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"Christian Mingle" review by Suzanne 2/2/15
Premieres Sunday at 7 PM ET on Up

I'm not a Christian, but I do enjoy a good romantic comedy, especially one where the characters are real and not acting stupid or contrived, so I enjoyed this one. I think the writing and acting are very good. I think it probably should have been a TV movie to begin with; I can see why it didn't do well in theaters. It doesn't have any big name movie stars. It's a nice little, enjoyable movie, but not something most people would go see, especially when movies are so expensive nowadays.

I'm surprised that more Christians didn't flock to it like the Left Behind movie and those others, but perhaps there were just too many coming out at once, and this one got lost in the shuffle? I don't know. Perhaps because it's not as over-the-top as those other movies. Who knows these days why people go to one movie or not another.  I certainly know a lot of people on either side of the religion issue that view the other side as, at best, misguided. People are not religious may not want to go to a movie that challenges their belief system. Religious people may not want to go to a movie where different sides of the issue are shown, and belief is seen as a choice.

Anyway, if you just like romantic comedies, it's not a bad one. Unless you really hate religion or Christianity or anything to do with them, or you hate "chick flicks" of any kind, then you should like it. It doesn't drag; there are no boring parts, and there's not much to object to. It's a good movie for people of all ages because it's uplifting and has no sex or violence. It may be a little bit over children's heads, though. It's not a kid's movie, but teens might like it.

Corbin Bernsen, who became famous years ago for "L.A. Law", wrote and directed it, and he plays a small part.  His mom in real life, Jeanne Cooper, played the matriarch Katherine for years on "The Young & The Restless", and he himself was on that show, and he was also fon "General Hospital"or a couple of years as John Durant.  There's a short clip of Jeanne and Jess Walton (Jill) in Y&R in the movie, so that was cute.  Several other actors that you may recognize, who've been on soaps as well as primetime, are in the movie.  This is not Corbin's first directorial effort. He's done 8 movies. I saw his first one, "Carpool Guy", which was good. I believe this is his second faith-based movie.  I'll be interviewing him this week, so check back to see that interview by Saturday.

Lacey Chabert, known primarily for "Party of Five", stars as a young woman, Gwyneth, looking for love. She sees an ad for the dating site "Christian Mingle" and decides to give it a try. Problem is, that although she thinks of herself as somewhat Christian, she's really not. She sort of falls into that category of "agnostic". She was brought up as Christian but really doesn't go to church or think of religion at all.

Since she's an advertising person, she's used to being deceitful, so she studies up on Christianity and the bible as if she was preparing for a work presentation. People do lie on dating sites, of course, but this seems pretty unethical. I would hope that if she had just explained that she was baptized and raised Christian but now she has doubts, that she could find someone else in a similar situation on that site. Instead, she found someone who is a real Christian, meaning he's accepted Jesus into his heart and really believes in it.  She sees his picture and somehow decides that lying to him will work. Bad idea!

It's an engaging idea for a movie, though, because in some ways, the first part of the movie's not about being Christian so much as it is about being honest.   Once she realizes that lying is not cool, then she decides to find out more about Jesus.  This is not the type of movie with an easy or simple ending, although of course it does end happily. It's better written than most religious movies, most cable TV movies, and most "chick flicks". The characters are pretty realistic, and they speak in a real way, and there are many interesting issues and questions raised.

Most of the movie focuses on Gwyneth, and Chabert is winning in the role (as one might expect from someone with her background in TV dramas and movies).  Her character is the heroine, but not always likable, and she makes us take on this journey of love and discovery alongside her.

The actor who plays her new beau, Paul (Jonathan Patrick Moore) is cute and does a good job.  Saidah Arrika Ekulona plays her good friend Pam, who works in her office and gives her advice. Her boss is played by the always-funny Stephen Toblosky.  Besides finding love, Gwyneth is also working on a new project at work that she's struggling with.  John O'Hurley plays the new client that she's supposed to woo. Morgan Fairchild, who's a veteran of TV and movies, plays Paul's domineering mom (a role she can play in her sleep, I'm sure, although it was certainly odd to hear her quoting the bible) and David Keith rounds out the cast as his good ol' boy dad.

