The Passion Live

Name: The Passion Live
Item: The Passion Live
Rating: 4
Author: Emily Ashby

Movie review by

Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 9+

(i)

Stirring modern-day musical retelling of Easter story.

NR
2016
120 minutes

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age 9+

Based on 1 review

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We think this movie stands out for:

Character Strengths

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

This production sets the passion story in modern-day, urban America, so familiar scenes are less familiar at the outset, but the overarching messages of kindness, loyalty, friendship, and love are evident throughout. Though the story is rooted in Christianity, Perry points out multiple times that these themes exist independently of religion itself and can translate to every person's experience. Similarly, interviews with people following the illuminated cross through the streets of New Orleans touch on the themes of overcoming darkness and of resurrection, both that of Jesus and what the city has experienced since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Other mature themes include murder, as a mother talks about overcoming the sadness of her son's death.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Jesus is the ultimate role model, self-sacrificial for the salvation of his friends and the world in general. Mary's dedication to her son is evident as well. The story also shows the more sympathetic sides of Judas and Pontius Pilate, both of whom lament the actions they take in sealing Jesus' fate.

Violence

An altercation among Jesus, the disciples, and police in riot gear shows some physical struggles and ends with Jesus being led away forcibly. Later he's shown in handcuffs, flanked by cops, and condemned by the crowd. The narrator describes the crucifixion -- talking about spikes driven through his hands and feet, agonizing pain, and eventual death -- but none of that is shown.

Sex

Language

One instance of "hell" in song lyrics, and graphic descriptions of Jesus' agony, crucifixion, and death.

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that The Passion Live tells the 2,000-year-old story of Jesus Christ's passion, death, and resurrection in the modern setting of urban New Orleans. Host and narrator Tyler Perry introduces famous scenes such as the Last Supper and Jesus' agony to a live audience, advancing the story between the prerecorded segments that use current music from the likes of Imagine Dragons, Jason Mraz, and Jewel. At the same time, a procession of people carrying a cross travels the city toward Perry's location, and some of the participants give brief interviews about how the experience affects them. There's obvious emotion in the cast's performances and in scenes that show the live audience's reactions to affecting moments in the story, but even though there's discussion of Jesus' agony and death (Perry details the crucifixion process and how death finally occurs), none of it is presented visually. The translation of this familiar story to this modern-day setting will be confusing to some kids, but for those who get it, it's very moving to watch. And even though it's obviously rooted in Christianity, Perry reminds viewers that its themes transcend religion and relate to basic matters of human decency.

Adult Written byLowe's man September 7, 2016

age 9+

a glorious retelling

This modern day version may be hard for young children to follow. Even so, it is amusing, as viewers contemplate what Jesus would've gone through had the... Continue reading

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What's the story?

Tyler Perry hosts and narrates THE PASSION LIVE, a modern retelling of the story of Jesus Christ's last hours, death, and resurrection. Set in New Orleans and featuring music from Creed, Whitney Houston, and Katy Perry, among others, the story bounces between Perry's summations delivered to a live audience and prerecorded shorts set throughout the city showing Jesus (Jencarlos Canela) and his disciples sharing a last meal, discussing his imminent fate, being betrayed by Judas (Chris Daughtry), and eventually being condemned to death by Pontius Pilate (Seal). Also juxtaposed are scenes of an oversized illuminated cross carried through the city to Perry's stage, as well as moments when Mary (Trisha Yearwood) contemplates her son's fate and Peter (Prince Royce) denies Jesus, before the story ends with Christ's triumphant resurrection.

Is it any good?

This stirring production is unlike any previous rendition of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which makes its appeal somewhat hit or miss. To tell the story in such a piecemeal way -- interspersed with live narration and stage entertainment, plus a roaming reporter conducting man-on-the-street interviews as the cross journeys more than a mile to the main stage -- is no small undertaking, and the production team deserves praise just for pulling it off. That said, it takes some time to wrap your mind around the idea of Jesus riding mass transit and hitting a food truck for Last Supper supplies (loaves and fishes, of course), and the frequent interruptions for interviews with people in the cross procession are somewhat jarring to the story's fluidity. Ultimately this type of spin on this revered story is a stretch some viewers might not think is worth the effort.

But for those who don't mind a little unorthodoxy to their Easter story, The Passion Live delivers heartfelt performances from a talented cast and a surprisingly effective use of secular music to explore the characters' emotions and the story's themes of love, friendship, and triumph. Who knew that Imagine Dragons' "Demons" could so effectively set the tone for Judas' betrayal or that Jewel's "Hands" could have been written for Mary's devotion to her son? Even if you've never thought of these songs as having faith-based undertones, you will reconsider their message after hearing their place in this story.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about this presentation's effectiveness. Could you easily follow the parallels between the Easter story you know and the version the cast acted out? Did any parts not work for you? Why do you think the story omitted the crucifixion altogether? Did that help or hurt the overall effect?
Does this production seem geared toward believers alone, or does it aim to lure other viewers as well? To what degree can the story's themes relate to secular life as well as religious influences?
Discuss the use of music in this show. Did the modern songs work well in communicating emotion rooted in this religious story? Will having watched this change how you interpret these and other songs in the future? How does music move you? Inspire you?