‘Judas Project’ Needs Dose of Divine Imagination

“What if Jesus Christ came for the first time in 1993?”

That’s the provocative question being posed in radio commercials for the evangelical fantasy film “The Judas Project.” (The 1993 part isn’t meant to imply it happened and we missed it; rather, the ads just haven’t been updated since the feature had a regional run in the South last year.) Hypothesizing how the Son of God might act in modern times has long been a discussion topic for church youth groups, and this is the picture that dares to posit some answers.

Would a modern Christ socialize with sinners in beer bars? Answer: Yes, but he’d have a cup of joe. Would Jesus spread the word on “Oprah”? Sorry, no. Would he shop at J. Crew? Yes.

But writer, director and songwriter James H. Barden is less interested in the creative possibilities of this millennia-crossing than in simply producing the Passion Play in modern dress, badly. Jesus is named “Jesse,” the Judas figure is--hey!--”Jude,” it’s “Pete” who thrice denies Christ, and that’s as imaginative as it gets. If a mysterious cartel of world leaders assassinated a modern Christ, how would they do it? By, um, crucifying him.

Most movie-savvy Christians will feel more embarrassed than inspired. Much of the low budget appears to have gone into a few superior special-effects skylines produced by veteran Richard Edlund. But as the thunder clouds part, a glow surrounds “Jesse” and the basso profundo Almighty announces, “This is my son, with whom I’m well-pleased. Listen to him,” the devout most of all may be praying for a Pythonesque punchline as divine relief.

Blessed are the cheesemakers, indeed.