there is also a DVD-ROM feature with lyrics to a carol the choir sings. Lyrics are by, who else? Reverend Billy.
Despite what one may think about Reverend Billy and his methods of conveying his message, it does inspire real reflection into our daily lives. Even though What Would Jesus Buy? is centered around the holiday season, there’s something to take away from the film at all times of the year.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Hart Sharp Film presents What Would Jesus Buy? Directed by Robert VanAlkemade. Starring Bill Talen (Reverend Billy). Written by Robert vanAlkemade. Running time: 91 minutes. Rated PG. Released on DVD: May 27, 2008. Available at Amazon.com
About Jenny Rebekah
