Probably 1 of my top 5 movies of all time. Excellent performances by Steve Martin (his best role ever), Lolita Davidovich, and Deborah Winger.Interesting religious topic that culminates with faith and truth.A tear jerker to say the least. A must see movie that incorporates comedy, drama and romance all into one (A loaded movie genre wise).Excellent presentation of circus, silver bullet, elixir for all type of traveling show on wheels. Mockery of preacher evangelism but with a serious under story in the end that leaves the audience to dig deep into their souls.Plays out faster "than an evangelist chasing his secretary", with a profound and thought evoking ending. Bravo cast a job well done. Box office take only 23 million. Definetively a must see MOVIE that you must have missed when it came out in 1992. Comparative to: An Officer and a Gentlemen (R. Gere)[email protected]

This was almost a good movie. It started out as a very honest portrayal of the hucksterism and con jobs that all religion relies on, only to fall victim to schmalz and a fairy tale ending that destroyed all of the footwork leading up to it. This could have been an important movie on par with "Elmer Gantry" if the writers and director had just resisted the urge to sabotage their own work. Steve Martin played the huckster role with genius and Debra Winger appears in far too few movies, but in reality, hucksters of this caliber never reform, if that's the right word, until scandal brings them down, and people DO get disgusted with fleecing the innocent withOUT having to believe in mythical beings. Too bad.This movie could have had some meaning if they had just stuck to real world.

God works in mysterious ways even trough a con manThis is one of the most faith inspiring films i saw hope you all take a moment to appreciate this and enjoy this one man show, and how god can have a little sense of humor using a con artist slash preacher to bring joy and hope to this townincredible the confrontation between the fake preacher and god himself proves him even with all the mockery and lies he is still used by god to spread his message and gives him a true miracle to prove him rightthis remarkable ensemble of actors is also a must see to love this history and its emotional endingGod is always there could be the message

There is much that works well in this movie - Steve Martin is playing a con man, a much fuller and better executed one than the 2nd banana he played in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', which he dumbed down with slapstick. Debra Winger is excellent as his partner in running a road ministry built on sleight of hand and working the audience like a carnival. The location shooting works for it, and the supporting cast (Meat Loaf, Philip Seymour Hoffman, MC Ganey in bleached white hair?)is mostly very good, and if you like gospel you'll enjoy this. Music trivia: listen for the song on the radio in the pickup in the first scene. What doesn't work? It ends a scene too early - Steve Martin has suddenly had his cynicism upended and the film just ends. Liam Neeson can barely keep the brogue out of his role as a Texas Sheriff (so many others could have carried this role, why him?). There is certainly a statement about faith at the end of this movie, to wit: faith finds a way even if it has to work through a con man. The payback scene, unfortunately, is very predictable: it rains. For all the dreck Steve Martin has cranked out, this one will pay you back.