The Perfect Stranger

I saw something really amusing while I was watching the TVGuide channel tonight. I noticed that a movie called "The Perfect Stranger" with a summary that included the words "an uncut erotic film" was on TBN. On TBN? TBN? Trinity Broadcasting Network? So, of course, I had to flip to channel 60 and check it out. It was the opening credits to the movie and it said it was "The Perfect Stranger." And scrolling across the screen was "Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)programming is now available on Channel #18. Channel 60 TBN will go off air on Monday, May 15." I started to giggle. "So the movie they air now that TBN has moved is some uncut erotic movie. You've got to be kidding."

I had to watch some more. But thankfully, I had misread something along the way. There was not an inappropriate movie on what was just two days ago the Trinity Broadcasting Network. In fact, it was a Christian movie. And it was a pretty good movie. I usually expect them to be so cheesy that I have to change the channel, but I found this movie very interesting with a very catching premise. The movie is about a female attorney who gets an anonymous dinner invitation. When she shows up to dinner, an attractive man in a suit, very business-like, introduces himself as Jesus. She, of course, thinks it's a joke or that he's crazy. But she remains at the table, and he persuades her to talk to him as if he were Jesus.

95% of the movie is their conversation over dinner. Questions she has. Intellectual doubts. Personal hangups. It was actually really good. Of course, there was some level of...I wouldn't say cheese, but just awkwardness the way questions were asked. It was so obviously a movie reaching out to nonChristians with those kinds of questions. But still, the answers were good and worded in a way that made sense. I kept waiting to jump on one of his answers. But no, it was good. I was impressed. I wouldn't be opposed to my nonChristian friends watching that movie. I would tell them that it's just an interesting way to think about those questions and not to expect an Oscar film. And at the end, there was even a moment, when I sighed and said "dito."

But what would a Christian movie without making me roll my eyes. Jesus walks her to her car and they have a touching goodbye. Then she gets in her car and sits down, her face went from tears. She turns her head, looks out the window, and in the distance is Jesus walking away. But it isn't the blonde attractive man in a business suit. It's the traditional image of Jesus. Long dark hair. Fair skin. Beard. Traditional garb. I was slightly annoyed that they had to revert back to that image. Not that I am opposed to that image. I just thought the movie was going so well. That it was different. It didn't have to go there. That's why I rolled my eyes a little. But overall, I really liked the movie. I thought it was good.

And what a thought: dinner with Jesus, live and in person.