The last showings at this year's East Lansing Film Festival included a largely underground mockumentary about a Christ-driven group bound and determined to convert the world through their improv comedy sketches.
"Comic Evangelists" is directed by Daniel Jones and Dann Sytsma, and it was shown alongside another comedy, "The Detention Teacher," by Ben Weeks. Both comedies were remarkably deep for their apparent lunacy, and the shorter "The Detention Teacher" warmed the atmosphere for the more obscure mockumentary feature.
But the actors would have their audience believe the group of evangelists is real - people set in their convictions to convert anyone possible. The group protested the showing of its own film at AFI FEST 2006, claiming it was misled and portrayed as "biggots" and "intolerant."
"Comic Evangelists" is the story of a socially inept group of Christians from Kalamazoo making a trip to Toronto for an improv festival at the behest of group leaders Rick, Noah and Nigel. Each has a quirky and unique character - Rick, the rock-solid front man; Noah, his childish sidekick; and Nigel, a guy who the audience quickly finds out is gay, despite his group members' denial and ignorance.
To make matters worse, accompanying the group is Jerry Gautier's athiest - and divorced - neighbor, who quickly becomes the group's "project."
To get into the film, the group was supposed to submit an audition tape, but Rick adamantly explains to the group this measure is unnecessary - he simply needs to send a letter letting them know "they're coming."
Through a strange turn of events, the group manages to get onstage, but under a different name.
Although the group is highly unsuccessful in converting audience members to Christ, its abnormal and often immature interactions with one another are guaranteed to keep the laughter coming.
But for the group, this film is not just about the laughter - the cast is all part of a real improv group called Crawlspace Eviction, based in Kalamazoo. To make the film, Jones followed the group as it made its way to Toronto to be real participants in the Toronto International Improv Festival.
In a short question-and-answer session that followed the film, the directors explained their motive was to show the hypocrisy of fundamental beliefs. While this film chose to poke fun at fundamental Christianity, the directors explained this lesson applies to any set of beliefs.
The road to "Comic Evangelists" was Jones' "search for something funny and new." He used his background in documentaries and his interest in comedy to make the mockumentary. Much of the inspiration was based on true stories and his desire to put an over-the-top spin on everyday situations.
"Oh," Jones said with a slight pause, "you won't regret going to see our movie."