Tulsa

Although it's usually fun to watch an alpha male's heart soften thanks to a precocious child, this Christian drama requires serious suspension of disbelief and suffers from stilted performances. The filmmakers mean well, of course, and the final act is authentically poignant, but for most of the movie, Tulsa comes off as a confused -- and confusing -- story. It's not a typical feel-good comedy with an unlikely adult-and-kid duo, and it's ludicrous to think that social workers would entrust a man like Tommy with the care of a girl who has yet to be verified as his daughter. Tommy's substance dependency is also depicted in an unrealistic manner, and the unfunny way in which he threatens the "mean girls" at Tulsa's school falls completely flat. Eventually there are a few more believable elements, but a lot of characters -- social workers, nurses, doctors, school officials -- act in ways contrary to what audiences would expect, given the urgent circumstances.

Another issue with the dramedy is that Tulsa herself is initially unlikable -- she's dictatorial and unkind to Tommy -- but audiences won't be able to fault her for wanting Tommy to shape up, stop drinking, and start acting like a father. Young Birch isn't at fault; she's one of the better actors in the movie, with the preacher, played by Cameron Arnett, being another standout. The rest, particularly Pryor and Johnson, don't adequately convey the emotional range necessary to connect audiences to the screenplay. Faith-based communities looking for another sentimental story specifically about the need for religious transformation may be more forgiving, but those simply looking for entertainment will be disappointed at Tulsa's amateurish acting and inauthentic plot points.