67%
Tomatometer
67%
Popcornmeter
6.8
TMDB
When big-city preacher Debbie Laramie (Crystal Bernard) moves to the small town of Paradise with her son Hayden (Bobby Edner), she finds the local community unreceptive to her message of love and forgiveness. Determined to get through to her stubborn congregation, Debbie uses unique methods to shake the churchgoers out of their indifference, such as inviting a homeless man to sing during one of the services. Brian Dennehy co-stars.
Welcome to Paradise (Trailer)
Budget
Not disclosed
Revenue
Not disclosed
Studios
Crystal Bernard
Debbie Laramie
Bobby Edner
Hayden Laramie
Brian Dennehy
Bobby Brown
William Shockley
Kent Dylan
Beth Grant
Frances Loren
Ken Jenkins
Reverend McNamara
Nick Searcy
Reverend Ellington
Brad Stine
John Sullivan
Danielle Dearing
Church Goer
Paul Ganus
Bart
Elizabeth Dennehy
Helen Brown
Lorilynn Failor
Twyla Twain
3 reviews · 1 critic · 1 fan
2 fresh · 0 rotten
**_Contending with strains of legalism in a small Southern hamlet_** A female minister from Dallas (Crystal Bernard) is “exiled” to a town a few hours south of the city to pastor a rural assembly. Will she be accepted? Will she be successful? Will her reluctant son adapt to life in “Hickville”? “Welcome to Paradise” (2007) is a drama involving Christians in a small Texas community, centering around the believers of a local fellowship, their new pastor, and her son adjusting to a new home and school. It only cost $500,000 so you have to have mercy. It understandably has the typical issues of low-budget productions, like questionable acting by some of the no-name peripherals and dubious geography that doesn’t resemble northeast Texas (but rather SoCal). Yet the flick has heart and that’s the most important thing. I like how this isn’t just a tale concerning the challenges of a female pastor, but also a coming-of-age story of her son, as well as a tale of redemption for believers in general who’ve fallen into one pit or another, whether legalism, charlatanism, homelessness or what have you. Then there’s the interesting commentary on the practical realities of ministry: It costs money to have a church facility and pay the perpetual bills, which means the ministry depends on generous people who have money in order to exist. If those givers are offended and leave, how will the b…
Title
Welcome to Paradise
Released
Oct 1, 2007
Rated
PG
Region of Origin
United States of America
Original Audio
English
Runtime
1h 45m
Status
Released
Studios
EchoLight Studios, Out of Pocket Films
