Review of Mr. Church (2016) by Michael F — 20 Dec 2016

First, let me say that Susan McMartin's script is strong and solid. The film opens in 1971, with Mr. Church (Eddie Murphy) preparing breakfast for a single-mother, Marie (Natascha McElhone), and her daughter, Charlotte (Britt Robertson). The arrangement was set up by Marie's former (and now deceased) lover, who knew she was terminally ill.

As the film progresses, Charlotte, an average student, comes to appreciate the arts through Mr. Church. We come to see that he is a master chef posing as a cook, a legendary jazz musician masquerading as a stranger, and an iconic painter hidden behind a private man. The film captures well the many beautiful talents that humanity has lost (and still loses) due to systemic racism. But McMartin is no armchair warrior; she and director Bruce Beresford wisely show us Mr. Church's inspiring talent, all of which is captured quite gracefully by Mr. Murphy.

While Mr. Church grows closer to the Brooks family, McMartin is wise enough to leave out a romance between Mr. Church and Marie--he becomes a part of the Brooks family, but it isn't until the end of the film that we realize just how much this means to him.

Natascha McElhone gives a solid, credible human performance as Marie without being overbearing or overdramatic in the role of a terminally ill mother. Britt Robertson plays the role of Charlotte as an intelligent, emotional young woman, and does so in such a way that one can see that there comes a time in the film when Charlie can't remember her mother not being sick. Robertson's profound acting accomplishes this without it ever being explicitly in the script.

If you are hungry for a great story in an age of predictable popcorn fare, MR. CHURCH serves a masterpiece.