When John Did His Baptism Thing

JESUS CHRIST. SUUUPERSTAR. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE WHO THEY SAAAAY YOU AAAARE?! 

In all seriousness though: this musical is bonkers. Partly in a good way. Partly not so much. 

With a cast of people I don't know (and Rik Mayall) and a theatre style MDF set, I can't imagine this film had a particularly big budget. So, essentially, the story and the acting needed to make up the difference. 

I have to admit, the story was pretty ridiculous - which is odd because it is pretty much the New Testament: the songs have turned it into a bizarre West Side Story thing, with the two sides being Christians and Romans. From an atheist, feminist point of view - my own - it's nice that Mary Magdalene is female lead, or "Mary Mags" as my friend Emily has nicknamed her. 

But then again, it's hard to have any specific view on religion when watching this. You tend to get so wrapped up in the pure insanity of the fact that Judas is doing a bad Michael Jackson impression, or that Herod owns a burlesque club, or that the infamous Temple-turned-shopping centre is now selling TVs and pole dancers, that religion is put to one side. Despite this, I don't think this film could be considered disrespectful to religion in the same way that films like Life of Brian have. Jesus is still very much a hero in the face of adversity.

In conclusion, then, this film probably falls into the 'so bad, it's good' category. If you watch it and expect a biblical epic, then you will be disappointed. But watch it for a laugh and a couple of genuinely very good songs - Herod's and the Roman Guard's songs amongst them - and I promise you, you won't be.