Portuguese pin-up Diogo Morgado is out to change the world in Son of God

SON of God: A likable, if limited actor delivers the messiah as a mischievous male model in this well-intentioned biopic.

HIGH-level spoiler alert: a key character in this movie will come back from the dead and then ascend to heaven, never to be seen again.

Low-level consumer alert: roughly 60 per cent of this movie aired on TV last year as part of that moderately maligned miniseries The Bible.

Welcome, then, to Son Of God, a blandly well-intentioned biopic of an ex-carpenter-turned-prophet who caused quite a stir down Jerusalem way some 21 centuries ago.

A scene from Son of God

Many folk still speak quite fondly of this mystical chap. Went by the name of Jesus. You might have heard of him.

If not, well, Son Of God is here to bring you right up to speed on a righteous religious rebel, gifted orator, deep spiritual thinker, and true man of the people.

Diogo Morgado as Jesus.

After icing the hotly disputed topic of his birth — witnessed by three wise men one fateful Christmas evening — we are fast-forwarded straight to Jesus’ heyday as a charismatic challenger to the status quo.

He first finds fame as a nomadic one-man miracle machine from the backblocks of Galilee.

An impressive repertoire of material defies all known laws of gravity (walking on the water), medicine (healing of the sick) and large-scale catering (feeding of the multitudes).

The buzz on the Jesus travelling roadshow spreads like wildfire. Soon he is playing to sellout crowds.

Meanwhile, in downtown Jerusalem, news of this radical new performer has put several noses out of joint.

The local religious elite don’t like being made to look like doctrinal dinosaurs, not with the occupying Romans breathing down their neck.

Jesus and a full entourage of apostles are about to hit town for a string of festival dates at Passover. The hype has the high priests hatching a plot to stop the phenom ASAP.

Some of Son of God has previously aired on TV as the miniseries The Bible.

The Romans agree to temporarily look the other way. The fix is in.

That Jesus guy had better watch out.

The main role is played by Portuguese pin-up Diogo Morgado, a likable, if limited actor who delivers the messiah as a mischievous male model.

Either that, or the filmmakers left out the scene where Jesus performs the miracle of the flawless complexion, the dentally perfect smile and rigorously kempt hair.

SON OF GOD (M)

Director: Christopher Spencer (feature debut)

Starring: Diogo Morgado, Darwin Shaw, Greg Hicks, Amber Rose Revah

Verdict: Two-and-a-half stars. The new Christ is right(eous)