Drama

Welcome to Paradise

- The road to Paradise begins with a journey of the heart.

When big-city preacher Debbie Laramie (Crystal Bernard) moves to the small town of Paradise with her son Hayden (Bobby Edner), she finds the local community unreceptive to her message of love and forgiveness. Determined to get through to her stubborn congregation, Debbie uses unique methods to shake the churchgoers out of their indifference, such as inviting a homeless man to sing during one of the services. Brian Dennehy co-stars.

Release Date : 2007-10-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : EchoLight StudiosOut of Pocket Films

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Debbie Laramie

Original Name : Crystal Bernard

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hayden Laramie

Original Name : Bobby Edner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bobby Brown

Original Name : Brian Dennehy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kent Dylan

Original Name : William Shockley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frances Loren

Original Name : Beth Grant

Gender : Female

Character Name : Reverend McNamara

Original Name : Ken Jenkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reverend Ellington

Original Name : Nick Searcy

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Sullivan

Original Name : Brad Stine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Church Goer

Original Name : Danielle Dearing

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bart

Original Name : Paul Ganus

Gender : Male

Character Name : Helen Brown

Original Name : Elizabeth Dennehy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Twyla Twain

Original Name : Lorilynn Failor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nate Twain

Original Name : Loy Edge

Gender : Male

Character Name : Donnie Bottinelli

Original Name : Michael Tyler Henry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beth

Original Name : Kelly Lazarus

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doris Fargo

Original Name : Marianne Muellerleile

Gender : Female

Character Name : Eugene Fennig

Original Name : Timothy Stack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scott Sullivan

Original Name : Michael Seaman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fred Fargo

Original Name : Jim O'Heir

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trevor Goodman

Original Name : Lou Beatty Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Church Goer

Original Name : Cynthia Boris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Snobby Girl

Original Name : Brianne Costa

Gender : Male

Character Name : Izzy

Original Name : Doug Cox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shopkeeper

Original Name : Lisa Angelina Green

Gender : Male

Character Name : Schoolyard Bully

Original Name : Bailey Huff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Valet

Original Name : Chris Kato

Gender : Male

Character Name : Student

Original Name : Kenny Kato

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bailey's Friend

Original Name : Shelby Kern

Gender : Male

Character Name : Church Member

Original Name : Robbie Moore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bailey

Original Name : Emily Pennington

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patsy Nellis

Original Name : Connie Ray

Gender : Female

Character Name : Teacher

Original Name : Leslie Riley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kip

Original Name : Evan Sabara

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chloe

Original Name : Emma Stack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gracie

Original Name : Winnie Stack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Mother

Original Name : Jennifer Titus

Gender : Female

Character Name : Waitress

Original Name : Lindsay Weems

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2023-11-16

**_Contending with strains of legalism in a small Southern hamlet_** A female minister from Dallas (Crystal Bernard) is “exiled” to a town a few hours south of the city to pastor a rural assembly. Will she be accepted? Will she be successful? Will her reluctant son adapt to life in “Hickville”? “Welcome to Paradise” (2007) is a drama involving Christians in a small Texas community, centering around the believers of a local fellowship, their new pastor, and her son adjusting to a new home and school. It only cost $500,000 so you have to have mercy. It understandably has the typical issues of low-budget productions, like questionable acting by some of the no-name peripherals and dubious geography that doesn’t resemble northeast Texas (but rather SoCal). Yet the flick has heart and that’s the most important thing. I like how this isn’t just a tale concerning the challenges of a female pastor, but also a coming-of-age story of her son, as well as a tale of redemption for believers in general who’ve fallen into one pit or another, whether legalism, charlatanism, homelessness or what have you. Then there’s the interesting commentary on the practical realities of ministry: It costs money to have a church facility and pay the perpetual bills, which means the ministry depends on generous people who have money in order to exist. If those givers are offended and leave, how will the bills get paid? You’ll have to set-up shop in a barn or whatever. The proceedings perk up whenever inimitable Brian Dennehy is present. Meanwhile William Shockley is effective as the amiable coach, who befriends the teen. At the end of the day, The flick's honest, warmhearted and even amusing, despite it's obvious shortcomings. The movie runs 1 hour, 50 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area, including Santa Clarita, which is 30 miles north of the city (for the new church and country club scenes), and Torrance, which is just south of the city (the high school scenes). I heard the conventional church was located in Los Angeles. GRADE: B-