Honestly, most critics absolutely trashed this movie when it came out in 2016. They called it overly sentimental or "saccharine." But if you ignore the cynical reviews and actually sit down to watch movie Mr Church, you’ll find something that most modern films are too scared to be: unapologetically kind. It’s a quiet story. There are no explosions, no massive plot twists, and no villains. Just people trying to get through the day while dealing with the messiness of terminal illness and unexpected grief.
Eddie Murphy plays Henry Joseph Church. It’s a massive departure from the fast-talking, high-energy roles that made him a global icon in the 80s and 90s. Here, he is still. He is precise. He cooks, he plays jazz piano, and he keeps his secrets tucked away behind a crisp white apron. The story follows a young girl named Charlie and her dying mother, Marie. Mr. Church is hired to cook for them for six months—the time Marie is expected to live.
Six months turns into fifteen years.
The Real Story Behind the Screenplay
A lot of people don’t realize that Mr. Church isn't just a random Hollywood script. It’s based on a real-life friendship. Susan McMartin, who wrote the screenplay, actually lived this. She wrote about her "Cook," a man who stepped into her life when her mother was battling cancer and stayed long after the prognosis had passed.
When you watch movie Mr Church, that authenticity bleeds through the screen. It doesn't feel like a manufactured drama because the rhythms of the household—the smells of the kitchen, the stacks of books, the gradual aging of the characters—feel lived-in. Bruce Beresford, the director who gave us Driving Miss Daisy, leans into that domesticity. He doesn't rush. He lets the camera linger on a simmering pot of stew or the way a teenaged Charlie looks at Mr. Church when she’s trying to figure out if he actually has a life outside their four walls.
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Eddie Murphy’s Quietest Performance
We need to talk about Eddie Murphy’s acting here. It’s the "comeback" that people forgot to celebrate. For decades, Murphy was the loud guy. In Mr. Church, he says more with a slight nod or a tightened jaw than he ever did with a five-minute monologue in Beverly Hills Cop. He plays a man who values his privacy to a fault.
There’s a tension in the film regarding his boundaries. He has a "night life" that Charlie isn't allowed to see. When she tries to peek behind the curtain, he reacts with a rare flash of anger. This adds a layer of mystery. It stops the character from being a "magical" trope and makes him a human being with flaws, a past, and likely a few demons he’s drowning in gin at a local jazz club.
Why Audiences Loved It While Critics Hated It
The gap between the Rotten Tomatoes critic score (somewhere around 24%) and the audience score (usually hovering in the high 70s or 80s) is massive. Why? Because critics often look for edge. They want subversion. They want a "new" take on the human condition.
Mr. Church isn't interested in being edgy. It’s a film about loyalty.
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If you decide to watch movie Mr Church, you're signing up for a story about "found family." That’s a term we use a lot now, but in this context, it refers to the people who show up when your biological family can't or won't. Britt Robertson, who plays Charlie, does a great job showing the transition from a bratty kid who resents this stranger in her kitchen to a grown woman who realizes this man is the only stable thing she has ever known.
The Food as a Character
You shouldn't watch this movie on an empty stomach. Seriously. The way the food is filmed is almost tactile. Cornbread, grits, sophisticated French cuisine—it’s all there. The kitchen is the heart of the house, and the movie treats the act of cooking as a form of prayer. It’s how Mr. Church communicates. He doesn't say "I love you" or "I’m sorry you’re dying." He makes a perfect omelet. He bakes a cake.
It’s a specific kind of love that feels very real to anyone who grew up in a house where emotions were hard to talk about but easy to eat.
Technical Details and Where to Stream
The film was produced by Cinelou Films and distributed by Warner Bros. and Freestyle Releasing. It’s a small-budget indie at heart, despite the big names. For those looking to watch movie Mr Church today, it frequently pops up on streaming services like Prime Video, Peacock, or Tubi (usually with ads).
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It’s a "comfort movie." It’s the kind of thing you put on a Sunday afternoon when the world feels a bit too loud and you need to remember that humans can actually be decent to one another.
Acknowledge the Controversies
We have to be honest: some people find the "Black man serving a white family" dynamic uncomfortable. It’s a valid critique of a specific Hollywood trope. However, the film tries to subvert this by showing that Mr. Church is the one with the power, the education, and the hidden depth. He isn't a servant by necessity; he’s there because of a promise he made to a man from his past. He is the most intelligent person in every room he enters.
Whether the film succeeds in breaking that trope is up to the viewer. But it’s worth noting that the real Susan McMartin viewed her "Cook" as the hero of her life, not a background character.
Final Thoughts on Watching Movie Mr Church
If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, this isn't it. But if you want a masterclass in understated acting and a story that celebrates the "boring" parts of life—the cooking, the reading, the simply being there—then you need to find a way to watch movie Mr Church.
It’s a reminder that a life isn't defined by its ending, but by the people who stay until the very last page is turned.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
- Check your local streaming listings on JustWatch to find where it’s currently playing for free.
- Keep a box of tissues nearby; the third act is a heavy hitter.
- Look up Susan McMartin’s original essays about the real Mr. Church to see how much of the film was pulled directly from her journals.
- Pay attention to the soundtrack—the jazz selections are top-tier and perfectly frame the melancholic vibe of the story.