Now, of course some parts will be a little bit sappy and romantic, but that's got to be expected in a romantic comedy. For a movie about finding Jesus, it's remarkably un-preachy.  Watch it on Sunday!

Photos!

MORE INFORMATION:

CHRISTIAN MINGLE: THE MOVIE
Premieres Exclusively on UP

Sunday, February 8^th at 7 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST

LACEY CHABERT

(UP’s THE TREE THAT SAVED CHRISTMAS, “PARTY OF FIVE”)

CLICKS ON A NEW PATH TO LOVE

IN THE EXCLUSIVE TELEVISION PREMIERE OF

CHRISTIAN MINGLE: THE MOVIE

A FLIRTY, FUN ROMANTIC COMEDY INSPIRED BY THE LARGEST ONLINE DATING COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN SINGLES BY THE SAME NAME

Written, Directed by and Starring “L.A. Law’s” Corbin Bernsen

Ensemble Cast Includes Jonathan Patrick Moore, Stephen Tobolowsky,

Saidah Arrika Ekulona, John O’Hurely with Morgan Fairchild, David Keith

Debuts on Sunday, February 8 at 7 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST

ATLANTA – January 22, 2015 – UP presents the exclusive television premiere of the acclaimed romantic comedyChristian Mingle: The Movie, which follows a successful, 30-something marketing executive’s zany, belief-testing journey for love after she fills out a dating profile on ChristianMingle.com in a moment of inspired desperation to find Mr. Right.  Starring Lacey Chabert (UP’s The Tree That Saved Christmas, “Party of Five”), the UP Premiere Movie Christian Mingle: The Movie will make its television debut on Sunday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. PST. 

Produced by Home Theater Films and The Creation Lab in association with Rocky Mountain Pictures and Capitol Christian Distribution, the film is written, directed by and stars Corbin Bernsen (“L.A. Law,” “Psych”).  The movie’s ensemble cast also includes Jonathan Patrick Moore (“The L.A. Complex,” “Neighbours”), Stephen Tobolowsky (“Californication,” “Glee”), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (The Taking of Pelham 123, The Royal Tenenbaums) and John O’Hurley (A Remarkable Life, “All My Children”), with Morgan Fairchild (“Friends,” “Chuck”) and David Keith (Officer and a Gentleman, “Hawaii Five-0”).

The film is written, directed by and stars Corbin Bernsen (“L.A. Law,” “Psych”).

“In Christian Mingle, Lacey Chabert plays Gwyneth Hayden, a super-successful marketing exec who admits that the secret to her success has essentially been “Fake It Til You Make It,” said Sophia Kelley, senior vice president of programming, UP.  “While it’s always worked for her professionally, hilarity ensues and life lessons are learned when she tries to apply this laissez-faire attitude – with the best of intentions – to dating someone of faith.”

In Christian Mingle: The Movie, Gwyneth Hayden (Lacey Chabert, UP’s hit The Tree That Saved Christmas, “Party of Five”) is a 30-something marketing executive with a top-notch career, killer wardrobe, dream apartment and great friends. She thinks the only thing missing is a man. In a moment of inspired desperation, she fills out a profile on the dating website ChristianMingle.com hoping to find Mr. Right.  However, Gwyneth's attempts at impressing her dream guy end in disaster when he calls her out on her “faux faith.”  In an honest realization, she sees her superficial life for what it really is, and she’s driven to create a personal relationship with God. In the end, He delivers on the true desires of her heart: “life-changing” love. 

The film also features music from chart-topping Christian music artists, including Toby Mac, Mandisa, Shawn McDonald and City Harbor.

UP presents Christian Mingle: The Movie, a Home Theater Films and The Creation Lab in association with Rocky Mountain Pictures and Capitol Christian Distribution production.  Starring Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Patrick Moore, Stephen Tobolowsky, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Corbin Bernsen and John O’Hurley with Morgan Fairchild and David Keith.  Written and Directed by Corbin Bernsen.  Executive Produced by Matt Swanson and Charlie Schafer.  Co-Produced by James Greilick and Michael Everett.  Produced by Chris Aronoff and Suzette Schafer.  Casting by Harriet Greenspan.  Director of Photography was Scott Williams.  Edited by Benjamin Earl.  Music by Brenton Costa. 

