Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Out of the many things Jesus would do, how come "create a good movie" is never on the list?

Preacher's Kid is slightly inspirational, but also predictable from beginning to end. Destiny's Child castoff LeToya Tuckett plays Angie, a good girl with a great voice. However, she's 21, which means she wants to do what 21 year-olds do -- like go to clubs and not live under the watchful eyes of a preacher/father.

Soon, Angie gets the chance to join a traveling gospel show. What would Jesus do? Apparently, spread the word and some singing talent in the name of an almighty paycheck. Of course, Preacher Daddy is not pleased, but Angie is of-age, not 11, so off she goes.

From there, the movie takes a bizarre turn. Apparently, when you don't honor thy father, a lot of bad crap happens. Angie ends up breaking more than a few commandments, as well as getting beaten up and beaten down.

You can probably guess where Angie ends up, and it's not in the arms of Freddie Boom-Boom Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, who makes a quickie cameo). The film is incredibly predictable, but it doesn't really matter. If you believe hard enough, you will enjoy this movie. It certainly sends the right message. Also, the real star here is the singing, and thank you-know-who for that, because the acting just isn't all that good.

The Picture

Everyone's Sunday best pops in this 1.85:1 transfer, especially on the preacher's lust red robe. However, this is a low-budget film and it shows. Fleshtones are pretty accurate, but pale in a few spots. Overall, the close-up shots offer the best imagery, but the background is almost always washed out.

The Sound

Within a few seconds of Preacher's Kid, it's apparent that it's all about the music. There's some booming club music, as well as club chatter. However, the main event is the gospel, and the DTS-HD Master Audio track uplifts the audio to an above-average level. The sound dubbing and foley work, however, stinks. When characters wail, they rarely match the audio. We were waiting for the kung fu to break out in some spots. Still, it sounds pretty good and it should, since music is the movie's main focus.

The Extras

Music is the message -- and the focal point of the extras featured on this release. There's 8.5 minutes about the movie's actual music, which includes props to Tim Miner, a real-life pastor and composer for the film. There's also a piece on Atlanta and the film's star, LaToya Luckett. "The Prodigal Experience" is the meat of this selection, with almost 15 minutes covering the entire production, from casting to inspiration.

Final Thoughts

It's hard to spread the good word without getting a little hokey. Preacher's Kid is inspirational. It's just a shame that such good music was squandered on a predictable plotline and a few bad acting performances. As far as the Blu-ray is concerned, the image is iffy. However, the real star here is the music, which sounds great. If you're "into" this kind of film or story, then you may love it. All others will definitely want to try before committing to buy this one.

Product Details

• Actors: LeToya Luckett, Durrell "Tank" Babbs, Clifton Powell, Sharif Atkins, Gregalan Williams, Ella Joyce, Essence Atkins
• Director: Stan Foster
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English)
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: PG-13
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: May 4, 2010
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• List Price: $35.99
• Extras:
  • The Music of Preacher's Kid
  • The Prodigal Experience: Reflections on a Story
  • LaToya Luckett: A Rising Star
  • The Preacher's Kid in Atlanta
  • Additional Footage
  • Digital Copy