One early, ominous sign of trouble in "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul." is that its main characters — a beleaguered pastor and his "first lady" — cannot agree on something as simple as how to pronounce "Amen."
It's an amusing detail in a not-great movie that features two standout lead performances. Gifted and versatile Regina Hall stars as the first lady. She's trying to keep it together despite an at-first-unspecified scandal that has drained their megachurch — Wander to Greater Paths Baptist — of nearly its entire congregation. Hall is droll and very touching as Trinitie, especially when she's confronted by a seemingly supportive former congregant in a mall. Their exchange, which is all about the nasty insults they just barely avoid dumping on each other, is Jane Austen-esque in its restraint and biting humor. But it also underscores that Trinitie may be the only true believer in the movie.
Sterling K. Brown, the star of "This Is Us," is terrific as Lee-Curtis, whose double name is a clue to his double life. Brown's character doesn't provide him as many opportunities to flex his acting muscles as Hall's (she's the star of the film and gets the top billing she deserves) but he walks a fine line — speaking platitudes while also using language unbecoming a longshoreman — and navigates the tonal shifts confidently.
