What Would Jesus Buy? (2007)

An examination of the commercialization of Christmas in America while following Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from... See full summary »

Director:

Rob VanAlkemade

Stars:

Adetola Abiade, Paul Allen, Paul Norman Allen

Cast

Credited cast:
Adetola Abiade	...	Alto
Paul Allen	...	Tenor
Paul Norman Allen	...	Paul
Paul Norman Allen	...	Tenor
Shannon Baxter	...	Soprano
Rick Becker	...	Trombone
James Solomon Benn	...	Choir Director / Choreographer
Reverend Billy	...	Reverend Billy
Ben Cerf	...	Bass
Misun Choi	...	Soprano
Ben Dubin-Thaler	...	Bass
Savitri Durkee	...	Church Director
Leah Farrell	...	Tenor
Gina Figueroa	...	Alto
Mike Flthye	...	Drums

Storyline

An examination of the commercialization of Christmas in America while following Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse (the end of humankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt.) The film also delves into issues such as the role sweatshops play in America's mass consumerism and Big-Box Culture. From the humble beginnings of preaching at his portable pulpit on New York City subways, to having a congregation of thousands - Bill Talen (aka Rev. Billy) has become the leader of not just a church, but a national movement.

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Plot Keywords:

consumerism | christmas | new york city | debt | sweatshop | 

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Taglines:

The movie Santa doesn't want you to see!

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material and brief mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Warrior Poets Releasing, LLC [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bentonville, Arkansas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$9,527 (USA) (16 November 2007)

Gross:

$196,990 (USA) (28 December 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Palisades Pictures, Warrior Poets, Werner Film

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The Safeway (about 40 minutes into the film) identified as Oakland, is in fact in Berkeley.

User Reviews

Glory, Hallelujah!

This is a giddy,goofy little film with a vital message....ease back on the excessive consumerism. Reverend Billy (Bill Talen) is a performance artist that looks a bit like Elvis with a blonde Pompadour & delivers his messages much like one of those old time fire & brimstone preachers. The only thing is that instead of pounding Jesus down every body's throats (much like the Baptists do), Rev. Billy speaks out against the dangers of shopping. He takes his wife (who wears several hats as director of the performances,choir master,etc.)& his congregation on the road to speak out. A myriad of things happen on the road:some good,others not so good. One of the high points of the film comes when Rev.Billy & company go to Disneyland & manage to touch more than their share of raw nerves there. It kind of reminded me of that sequence in Terry Gilliam's 'Fear & Loathing In Los Vegas',when Hunter Thompson (Johnny Depp)drops acid at a casino in Vegas that resembles a circus (get the picture?). I'm told that there is another documentary about Reverend Billy out there. If the fates are good, perhaps I'll get to peruse that one,as well. CAVAET FOR THE BIBLE THUMPERS:Although religion isn't really slammed in Talen's performances,this film could be offensive to any & all fundamentalist Christians that are satire challenged and/or humour impared (in short:any body that wields religion as a weapon of mass destruction..please stay away from this film, so the rest of us can have a good laugh without fear of you going postal in the cinema during a screening of this very funny film)