By Mallory Mattingly
Angel’s newest feel-good comeback movie, THE HAIL MARY, is available to stream online.
“Sister Kathleen (Marsha Dietlein Bennett) sees divine purpose when she meets Jake Bauer (Daniel Roebuck), a broken man needing redemption. She offers him a job at Mary Immaculate School for Boys, then convinces the grudging man into creating a football team for the troubled teens. Evolving into a father figure, Bauer starts to face past decisions that haunt him while reigniting his faith in this feel-good story,” a synopsis of the movie reads.
Daniel Roebuck, who directed, wrote and starred in THE HAIL MARY, credited his Catholic school upbringing for his ability to relate to his character.
“I had such a positive experience growing up in Catholic schools and in the church, and I’ve always wanted to tell a story that reflects that; something people could relate to, with a sense of humor,” Roebuck said in a press release. “We even used my old school as the rival team’s location in the film, which made it all the more personal.”
He told Movieguide® that the sisters who ran his childhood school helped foster his creativity.
“I ended up in this school where the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia — I don’t know if they’re any different than any other group of religious sisters — but you know what? They got me. I think that’s why I wrote the movie, because they never impeded my attempts to be funny,” Roebuck told Movieguide®. “First grade, I came in and said to Sister Kathleen, my teacher, ‘I wrote a play.’ She said, ‘Uh-huh. You wrote a play.’ I remember holding these papers, saying I wrote a play. Now, Kathleen knew something I didn’t know — I didn’t know how to read or write. She knew that. So how in God’s name did I write a play?”
“Well, my idea of writing a play was drawing pictures and saying, ‘This is a play.’ And she said, ‘Let’s do your play,’” he recalled. “That’s such a huge moment. I know a lot of us have a great teacher story, but that is so indicative of who those religious sisters were. They were able to see whatever spark of God was in me.”
“This is a story about second chances,” Roebuck added in the press release. “Not just for one man, but for anyone who’s ever needed a reminder that grace doesn’t give up.”
Movieguide®’s gave THE HAIL MARY a -1 content score for some light language and violence. Part of the review reads:
THE HAIL MARY is a moving and unexpected Catholic comedy with good performances, strong writing and directing, and a powerful message about forgiveness. The movie has a strong Christian, moral worldview with many positive references to God, Jesus and prayer. A character refers to another as an answer to prayers. Several characters promote and practice helping others who suffer from loneliness, prayer, gratitude, compassion, forgiveness, and honesty. THE HAIL MARY has brief foul language, some verbal insults, brief violence, a few suggestive references, and some drunkenness. So, MOVIEGUIDE® suggests light caution for younger children.
THE HAIL MARY is streaming exclusively on Angel. It will arrive on other streaming platforms April 21.
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– Content: +3