Mass Appeal

 (1984)

Mass Appeal Blu-ray features mediocre video and great audio in this enjoyable Blu-ray release
Should a priest tell his congregation what they want to hear instead of the truth? That's just one of the issues raised in this witty and thought-provoking film version of Bill C. Davis' Tony-nominated Broadway hit. Jack Lemmon is Father Tim Farley, a complacent priest in a wealthy suburban parish who drives a Mercedes and cracks jokes from the pulpit. Along comes idealistic Mark Dolson, a radical seminarian who accuses Farley of "song and dance theology". The result is a head-on clash that teaches each man the true meaning of faith.


For more about Mass Appeal and the Mass Appeal Blu-ray release, see Mass Appeal Blu-ray Review published by Brian Orndorf on December 16, 2021 where this Blu-ray release scored 3.0 out of 5.

Director: Glenn Jordan
Writer: Bill C. Davis
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Zeljko Ivanek, Charles Durning, Louise Latham, Alice Hirson, Helene Heigh

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Mass Appeal Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf, December 16, 2021

Perfect casting doesn't come around very often, but when it happens, it's a real treat for movie fans. 1984's "Mass Appeal" has perfect casting, with Jack Lemmon hired to play the part of a priest. Not just a man of God, but an old-school priest who lives to entertain and inspire with his sermons, loves to kick back with some cocktails, and generally deals with church business at arm's length, preferring to be a man of the people. Lemmon was specifically built for these kinds of roles, and he singlehandedly elevates "Mass Appeal" with his spirited, layered performance. Thankfully, there's material to back him up, with the feature an adaptation of a play by Bill C. Davis (who also scripts), providing fascinating ideas on faith and service while Lemmon commands the picture with his thespian gifts, offering a lived-in feel to a potentially stuffy endeavor.



Father Farley (Jack Lemmon) is a staple of the community, charming parishioners with his sermons and attention to personal problems. He's newly tasked by Monsignor Burke (Charles Durning) to mentor seminary student Dolson (Zeljko Ivanek), out to tame a stubborn deacon who challenges church teachings, upset that others in the school were asked to leave due to a homosexual relationship. Farley isn't fond of Dolson's blunt ways, but the pair start working together to develop the young man's presence in church, trying to turn him into a priest Burke is comfortable with. However, such an education doesn't sit well with Dolson, who has a past of his own in need of deeper consideration.

Director Glenn Jordan does an impressive job removing the staginess of "Mass Appeal," finding ways to change locations while introducing different characters. The feature moves while dealing with intimate subjects of truth and faith, finding a rich conflict to explore between Dolson, the young, brash student ready to confront the world, and Farley, who's a comfy sweater of a priest, refusing to challenge his parishioners with difficult ideas. The men are opposites, and "Mass Appeal" enjoys exploring their division, which weakens as they get to know each other, trying to find a way to work together.

Mass Appeal Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from an older scan of the feature, which resembles many previous Universal catalog titles. Slight filtering is present, softening fine detail, presenting a limited view of facial surfaces and costume textures. Exteriors are also restrained. Colors are aged, but warmer interiors of the church and offices are appreciable, along with more defined primaries, such as Farley's green Sunday outfit. Delineation struggles with the deep blacks of the priest uniforms, losing some information. Source is in decent condition.

Mass Appeal Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix isn't challenged, primarily dealing with dialogue exchanges, which sound a tad fuzzy, but intelligibility isn't threatened. Scoring cues offer dramatic support, with louder brass and assorted instrumentation.

Mass Appeal Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:36, HD) is included.

Mass Appeal Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

Ivanek commits to a potentially unpleasant part, working to humanize Dolson, who's introduced a man who enjoys confrontation, only to reveal a deeper passion for updating church laws, which connects to his own personal history. It's a capable performance, and Durning is just as commanding, basically playing the villain of the piece as Burke is close-minded and paranoid about public opinion. Most viewers sitting down to watch "Mass Appeal" are doing so because of Lemmon's participation, with the celebrated actor emerging as the soul of the story, delivering a performance that's filled with frustrations and confusion, though Farley is best explored through the delicate details of his hectic schedule. He's a practiced glad-hander and comfortable priest enduring a profound shake-up of his sensibilities, and Lemmon nails the nuances of the part, ideally suited to communicate the raw nerve aspects of the writing. "Mass Appeal" isn't a thunderous overview of church politics, offering a milder sense of exploration and conflict, which works with the more contemplative mood Davis creates and Lemmon absolutely nails.

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