- Director: Adam Anders
- Actors : Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim, Antonio Banderas
- Dubbed: : Spanish
- Studio : SONY
- Number of discs : 1
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Media Format : Digital_copy, Blu-ray, Subtitled
- Run time : 98 minutes
- Release date : January 16, 2024
We may have had four Spider-Man franchises in
the last two decades, but that is nothing compared to the number of times the
nativity story has been revisited on film. Whether it is a sincere dramatic
retelling like The Nativity Story (2006), an animated revision like The
Star (2017), or a docudrama like Why the Nativity? (2022), there
always seems to be a new approach to the familiar old story. Journey to Bethlehem
is no exception, revising the story of Christ’s birth with a popular young cast
and the structure of a lighthearted musical. Although the film is live action,
it carries the tone and sensibility of an animated children’s film, shoehorning
in silly comedic elements to go with the goofy over-acting and mildly catchy
songs.
As a lower
budget film produced by the faith-based company, Affirm Films, Journey to
Bethlehem does attempt a sincere retelling of the biblical narrative, even
if the filmmakers can’t help but simultaneously revise it with modern politics.
Even while staying true to the spirit of the story, Journey to Bethlehem tries
to update it by shoehorning in feminist ideology. In this version, Mary (Fiona
Palomo) goes from being a faithful servant of God to a feisty young woman demanding
the type of opportunities typically reserved for men. Mary is initially
resistant to the idea of an arranged marriage to Joseph (Milo Manheim) because of
her aspirations to become a teacher, but he slowly wins her over with his
charm.
The film also
attempts something few nativity narratives have before, showing the doubt of
those around Mary and Joseph when she reveals her pregnancy. Predictably, Joseph’s
family members initially assume some impropriety led to the conception, and it
is only the faith of the young couple that convinces others. Unfortunately, the
jealous King Herod (Antonio Banderas) also believes in the miracle and sends
his forces to prevent the young child from being born and fulfilling the
prophecy, resulting in the king’s downfall. But even this threat is not taken
too seriously, as the tone of Journey to Bethlehem remains light
throughout.
Part of what
keeps the film so lighthearted, in addition to the silly comedic relief in many
of the supporting performances, is the musical numbers. With cast members who
are better known for their musical careers, including Lecrae, Moriah, and a
member of King and Country, there is a heavy emphasis on the musical interludes.
In many ways, the film feels structured around these moments, and they may be
the greatest asset for those who appreciate the style of music. But for those
who are grown adults or don’t enjoy musicals, Journey to Bethlehem has
very little to offer.
The Blu-ray
release comes with a digital copy of the film in addition to the high-definition
disc. The film itself visually resembles a cheaply made TV-movie, so there isn’t
much demanding a high-definition presentation. The Blu-ray disc does come with a
handful of special features, including 3 deleted and extended scenes and a
handful of promotional featurettes. There are five featurettes, though none of
them are especially in-depth, mostly just capitalizing on the popularity of
certain cast members with young audience members.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4/10
Historical
Significance: 3/10
Special Features: 5.5/10
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