Jesus (John Turturro) is released from prison and greeted by his friend Petey (Bobby Cannavale). They embark on an aimless journey, seizing an opportunity to steal a muscle car from hairdresser Paul Dominique (John Hamm). They then encounter an acquaintance, Marie (Audrey Tautou), and invite her to join their unconventional escapade.
John Turturro famously portrayed the memorable bowling aficionado Jesus in the 1998 cult classic The Big Lebowski, written and directed by the Coen brothers (Fargo). The Jesus Rolls is marketed as a sequel or spinoff to The Big Lebowski; however, this proves to be misleading. While Turturro reprises his role, viewers expecting a bowling-centric narrative will be disappointed. Despite the trailer’s emphasis on the Lebowski character, bowling features in only one brief scene, and the remainder of the film struggles to maintain engagement.
John Turturro both wrote and directed The Jesus Rolls, which is, in fact, an American adaptation of the 1974 French film, Les Valseuses. While the original title translates literally to testicles, it was released in Sweden under the more palatable title Flörtkulorna (The Flirting Balls). The core issue with The Jesus Rolls lies in its near-identical replication of the source material. Turturro essentially translated the original film into English, making only minor adjustments to nudity and the ending. Given the significant cultural shifts since 1974, the script would have benefited from modernization. As it stands, the film feels dated and, despite being promoted as a comedy, lacks genuinely humorous moments.
The Blu-ray release exhibits adequate visual quality but suffers from low audio levels. The amplifier required unusually high amplification to achieve a satisfactory volume. The picture boasts agreeable color reproduction and acceptable black levels in darker scenes. The release includes no supplemental material, apart from a few trailers for other films. Fortunately, the Blu-ray’s price point is relatively low, which somewhat justifies the basic nature of this release.
As previously stated, the Coen brothers were not involved in this production. Turturro was granted permission to utilize the character from Lebowski due to his significant improvisational contributions to the original role (including the signature bowling ball licking). Therefore, viewers should avoid assuming a direct connection to the character from Lebowski. The shared name is merely a superficial similarity. This film diverges significantly from the expectations set by the trailer. A more compelling and well-executed narrative might have warranted a more generous assessment; however, the film’s lack of engagement and outdated sensibilities necessitate a corresponding rating.