Follow our cast at:

·        www.UPtv.com

·        Lacey Chabert on Twitter @IamLaceyChabert

·        Jonathan Patrick Moore on Twitter @JonPatrickMoore

·        Stephen Tobolowsky on Twitter @Tobolowsky

·        Saidah Arrika Ekulona online at www.mssaidah.com

·        Corbin Bernsen on Twitter @corbinbernsen

·        John O’Hurley on Twitter @ImJohnOHurley

·        Morgan Fairchild on Twitter @morgfair

About UP

UP, America’s favorite network for uplifting entertainment is a 24-hour television network that provides high-quality, diverse, family-friendly programming, including original and premiere movies, theatricals, drama and comedy series, music and holiday specials. UP can be seen in 67 million homes in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) on cable systems including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Bright House Networks, Charter and Cox Communications as well as DIRECTV (Channel 338), DISH Network (Channel 188) and Verizon FIOS (Channel 224).  As part of its mission to entertain and uplift, the network’s pro-social initiative “Uplift Someone” reminds and inspires people to do simple acts of kindness.  UP is also a service provider to its sister network ASPiRE.  Based in Atlanta, UP is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC, which also offers gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service. Follow UP on the Web atwww.UPtv.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UPtv, Twitter on @UPtv and Instagram at UP_TV.

About Home Theater Films

Home Theater Films’ (hometheaterfilms.com) goal is to strengthen family and community – the foundation of any society – through exciting, thought provoking storytelling that inspires discussion, and the creation of new tools to restore and rebuild home, community and a better world.

About Christian Mingle

ChristianMingle^® (www.ChristianMingle.com) is the largest and most trusted online community for Christian singles. In addition, ChristianMingle is a part of Gospel Media Group^®, a premier network of online Christian resources which is also comprised of Believe.com^® (www.believe.com), an inspirational faith-based lifestyle destination designed to serve the Christian community and help Christians build and live the life God intended, Faith.com (www.Faith.com), DailyBibleVerse.com™ (www.DailyBibleVerse.com) and ChristianCards.net™ (www.ChristianCards.net).

About Capitol Christian Distribution

Capitol Christian Distribution is the market leader in Christian and Gospel music distribution and represents a diverse range of chart-topping Christian films and books reaching the U.S. Christian and general retail marketplace, and the international Christian marketplace. Since this distribution division was launched, Capitol Christian has had more charting titles annually on Billboard’s Top Christian charts than any other Christian distributor and has been named Billboard Magazine’s Top Christian Music Distributor 15 times since 1995. For additional information, visit www.capitolchristiandistribution.com.

Corbin Bernsen

Corbin Bernsen comes from an entertainment family. His mother has been on the long running soap The Young and Restless for 35 years.  A graduate of UCLA where he earned a bachelors degree in Theater and a Masters degree in Playwriting, he most recently starred as Henry Spencer on USA Network’s hit original series PSYCH.  He was first catapulted to stardom during the 1980s by the hit NBC TV series, L.A. Law. He was nominated for both Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his performance as Arnie Becker on the show that virtually created the ensemble drama as we now today. Along the way he hosted Saturday Night Live, and guest starred on Seinfeld and Star Trek to name a few notable television appearances.  In the feature film arena, he starred in the comedy Hello Again, followed by other critically acclaimed roles in Disorganized Crime, Wolfgang Peterson’s Shattered, The Great White Hype, and as the Cleveland Indians’ third baseman-turned-owner Roger Dorn in the extremely popular Major League series of films.  Other film credits include Lay the Favorite with Bruce Willis and The Big Year with Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson. He also appeared with Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  Recently, Bernsen has moved to the other side of the camera, directing the films Carpool Guy, Dead Air and Rust, which was distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.  With Rust, Bernsen shifted his focus to family friendly movies and formed Home Theater Films.  25 Hill, which he also wrote and directed, is the first title from his newly formed company and was distributed by EchoLight Studios in July 2012.  This was followed by 3 Day Test (2012) and Beyond the Heavens (2013), also released by EchoLight Studios.  His most recent film, Christian Mingle The Movie, starring Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls) was released in October 2014 by Capital.  Bernsen lives in Los Angeles with his wife of 24 years actress Amanda Pays, and their four sons.

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