Favourite Son (2021)

(On TV, October 2022) Movies broadcast on the BET channel often feature tangential religious content, more from a cultural/performative axis than a truly faith/belief one. It’s easier, less controversial, and arguably more true-to-life to portray characters going to church and paying lip service to scripture than get too deep into questions about God’s direct influence on human affairs. So it is that even if Favourite Son revolves around a megachurch pastor and his two sons, it’s really a film about family politics, generational passing of the torch and other mainstream concerns. One of the brothers sings; the other writes; one of the brothers wants to start a church, the other would rather perform. Both of them have to contend with the shadow of a strict and successful father. Robin Givens’ direction is unobtrusive, and that’s the case for the screenplay as well—if you’re looking for a critique of megachurches, an examination of human egos serving heavenly ideals or even a drama that honestly engages with its subject matter, then step away before you’re disappointed. The script is not interested in anything but platitudes—the central conflict with the father is resolved in a cheap and arbitrary manner in time for the end, and every other dramatic stake seems perfunctory at best. Pacing issues probably stem from a slap-dash adaptation of the source novel. Technical credentials and acting talent are commensurate with the BET-sized budget. The result? Watchable in the broadest sense, but not particularly edifying: Favourite Son clearly aims at an audience just happy that there’s a church-themed drama to watch. Anything else is just a gift from heaven.