The Hub’s Entertainment Watch List: Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul
Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions strikes again with the satirical comedy, “Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul,” starring Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall. The duo star as Southern Baptist megachurch leaders attempting to rebuild their reputation following a mildly touched-on scandal.
The film premiered in theatres on September 2 – which was just in time for National Cinema Day on Sept. 3 – as well as Peacock. It was executively produced by Monkeypaw Productions, the company behind works such as Get Out, Lovecraft Country and Nope. Regina Hall leads as Trinite Childs while “This Is Us” star, Sterling K. Brown portrayed Lee-Curtis Childs.
Throughout the film, viewers are introduced to the couple, who once served a church of more than 25,000 congregants, but a scandal shattered their foundation and forced the couple to rebrand. The film shows the couple seemingly portraying a perfectly imperfect marriage in front of a film crew in an attempt to relaunch their once loved church.
Ultimately, viewers are likely to chuckle at the attempts to point fun at the flaws of the Black church, but the story takes a dark turn as the audience starts to see traces of the pastors’ hidden past. Writer-director Adamma Ebo brought the film to life and it was initially conceived to be a short film. However, Ebo says, “ Trinitie and Lee-Curtis were always there.”
Adamma noted that “it was freeing to tackle something that isn’t necessarily new,” while also being able to “come to terms with where we are with our own faith and how we feel about our own participation in organized religion.” Some religious commentators speculate that the film is loosely based on the story of Eddie Long.
Long was a controversial megachurch leader who died at the age of 63 and was accused of sexually coercing young male congregants into sexual acts.
The 103-minute film has had the Black church community buzzing since its debut. Although viewers may fall on opposing sides of the movie’s commentary, the film succeeded in starting a conversation. As Adanna added, “I think what we want audiences to take away from this is to always ask questions… Question everything.”
