The Pastor and the Pro (2018) User Reviews

Cheaply produced, but well made.

[chipsqueak · 6/10 · 11 November 2018]

The story of the Pastor and the Pro is much better than the seeming intrigue of the set up. The performances of the main stars are pretty good. Campbell is believable in the role of a working girl trying to tempt a virginal pastor, and Cox plays a convincing single pastor torn between holiness and self righteousness. The extras are cartoonish and the production quality is poor, but the writing is pretty strong. The struggles of the main characters seem real and their responses seem true to the characters. The movie was very funny, but not the farce that the title would suggest. The use of dramatic irony is funny and effective. A couple of the jokes don't land, but I feel that is more an issue of the edit and sound quality than of the writing, acting or directing. All in all, one of the better low budget, faith focused films I have seen.

An Okay Rom-Com

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 25 April 2019]

"Jacob" (Travis Lincoln Cox) is a really nice guy who serves in a church while anxiously waiting to be ordained. Unfortunately, the fact that he is young and single works against him with his superior "Pastor Campbell" (Phillip Keiman) who doesn't quite feel comfortable with him yet. On an entirely different note, however, is the fact that Pastor Campbell's conniving niece "Leah" (Monika Holm) definitely likes Jacob and often tries to use her relationship with her uncle to pressure Jacob into dating her. So when an important Christian leader by the name of "Dr. Callahan" (Andrew Tribolini) accepts an invitation to visit the small church, Jacob is essentially told that in order to be invited he must bring a date-presumably Leah. But rather than bringing her, Jacob decides to ask his neighbor "Rachel" (Kelly Cunningham) to come instead. The problem is that Rachel is a prostitute and she not only wants to be paid but also has one major condition that Jacob has to agree to as well. And this creates all kinds of problems for him. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a cute film which started off rather well but tapered off midway through the picture. Yet even so, both Travis Lincoln Cox and Kelly Cunningham performed quite well and if not for the lackluster ending I would have rated this film slightly higher.

Watch and Wonder

[dawabut · 6/10 · 13 January 2019]

This movie is a little gem whose splendor is to be viewed with wonder. It tackles the political tug of war between sex and religion with humor allowing us to question those things that we are told not to talk about in public. Go ahead I dare ya, watch and wonder my friends, watch and wonder.

Good little film. Enjoyed it. Good script.

[DroogEditor · 10 November 2018]

The story was good, the script as well. Acting was very good. Cinematography, editing, production design were not developed and merely technical, which was a pity as they took away from the good acting instead of propelling it..

Other reviewers are hung up on the religious aspect. To me it was not so much about religion as it was about a person's convictions being tested.

Well done to the actors.

Amazing !

[budgetted · 2/10 · 11 March 2019]

Had no idea that a feature could be made without actors.

Proof that mild titillation is no substitute for dialog, delivery and plot.

Attraction isn't Love...

[sibarkn · 7/10 · 1 June 2020]

To resume the movie and after research about clerical uses... In this film, a pastor has attraction for a beautiful harlot. But at some point, he has to choose if he wants to marry her, because that's the way a pastor is living love (marry someone faithful before the ordination or stay single). Unfortunately, the girl has no faith in god, and should get divorced before marrying him (two things not really appreciated by the church). For those reasons, attraction isn't enough for the pastor to abandon his job life and have sex with the girl, and that's why reviewers were so frustrated about this drama. It's a spiritual choice... a religious conundrum... not a comedy. By the way, acting was good, and the story well written. The path a little slow but enjoyable if you consider the low budget. Good film !

Modern day Hosea

[pastorirv · 3/10 · 29 January 2019]

Good movie. I recommend it. Kelly Cunningham is great.

Charming Indie

[gc0825 · 7/10 · 26 April 2019]

This isn't a cookie cutter studio film. It's a little off kilter. That's good. Both leads give fun performances. Good for pizza and a movie night with SO

Waste of time, failed ending!

[stevepat99 · 1/10 · 7 October 2020]

Title and story line seemed ok, some kind of religious version of Pretty Wman...NOT! Main actor did a poor job but story sucked. Really, a hooker who we learn cheated on her husband and left a boring marriage to embark on the exciting life of prostitution. And, for all her efforts lives in a motel room. What did she do with her $400/hr earnings??? While we root for her when it seems she wants a better life the film ends leaving her exactly where she/the film began. A failed screenplay that boils down to will the wanabee priest be seduced by a beautiful seductress? Boring to the end.

Extremely good movie, let down only by a mediocre conclusion.

[rayjaymor · 6/10 · 30 December 2019]

This film has some amazing things going for it. The performance by Kelly Cunningham is superb, and whilst the rest of the cast is decent as well she definitely carries the fim.

The camera work and film quality are also quite good.

The writing is amazing with clever and entertaining dialogue and interesting characters. I was hooked and laughing most of the way through the movie.

It seems to fall apart late in the third act however where a lot of intricate and clever webs are weaved but the writer didn't really know how to end it.

The final twist in the story seems unnecessary and only serves to leave us with a relatively disappointing conclusion that makes the ending feel extremely rushed and disjointed.

