Plot: What’s it about?
The Catholic Church, a once proud institution, has been hammered with complains and controversy, the likes of which it has never had to endure before. The most prominent of the concerns is the rash of sexual abuse charges raised against priests, which reached epic levels in recent years. The abuse was so widespread and so publicized, even innocent clergymen have been looked on with disdain. What was once a position of trust that guided the congregation, is now viewed by many, even some faithful, as one to keep an eye on. This has indeed led to fewer men seeking to join the priesthood, but in God or the Girl, we see that faith and dedication still exists, even amid all the fallout. This series follows men who believe their destiny is to serve as a man of a cloth, to give up the worldly pleasures and serve a higher power. Even as the world seems to become more decadent, the church still demands its priests to be celibate. This not only rules out sex for recreation, but also the concept of a wife and family. The men in the series are in a period known as Discernment, in which they are right on the brink of the decision on how to proceed with their lives. The men face temptations and doubt from all directions, but will any of them choose to serve as a hand of the church?
I just watched and reviewed A&E’s release of Driven to Win, a series about NASCAR drivers, when I picked up God or the Girl. This is also a documentary style reality show, but far removed from the racetrack, as God or the Girl has more serious business on table. The series examines men on the verge of entering priesthood, which means no more women and other personal sacrifices. The show takes us inside the men’s lives as the final weeks before their decision unfold, so we watch as the final measures are taken to fuel the end result. I have to admit, the concept interested me, as religion and faith are topics I enjoy discussing, so I looked forward to this series, if only to take in the perspectives involved. I was interested in why these men would consider the path, as well as what would make them reconsider their intentions. As far as entertainment, God or the Girl isn’t fun to watch, this isn’t the kind of reality television that is staged and glamorous. But if you have an interest in how minds work and what makes people do what they do, this series offers some insight on these men. The journey taken is very personal in each case, but each story has points we can all connect to. At the same time, some of the elements are hard to relate to and can even upset some folks. But this is real life and these men face a huge decision, so this isn’t about how much fun we have as we watch. I found God or the Girl to be well crafted and while perhaps a bit too long, it still more than warrants a recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. For the most part, the images are very clean, as the episodes are only a couple years old. There is not a lot of artifacting or edge enhancement to make note of and this is right on par with most new shows that make their way to DVD. Not that true fans of the show would be deterred by video, as the laughs ensue. There’s not a whole lot to say here, it’s better than when it aired on A&E, but can’t hold a candle to some of the elite DVD transfers out there.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is about the same. Released in a stereo mix, there isn’t a whole lot when it comes to dynamic audio. The directional effects are only used occasionally. For the most part, though, this is a decent-sounding track that should please most any listener. All the dialogue is easily understandable and I am out of things to say, as far as the audio. Decent and above average. How about that?
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to a nice selection of deleted scenes, this release includes some advice from a priest and a special bonus episode.
