First off, I think it's worth giving credit where credit is due - it's been long past time for satirists and comedians to nut up and give us a parody of overtly religious and conservative films. They're almost parodies of their own ideologies themselves, but there's a big hole in the market for the Airplane or Hot Shots of Christ based exploitation films. Jesus, Bro! tries to fill this need.It doesn't succeed, but points for trying.They say to write what you know, so of course our main character is a YouTube star famous for sitting on a couch and ranting about something. This time, it's atheism. Honestly, the early scenes of Rick are as earnest as the film gets, as even in his overblown, exaggerated rants, he's not much worse than some people who actually exist on YouTube. But his life changes when his girlfriend (who's joke is that she only talks in exposition! It's funny because... bad movies do that?) realizes his atheism is more important to him than her and breaks up with him. She then goes off to immediately have 20 kids offscreen instead of doing something equally fundamentalist Christian that could have been enjoyable for the audience to watch.Rick drinks some craft beer brewed with holy water and passes out into a vision where he meets Jesus. But not really Jesus, it's Santa Christ from Nostalgia Critic for no reason.Brad Jones, despite still holding affiliation with Channel Awesome, has largely been independent. His channel covers several review niches, he has his own group of co-conspirators with varied tastes and opinions on media, and he maintains good relations with former CA contributors like Allison Pregler and Phelous Porteous. Which is why it's so disappointing that for this film, instead of developing his own vision of Jesus and the devil, he leans on Rob Walker's Santa Christ character and Malcolm Ray's devil from Nostalgia Critic. There's really no reason for it, other than maybe it was a condition for the Walker brothers and Fard Muhammad to appear in the film. It's the sort of cynical connection to the embattled Channel Awesome brand that makes this feel less like an intelligent parody and more like an extension of an exhausted meme.The film kind of goes on and on and on from there, with Rick going from over the top atheist to over the top Christian. This is where a good parody would have delved into the sorts of imagery and media cues that films like God's Not Dead use to comment on how those creators use the media for their message. But I suppose that's my own fault for expecting subtle comedy from a movie called Jesus, Bro!It's way too long for the amount of material they had for this story, and it shows. And yet, it's still the most competent non-review piece of media to ever come out of the Channel Awesome ecosystem. I wanted to like it, and I keep wanting someone from this group to actually go and watch their own reviews and learn some lessons about how not to make a bad movie. But seeing as the next offering will be a sequel to the Cinema Snob movie, I'm not holding my breath.

Brought to us from the same duo that made "The Cinema Snob Movie" and "Paranoia", here is a smartly written and humorously executed comedy that is a satire on the Christian based films that (for the most part) aren't particularly well written or executed. "Jesus, Bro!" plays with the tropes and themes of such films as "God's Not Dead", "Old Fashioned", "War Room", "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas" among many others and does it in a way that isn't hateful or mean spirited, but rather joyous in the absurdity of it all. The story revolves around an internet figure called the Rickhead, or simply Rick as the movie goes on, who is a very vocal atheist online that spreads around ridiculous opinions about why he can't get a chicken sandwich on Sundays because his favorite restaurant closes for church on those particular days. The film starts out by giving a small glimpse of what life seems to be like for Rick; having a Christian girlfriend, Elizabeth, who speaks almost completely in on- the-nose, exposition dialog. His camaraderie with his also Christian best friend, Carlos, who is such a "black best friend" stereotype it's hilarious. For the most part, Rick is content with how...not content he is with everything. Until one night he goes out for drinks with Carlos that results in a near death experience where he meets Jesus Christ...appearing as Santa Claus...in white robes. It's a very risible scene, trust me. At that moment Rick finally becomes a believer and agrees to help "Santa Christ" gain more conversions to Christianity before string cheese turns everyone into an atheist. From there things are a laugh riot, going into over-the-top scenarios and fantastically spoofed segments on movies of this nature.Now bare in mind that this is a parody mainly of the Christian films and not actually a spoof on Christianity itself. At no point does it ever make fun of or condescend against Christianity, or any religion for that matter. The comedy, as well as the morals of the movie, are rather lighthearted and charming. Even managing to have a much more touching and endearing message in its subtext than most mainstream Christian films released as of late. While it may be poking fun at the Christian movies and even stereotypes that can be found involved in the faith, it actually does contain a very Christian moral of basically to just be a good person to everyone no matter what you or they believe in. I found that way more inspirational than anything within even a single frame of something like "War Room" or "God's Not Dead". While those movies feel more as a cynical and manipulative attempt to shine other's beliefs (anyone who isn't of the Christian faith) in a negative light while making themselves out to be persecuted innocents at every turn, "Jesus, Bro!" feels genuinely sincere and optimistic in what it wants to say. "Jesus, Bro!" calls those movies out for not truly having what it should mean to be a Christian in focus, but rather spreading quite questionable and even immoral ideologies within their themes. In that sense this film far surpasses anything distributed by PureFlix as being more of an actual Christian movie, except with a wacky sense of humor about itself.I enjoyed this movie quite a bit, is it perfect? No. While I liked everyone's performance on screen, we aren't talking awards here. There are one or two special effects that didn't quite work for myself, even for the cartoonish tone the film inhabits. And the climax felt slightly lacking in much impact, aside from morals that arises from it. However, that is kind of the point in a movie like this if it's going to play on the short comings of modern Christian flicks. Plus, it's a low budget film made mostly among a small group of friends. Am I really going to get into the technicalities of a movie like this not being a masterpiece? Hell no, I'm going to enjoy it for what it is because the movie is funny and is happy being what it is. I'm not gonna be the one to try taking that away from it. I thought the writing was sharp, hysterical when it needed to be funny but also even a little heart warming in parts. The direction was just perfect for this, appearing as most other films within the genre but always competent. The acting was all around funny, everyone plays an exaggeration of a stereotype that you would typically find in something released from PureFlix productions. David Gobble as the lead, Rick, is terrific in the role with spot-on comedic timing while somehow presenting a likable presence from a character that could otherwise be irritating if played wrong. He brings a strange charisma to someone who shouldn't be likable. Gobble is a large reason why this movie works as well as it does because with the wrong performance, the movie could have easily fumbled. I think if this interests you at all then please check it out! ...especially to see my name in the ending credits...no that doesn't sway my bias at all...just a bonus thing...my bonus thing...shut up, it makes me feel important. Oh! I almost forgot...Jesus, BRO!

