Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul
As our country becomes more polarized and we grow further apart, we see divisions are happening in more walks of life. Almost everything is causing a divide. Seemingly in the middle of this divide is the American Christian Church. In a country that is continuously progressing, American Christianity always finds itself, or places itself, in the center of that progression. That placement makes the division around most issues interesting and quite complicated. Most of America still identifies as Christian, even though that number is dropping, just like church attendance. Which makes the American Church being positioned (and positioning itself as well) on the opposite of so many important issues. This all makes for American Christianity being the perfect punchline, especially in a more progressive Hollywood. The American Church, and its leaders are the subjects of the satirical comedy, recently released on Peacock, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.
On its face, Honk For Jesus, is fairly simple. The mega church, its leaders, and the American Church as a whole are squarely in the crosshairs of writer/director Adamma Ebo’s film. The hour and 40-minute comedy is a direct hit on its targets, by skewering the hypocrisy of the prosperity gospel found in a lot of mega churches. Even in the midst of a pretty serious scandal Pastor Lee Curtis Childs and his wife Trinitie, appear to be oblivious to how far they have fallen. Bringing in a film crew to film their “comeback” may be the greatest example of how little self-awareness they have, both of their current circumstances but also in general. The microscope that Ebo places on the couple and by proxy the religion as a whole, is at times quite damning.
Its mockumentary style is the perfect format for its satire. As we tour the Childs’ mansion, we see all their cars and follow them through a walk-in closet that is bigger than my bedroom. We get a first-hand look at what the couple is about. The more they explain what we are seeing, the more boisterous it sounds. While I begrudge no one their success, that level of success leading a church runs counter to the religion. Their “prosperity” message is a bastardized version of the gospel and leads to pain for many people. You can see exactly why when watching the Childs embark on their comeback.
Honk For Jesus is at its funniest when satirizing the ridiculousness of this endeavor and some aspects of modern American Christianity in general. Praise miming is completely ludicrous and definitely something over serious church folks would find appealing. The overly religious vernacular that essentially turns every phrase into something holy is so dead on and hilarious. The small details that those in the church see on a weekly basis are parodied so perfectly that you can’t help but laugh and more importantly see how ridiculous it can be. However, it satirizes the religion best when you peel back the humor and see the hypocrisies. Lee Curtis and Trinitie become examples of how a religion that’s foundation lies in loving others and sacrificing for a greater good is used to manipulate, gain success and ultimately hurt an entire community of people. And while that can be funny to laugh at when decorated this way, it’s also incredibly sad.
The more I think about Honk For Jesus, I feel sad because of the depth to mine underneath what is obvious. What it has to say about American Christianity and its leaders is apparent, and mostly spot on. However, there is much more to this film than a critique of the hypocrisies within the American Church. That is more of a trojan horse for what is truly interesting and quite sad, which is the two characters at the center. Pastor Lee Curtis Childs is the lead pastor of the megachurch, the main focus of the documentary they are trying to film, and the source of the church’s (and by proxy his family’s) downfall. He’s also a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that is equally captivating by both being genuinely entertaining and a trainwreck.
Sterling K. Brown inhabits this character in spectacular fashion. He brings this showman to life. He is a ringleader of sorts. Pastor Lee Curtis is his persona. Someone that is so lost in the fame, recognition, and validation of his position that he has lost his grip on reality. It is as sad as it is obvious. While Pastor Lee Curtis is so lost that he fails to recognize that he is hurting a lot of people, his wife included. He doesn’t even truly recognize his current position. There is no redemption for Pastor Lee Curtis in Honk For Jesus. Not because he’s too far gone, but because redemption isn’t actually what he wants. He wants what he lost and is willing to make his pain, and his sins worse to get it. Ultimately, what you get with Pastor Lee Curtis is less of a nefarious character that represents the evil powerful men that can exist within Christian leadership, and more of a sad man who brings about the same pain.
Behind this sad man lies the film's most interesting character and the most powerful aspect to this story. Trinitie Childs is such an interesting character because she is complicit in much of what makes Pastor Lee Curtis a harmful person in his situation. As first lady of the church she experiences her own fame and notoriety, which may not be as big as secular fame but it is just as toxic. With that she is a walking example of the hypocrisy of their success. However, their fall from grace is having an effect on her that is missing with Lee Curtis. There is an understanding growing in her over the course of the film. She certainly wants the life she had before his scandal, but she becomes aware of the ridiculousness of their comeback and her husband’s obliviousness.
Regina Hall leaves earth with this performance. The depth she infuses into this performance creates quite the complex character. Trinitie Childs’ entire world is crumbling right underneath her. Even with the brave face she puts on for the camera, we slowly see her process the reality of that. More importantly, we see her process that her circumstances are of no fault of her own. Which takes the film to its deepest and most valuable place. Trinitie Childs is a woman who is fiercely loyal to her husband. A man who has betrayed, lied and ignored her. This loyalty can be chalked up to her love, but it appears it is attributed more to who she is. An illuminating conversation between her and her mother shines a light on the DNA of Trinitie as a wife. As a Christian woman, her loyalty is a part of her upbringing. Divorce isn’t an option, even when the crumbling of your life is because of your spouse.
By the film’s end, we see a woman who isn’t just wrestling with her circumstances. Her faith, core beliefs and marriage has fallen apart. Everything that has ever defined her has betrayed her and it’s a devastating conclusion because never once does anyone in the film reach out to help her process it. That loneliness and lack of agency isn’t foreign in American Christianity. To see this woman and her whole life at the mercy of this man is sad to see. However, the strength and will of Trinitie Childs is admirable. We watch her get to a place of full realization and take the steps she needs to move forward. Whether or not it pans out is both unknown and irrelevant, because it’s about her standing up and finally speaking for herself after what is, more than likely, a lifetime of not doing so.
Honk For Jesus accomplishes so much. It’s jam-packed with important themes and commentary that provides very much needed insight. Its observations on American Christianity are in the forefront and poignant, but this film is much more. Ebo is able to take these complex characters and present them in complete honesty, while keeping their humanity. Pastor Lee Curtis and the First Lady are cautionary tales. We laugh at their desired redemption because we see that it is fueled by greed and self-importance, but we also see that they are victims of the very fame that they are desperately trying to get back. They don’t know what to do without the admiration and validation that was once ever present. While that is no excuse for some of what they’ve done, especially Lee Curtis, it’s still sad to see these caricatures.
Ultimately, it’s the film’s empathy that is so strong. We see the flaws of all the characters, even the documentary crew. We see the flaws of how they are practicing and presenting the gospel, and how the American Church is the perfect petri dish to bring out the worst in them. In one sense the film is absolutely hilarious. But in another it is incredibly sad. To find that balance, all while presenting so many astute observations is a remarkable accomplishment.