Go No where religious propaganda

[mcfrsn · 2/10 · 10 November 2018]

Could of been a medium rom-com but ruined with bible/faith bull. I gave it a 2 only because the actress/prostitute was the only one with any acting skill. There is no god who is a loving heavenly father. The only entity possible would not love you any more than a cancer cell. It's only goal would be to maintain this reality, to evolve as a whole.

Totally Different

[bshpx-01456 · 9/10 · 1 February 2019]

I was curious about this movie based on the title, with low expectations.

Very pleasant surprise. Female lead was great with a lot of witty clever lines, making for an interesting combination of humor and drama.

Rachel Jacob Leah

[Bill-412 · 6/10 · 31 October 2019]

References to Bible characters not too subtle. Kernel of a good idea, but somehow too slow and talky, even though a short film. The two women leads are good, not much else to compliment.

Christian Trap

[amazonprimetrial · 1/10 · 4 March 2019]

The irony of a movie about honesty being actually a deceptive trap to trick people into the religion agenda. One star for the hot pro.

So So at best

[davidba-78586 · 5/10 · 15 September 2020]

The best thing about this movie was the female lead. The male lead was not good, very wooden. Most other characters were cartoonish

Poor Acting; Great Message

[bbbutler-37914 · 7/10 · 18 November 2020]

Except how Cunningham rendered the character of Rachael, the rest of the cast could have used a few acting lessons and some better lines from the writers.

However, the actual message of this film was a fairly good demonstration of the grace of God as actally represented in Scripture. Most of the American and British media represent the Chrisitan faith as conservatism, mere moralism, conformity to societal standards or a form of cultural nationalism; either that or a foil for the triumph of iiberal humanism against an oppressive angry, judgemental and/or remote God or rebellion against the hypocracy of the sourrouding impersonal, industrial, oppressive capitalist society disguised as Christianity--anything but a message of the grace of a holy God for those he came to redeem.

This one actually demonstrated what real grace is about on a personal, human level. That's rare. It's not the best script by far, but the idea is close to a fairly accurate representation of what the Cross is about, al least on a pedestrian level.

Haven't been more disappointed in a movie in recent years

[swalker-17305 · 2/10 · 1 December 2020]

I was hesitate to even start the movie, but decided to give it a try. Even with the poor production values, the movie had heart. I was intrigued with the characters. I was curious as to how the pastor and the pros relationship would progress. At this point the movie was a 7 or 8.

Then the movie simply stopped. It didn't end, it stopped. Seldom do I wish for a movie to be longer than it is, but this 78 minute movie needed to be 90.

It resolved nothing. It didn't resolve his faith. it didn't resolve their relationship. In fact, it showed the preacher to be a coward.

I will admit that I based most of my likes and dislikes on how a movie ends. This one hit the jackpot on bad endings.

amaturiesh

[eyesh-97835 · 2/10 · 14 January 2019]

Religious propaganda, Bad acting, (kelly, so so) can not believe that in 2018 people still make this garbage

Can't take my eyes of it

[comensart · 10/10 · 2 December 2018]

Very interesting. Reminded me some early works of Louis Bunuel and Ingmar Bergman.

Great acting by Kelly Cunningham.

[gopalannair-sureshkumar · 9/10 · 14 November 2018]

Worth to see the movie for the effortless acting of Kelly Cunningham...Except acting and the script other deparments did not do much. Otherwise this would have been a great movie.

good story, moved and real, realistic

[groundhsiango · 9/10 · 10 December 2018]

This kind of story happened on most normal people mostly, however, they set this plot in this movie, so i doubt what they want to imply? the stubborn church regulation and traditional value? the discourage and hypocritical church worker? coward and inferiority prostitute? Honestly, it gives me an important revelation about dealing this kind of issue. Actually, they love each other. Just give more time to each other, they may become a pair of faithful lover!

Unique fun!

[petermgreen · 10/10 · 25 February 2019]

While there are so many repeated storylines and cliches in movies, this movie was a breath of fresh air! For the budget that they were working with, it's absolutely great. I didn't think anything came across as religious propaganda although obviously centered around the church. It's just a fun and compelling storyline that I very highly recommend! I hope Matthew Wilson has more opportunities in the future!

watched it twice and will probably watch a few more times

[rogersmailbag · 8/10 · 25 May 2020]

Kelly Cunningham...why is she not busier ? she was wonderful, as was the actress who played Leah (the Pastor's niece.) I read somewhere that this movie cost $11,000to make, so how 'bout y'all bashers on here go make a better one for $11,000...i'll wait.

Actually pretty good

[olawoyinn · 8/10 · 11 December 2018]

The title threw me off but it certainly was not what I expected. The ending was quite nice.

Unbelievable effort for an amazing low budget. Well done.

[billwelch-73996 · 8/10 · 30 April 2019]

Ok... I didn't like the ending... but the entire movie otherwise was pure joy. Wonderful effort by a very talented entrepreneur, director and actor. I read a Wall Street Journal article that said he only spent $11,000 to make this film. AMAZING! Well done. Fun to watch.