A sort-of satire on the recent wave of mainstream religious hits courtesy companies like Pure Flix and personalities including David A.R. White, "Jesus, Bro!" is an entertaining and often laugh-out- loud parody from the same geniuses that brought us the popular movie- review series "The Cinema Snob." With some great laughs, likable leads and plenty of nice callbacks for fans of the Snob and other related web- series, it definitely comes highly recommended from me. And while I could bemoan a few strange and awkward moments that don't quite add up and more than a few instances of the production being hampered by an incredibly tight budget (primarily raised through a crowd-funding campaign that I happily contributed to myself), I think there's a lot of charm and good-will on display that more than makes up for any shortcomings. And I think that when it comes to such independent affairs... charm and good will on the part of filmmakers is a key to success.David Gobble stars as Rick Whitehead, an incredibly popular internet atheist vlogger who learns that he's set to win the prestigious "Atheist of the Year" award. Unfortunately, things take a bit of a turn for the worse as his gruff attitude leads to the end of his long- time relationship with religious girlfriend Elizabeth (Allison Pregler) and he suffers a near-death experience after drinking beer brewed with holy water... After learning that his life is a lie and that God and Jesus are very-much real (and that Jesus evidently likes to dress as "Santa Christ"), Rick must go on a spiritual quest to use his internet fame to convert his millions of followers and try to win Elizabeth back at any cost.In a lot of ways, the film is very much tailor-made for fans of those involved, particularly co-writer/co-producer/co-star and Cinema Snob himself Brad Jones and his other alum from Channel Awesome. It's a great bit of fun seeing performers like Pregler, Doug and Rob Walker and some other surprise cameos in supporting roles and it gives the whole feature a sort-of laid-back "let's put on a show!" vibe that I enjoyed. You get the feeling that everyone involved is having a blast and are all getting along splendidly behind the scenes, and it's a delightfully infectious feeling when you watch it. I can't help but wonder if this might be lost on those who are unfamiliar with the cast and the crew, but to me, it really helped elevate the film.Director and co-writer Ryan Mitchelle does an admirable job in his visual guidance with the material, and despite an oft-obvious lack of major funding, is able to make the best with what he has. There's some really solid cinematography and keen use of framing that I appreciated (having seen my share of micro-budget features and over-produced student films back in my college Media- Arts days... you quickly learn to appreciate simple, concise direction), and the film is never dull with its generally good sense of pacing. I also found all of the performers to be quite good in their respective roles. Gobble is definitely quite likable and Pregler is a blast with some great recurring gags that I will not spoil. Fard Muhammad rounds out the lead cast as a good friend of Rick's who helps him on his quest, and he gets a lot of moments to shine. Add to that small roles by the amusing hams that are the Walker siblings and the rest of the cast and you got a great ensemble.That praise being said, I do think that the film has some minor flaws that I can't help but address. I do think that at times it can either drag on too long or rush through things a bit too quickly. There's a few prolonged gags and sequences of dialog that could use a slight bit of trimming and a few major plot-points that could have used an extra minute or two to set-in. It's not a major flaw... but it is noticeable. I also think that in a few key sequences, they made a pretty common mistake when it comes to comedy... over-explaining the joke. And trust me, I get it. Trying to figure out what the audience is thinking is tricky. But I think it's better just to let a joke play-out without explanation and see if it lands or not rather than making the joke... then having another character reference the oddity of what happened.Still, I'm pretty darned pleased by how "Jesus, Bro!" turned out. It's very much a film for the fans (and I'm judging it by that merit, since I think it would be unfair to analyze it otherwise), and I can't help but think that fellow followers of the Snob will definitely get a big kick out of it. Some of its humor and references might be lost on first-time viewers or people who are unaware of the material its lovingly mocking. But it's all in good fun, and it's a very charming micro-budget feature from a group of people who are trying their hardest to make us laugh. And for that, I give it a very good 8 out of 10.

OK this was made on a budget of next to nothing and I don't know who's parents house they were shooting at but that house deserves a credit mentioning!Past that though this is an entertaining little movie full of inside jokes from Brad's Cinema Snob reviews and recurring characters on the nostalgia critic (yes I mean Santa Chris and Malcom playing the devil!). If you are reading this review are either already a fan of the Channel Awesome group... or one of the cast in which case HI BRAD! Jokes aside the acting in this movie was good and it was actually well written, it will keep you entertained, the sets are what you'd expect in this kind of movie though but they don't overwhelm the scene. I had two issues with this movie though. 1. The hard cuts.... they huuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttt! I get that this is a no budget movie but aside from one hard cut (made for the lovely Sarah!) they gave me whiplash, could have played up the comedic angle a bit or something.2. Compared to the rest of the cast David was a bit... ummmm well maybe not main role material? I really enjoyed the supporting cast. they were all fun to watch.I'll admit this was the first time I've actually watched a movie of this sort and I was ready for something REALLY bad, but I was pleasantly surprised, what it lacked in production value it more then made up for in charm and I would recommend it. 8 out of 10 from me. I was entertained from beginning to end which is more then I can say for some 100+ million movies I've seen recently