This week on "Justin Hall At The Movies," I'll be reviewing Mark Wahlberg as he fights for redemption in "Father Stu."

Father Stu is another faith-based movie that does have trappings of sermonizing and other religious themes that are as subtle as a sledgehammer to the forehead.

However, this one based on a true story, actually has earnest, sincere and committed performances from its cast to make sure it's not bogged down in a two-hour service.

Mark Wahlberg stars as Stuart Long, an amateur boxer who hangs it up in the ring and decides he wants to do something else with his life. Jacki Weaver plays his mother who tries to be supportive even when Stuart's life becomes a train wreck after getting into bar fights and DUIs.

Mel Gibson costars as his father and together they have a dysfunctional relationship that only intensifies after they reenter each other's lives. Gibson's performance is one of the high points of the movie, bringing a rugged, gritty charm to an unsympathetic character.

Stuart decides he wants to be an actor and spends his days working at a supermarket to get practice on how to interact with people to perfect his skills. That all changes when he encounters a girl named Carmen (Teresa Ruiz) who catches his eye. She's a devout Catholic and can't be with anyone who isn't baptized.

Soon Stuart starts going to church and learning all he can to try to impress Carmen, but a motorcycle accident leaves him thinking differently about his life and he arrives at the epiphany that he should become a priest. Of course, his parents and Carmen all think he's making the wrong choice and his father in particular, has some strong reservations which leads to some genuinely funny dialogue:

"You joining the priesthood is like Hitler joining the ADL."

Stuart goes on to apply, but the leadership (Malcolm McDowell) doesn't believe Stuart's image and reputation represents their establishment, but Stuart is persistent and they eventually give him a shot to prove himself.

While Stuart is learning the tricks of the trade, he suffers from inclusion body myositis which weakens his muscles. Still, he perseveres to answer his calling.

Wahlberg is unabashedly committed to the role and his journey does have the aforementioned trappings of wrestling with his faith and doing his best to change his life. He's the centerpiece of the film and we clearly see his heart is in every scene which is quite often.

The movie was written and directed by Rosalind Ross, Gibson's real-life girlfriend and she creates a story without a hint of unpredictability, but also with a measured dose of humor and harshness. This is not a family-friendly film.

Even when the movie treads into its inevitable preaching to the choir, it manages to balance its structure out with performances that make the material shine in a lot of scenes. They alone are worth the price.

Father Stu may or may not win converts to its message and I think it may walk through the valley of a mixed reaction, it does have enough elements to surpass most faith-based schlock. That's definitely an answer to a cinematic prayer.

Grade: B+ (Rated R for language throughout.)