Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk

2017

1 hr. 35 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

Reviews

98%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

A teenager discovers many pleasurable things that his family and religion frown upon during the Reagan years.

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Audience Member

This is a really intriguing story about a teenager trying to figure it out. Trying to figure out his sexuality as what he knows so deeply goes against his religion. These types of stories are eye-opening, especially if you've never lived anything like this. This film is real, and we need more real films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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kyle s

This is a fascinating coming of age story, about a young man's struggle with his own desires and the pressures of the adults around him. The directing and the acting are excellent, and the story really holds your interest the entire time. The film is compelling and is a fascinating character study.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk is a semi-autobiographical story about a young man (Gabe) who is struggling with his faith and the rules he must abide by. All while dealing with the conflicts and wants of a teenage male. Programmed to believe one way, while questioning things that differentiate from church rules. Interesting tale and well told. Based on the novel by the same name.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

Good performances or original theme Believable story about a young Jehovah witness, interesting characters. The young man goes through his ups and downs as a normal teen, some comedic moments some narrated thoughts. I am not sure what town its in but I personally like movies that are original with their own theme.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

I decided to check out this new movie because it sounded like the type of indie coming-of-age movie that I tend to like, well that and I was curious about Eric Stoltz's directorial debut, and Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk did not disappoint. The film is a really interesting story about a young man who is having to deal head on with sexuality as he is getting older, yet balance that with the fact that he is a Jehovah's Witness. Now I wasn't that familiar with what being a Jehovah's Witness entails, but it became clear that this created a unique yet still relatable situation for the lead character and many of us watching who have had to deal with perhaps different, but similarly conservative upbringings. One of the early scenes is an incredibly awkward encounter where the guy doesn't even know what to do with bare boobs in front of him. If you're interested in a well made indie coming-of-age film that deals with the complexities of maturing within a conservative religion, then definitely check out Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk! Highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

At the intersection of hormonal overdrive and the social programming of a young Jehovah's Witness comes the rad '80's throwback, "Confessions of a Teenage Jerk," the film adaptation of Tony DuShane's infamous book by that same name. Famously, not every great read translates to the big screen, but with DuShane penning the screenplay, it's easy to see why this one hits across the board. Gabe (Sasha Feldman) is said teenage jerk. It's tough to say he's got his Rebel Yell on quite yet, but questions surrounding his family-provided faith are starting to seep through his newfound cracks. Like many faiths, inheriting this one apparently comes with prerequisite responsibilities levied by pressure from a devout family (pops is a church elder) and the religious institution they exist to serve. Yet Gabe also finds himself as a lad overwhelmed by the conflicting ravages of testosterone, and from that dichotomous push-and-pull, a highly enjoyable film is born: Gabe's loins implore him to get laid, yet his well-conditioned mind implores him to serve his God and play the long game. Along the way, Gabe pays witness to his cousin's breasts; elsewhere, confessions to "accidental" sodomy are offered by a clearly repentant church husband. Gabe somewhat innocuously falls in disfavor of his church, causing further cracks along the fault lines of the family dynamic, where all is already not too well (dad has a hair trigger temper, and mom is an escapist boozer). Typical American family, then, is Gabe's. In the balance, "Confessions of a Teenage Jerk" succeeds in projecting far beyond the confines of its religious footprint: God or no God, so many of us have negotiated life's early tug of war in which our hand-me-down game plan must be reconciled with one that speaks to us personally. From that standpoint, "Confessions of a Teenage Jerk" has a truly broad-based appeal as a terrific piece of entertainment worthy of our collective indulgence.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Eric Stoltz

Director

Sasha Feldman

Gabe

Nicholas Harsin

Peter

Kit DeZolt

Kien

Lauren Lakis

Karen

Paul Adelstein

Allen

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Michael Rechtshaffen

Los Angeles Times

As the storyline progresses, the inevitable truths and hypocrisies that Gabe encounters along the way unfortunately serve to throw that sharply attuned comedic-dramatic touch out of balance, resulting in an unsatisfying, uneven third act ...

Feb 22, 2018

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Joe Leydon

Variety

A disjointed dramedy about the disillusionment of a young Jehovah's Witness who cannot resist sins of the flesh.

Feb 22, 2018

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John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

Insider details don't compensate for clumsy storytelling in a portrait of teen disillusionment.

Feb 20, 2018

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Tony Asankomah

GhMovieFreak

Gabe's story also provides a good basis for introspection, especially amongst young adults growing under any faith.

Rated: 5/10

Jun 8, 2020

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Synopsis

A teenager discovers many pleasurable things that his family and religion frown upon during the Reagan years.

Director: Eric Stoltz
Executive Producer: Denise Fedorchuk
Screenwriter: Tony DuShane
Production Co: Trees of Shade
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2018

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