Chris Dowling’s "Bad Counselors" Delivers a Fresh, PG-13 Take On the Faith Comedy Genre
Let’s face it, folks:
Comedies are tricky business. In my book, the line between a memorable comedy and a forgettable one is a very fine one. If a filmmaker focuses too much on delivering laughs-a-minute, you completely lose the humanity of the characters. But if they lean too hard into the heartwarming stuff, you’ll inevitably have people screaming “YOU CALL THIS A COMEDY!?” and spewing their partially chewed popcorn all over the theater floor (gross).
So when my good friend and consistent encourager Chris Dowling reached out to me with a screener for his latest project, I was eager to see how he navigated that aforementioned line. By the way, if you haven’t read my reviews on two of Chris's other films, Roll With It and Where Hope Grows, do yourself a favor and check them out here and here.
His new flick is called
Bad Counselors, and YAY! FINALLY! We have a fresh, original storyline on our hands.
Before I dive into the nitty-gritty, let me give you the long and short of it (don’t worry, it’s mostly the short of it): Two frat bros find themselves in a mountain of trouble after a wild night ends in handcuffs and a campus police escort. The ultimatum? Knock out 120 hours of community service in two weeks or face expulsion. Their absolute genius solution is to pose as counselors at a local Christian youth camp, where every sing-along, campfire devotional, and trust fall counts toward the clock.
Just one problem (okay, three): they don’t like kids, they hate camping, and they have barely set foot in a church. Now they have to learn the lingo, fake the faith, and hide the flask while dodging suspicious pastors and prankster campers.
Check out the official trailer below to see exactly what I'm talking about.
Now, a quick word of warning for my fellow parents: this one is not for the youngest of families. It’s rated PG-13 for suggestive material. After all, it’s hard to authentically depict a college frat house in a perfectly G-rated way. While I’ll admit there were a few innuendos in there that I personally could have done without, the film does a commendable job balancing its more mature premise with a deeply meaningful message.
The pacing is solid, thanks in large part to a stellar cast of fun, quirky characters. Matt Cornett (playing Grayson Fuller) deftly leads the troop with seeming ease, while Ramon Reed shines as Tyler Newman, the indispensable "side bro." Together, they deliver a double portion of levity and emotional depth throughout the film’s 95-minute run time.
And speaking of the cast, I simply must tip my hat to a few standout performances:
Brec Bassinger (Jenna) delivers a beautifully grounded "girl next door" performance, navigating the awkwardness and excitement of a blossoming camp crush with applaudable authenticity.
McKaley Miller (Becky) is a blast. Everyone watching will want to be her friend (though not her crush, for reasons you will see when you watch). Random side note: she has a really cool voice.
Nathan Gamble (Dallas) is equal parts likable and reeeeeeeally not likable. No spoilers here, but he is a glorious bundle of quirk, jealousy, and Shakespeare.
Keep your eyes peeled for a fun cameo by @joechristianguy himself (Joe Navarro) as the aptly named “Harry the Hipster.” I highly doubt this film will be his last.
The Kids: Man, the child actors did a spectacular job. Dowling has a real gift for directing young talent. Dominic Lopez (as Shadow, left) and Brayden Gleave (as Patrick, right) are absolute scene-stealers.
In many ways, Bad Counselors feels like a summer camp movie from a bygone era. If you have ever made memories at a Christian youth camp, this movie is going to bring them all flooding back. (Fun fact: I once spent a summer recruiting for my college, which meant spending eight weeks at different Christian camps in a single season. I'm pretty sure I still haven’t fully recovered.)
One thing I appreciated about the writing (kudos to Dexter Masland, Ryan Gunnarson, and Taylor Grabowsky) is how intentionally they avoided the typical faith-based film tropes that have been under fire in recent years. Instead, they chose to poke fun at those clichés in what appears to be a good-natured, "friendly fire" sort of way.
At its core, the overarching theme is about searching for God in all the wrong places. The main characters chase plenty of cheap substitutes (frat parties, success, popularity) but those all pale in comparison to the Real Deal (aka Jesus). Additional themes of friendship, authenticity, and selflessness are also present.
There really aren't many films serving this specific audience right now (faith-based, but tailored for an older, teenage-and-up crowd), so if you love the idea of an “edgier” Christian film that is both genuinely funny and unapologetically meaningful, please go support it.
Bad Counselors is playing in theaters for a limited run from July 22–27 only. Grassroots support is everything for films like this, so don't wait for streaming! Grab your family (gently and respectfully, of course), head to the theater, and make a night of it.
Now it's your turn! Drop a comment below and share your absolute wildest summer camp memory. Are you planning to catch Bad Counselors during its limited run? Let me know below!
