Get a taste of Father Stu...
Check out Mark Wahlberg's latest movie – about a mouthy, down-on-his-luck boxer who joins the priesthood after a near-death experience – at sortedmag.com.
Based on a true story, Father Stu is an unflinchingly honest, funny and ultimately uplifting drama about a lost soul who finds his purpose in a most unexpected place. It hits British cinema screens at Easter (from 14 April).
When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long (played by Wahlberg) moves to Los Angeles. dreaming of stardom. While scraping by as a supermarket assistant, he meets Carmen (Teresa Ruiz), a Catholic Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her.
But surviving a terrible motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others find their way, leading to the surprising realisation that he is meant to be... a Catholic priest.
Despite a devastating health crisis and the scepticism of Church officials and his estranged parents (played by Mel Gibson and Jacki Weaver), Stu pursues his vocation with courage and compassion, inspiring not only those closest to him but countless others along the way.
Father Stu is written for the screen and directed by Rosalind Ross, and stars Wahlberg in the title role, alongside Oscar winners, Gibson and Weaver. The convincing Ruiz (who starred in Narcos) also makes a significant contribution to this most compelling of films.