On DVD: One Punk Under God: The Prodigal Son of Jim and Tammy Faye

Directed by Jeremy Simmons

Starring Jay Bakker, Amanda Bakker, Jim Bakker, Tammy Faye Mesner

Anyone who remembers the spectacle that was the rise and fall of televangelist Jim Bakker and his mascara stained wife Tammy Faye will instantly be intrigued to see what type of preacher their son Jay became. The answer is in One Punk Under God: The Prodigal Son of Jim and Tammy Faye, recently released on DVD by Docurama.

The Series

Jay Bakker, after the Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker scandal, dropped out of high school. He started listening to punk music and getting lots of tattoos and piercings. He developed a significant drinking problem. Jay’s life couldn’t be further away from what was expected from a childhood raised in the church.

One day, he decides to leave the path to destruction and get back on the straight and narrow. He rediscovers his faith and decides to start his own church, albeit worlds different than his father’s. He starts Revolution, a church that reaches out to those shunned by traditional churches. Most of the members have long hair, tattoos, piercings and look decidedly different than the average church attendee. Another big difference: Revolution is held in a bar. You read that right, a bar.

The series follow Jay through his daily life. He makes a return visit to Heritage USA, the retreat and amusement park started by Jay and Tammy Faye Bakker. Today, it stands in ruin and is the catalyst for many memories for Jay, some good and some bad.

Jay and his equally tattooed wife Amanda also visit Tammy Faye, who is in very poor health due to her struggle with cancer. They also make a visit to Jim, who has remarried and now produces and stars in a local television religious program.

All the while, he preaches the gospel to those that attend his church services in the local bar. He weathers the fallout after making the decision that gays and lesbians are just as welcome in his church as anyone else and have the right to attend and be open about who they are. Life is bumpy for Jay, filled with good days and bad, but nothing too unusual. That is until Amanda decides she would like to go back to school. Except, she doesn’t want to attend school in Atlanta, she wants to go to New York City. Will Jay leave his congregation behind to go to New York with Amanda?

One Punk Under God is not a glossy presentation of Jay’s life. It shows his struggles and the painful relationship he shares with his mother and father. It seems the scars of his childhood are still raw and not completely healed.

He has a solid relationship with his wife Amanda, even though she rails against being defined as a “preacher’s wife”. She is understandably wary of Jim because she knows the pain he caused in Jay’s life.

Even if you aren’t a supporter of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker or a supporter of any phony man with a pompadour pushing religion on the tube or preacher of any sort in general, One Punk Under God: the Prodigal Son of Jim and Tammy Faye isn’t about religion. It is about one man’s journey to discover who he is and what he is meant to do in life.

8/10

The Video

One Punk Under God: the Prodigal Son of Jim and Tammy Faye is presented in the original full frame aspect ratio. The colors are vibrant. While it does have the “look” of a show produced for television, the overall look of the transfer is respectable.

7/10

The Audio

One Punk Under God: the Prodigal Son of Jim and Tammy Faye is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. The dialogue is crystal clear throughout. While it is not the most dynamic mix, it is suitable to the material presented.

7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

One Punk Under God: the Prodigal Son of Jim and Tammy Faye is presented in a standard amaray case with artwork suitable to the show presented.

There isn’t an abundance of bonus features on this release. There is the expected trailer for the show as well as trailers for other Docurama releases. ‘

A selection of outtakes is offered for your viewing pleasure, as well as a photo gallery.

6/10

Overall (Not an Average) 7.5/10

The Review

The Series 8/10

The Video 7/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 6/10

Overall ( Not an Average) 7.5/10

-Suzie Lackey