INTO TEMPTATION
Review from Variety
By Rob Nelson
A Catholic hemed indie of occasionally irreverent wit, "Into Temptation" is appropriately tough to resist, particularly as its cup runneth over with intoxicating turns by TV regulars and eager unknowns. The second feature by Minneapolis-based actor-writer-director Patrick Coyle, whose sly "Detective Fiction" graced Sundance in 2003, this handsomely shot DV pic falters only in its hokey characterization of a suicidally depressed but fastidiously responsible hooker (Kristin Chenoweth), whom a scruffy young priest (Jeremy Sisto) deigns to save.
First Look Intl. will release a DVD in late October, following a handful of arthouse dates. Sisto's endearingly droll performance begins with his crossword puzzle-clutching Father John taking confessions from a variety of eccentrics, including Chenoweth's Linda, a prostitute who's planning ahead to meet her maker. Trolling the city's red-light district for the elusive woman, the sleuthing priest gets spotted outside Sex World by an upstanding parishioner, discretion be damned.
Throughout the film, Coyle strikes a near-perfect balance between humor and holiness, shrewdly attributing his narrative contrivances to divine intervention. Tech credits, including Russell Holsapple's gentle piano score and David Doyle's vivid work with the Red camera, are righteous despite a modest offering plate.
