I can see why so many people dislike this film, because honestly, I disliked it too, at least through the first half. A significant portion of the movie features characters who are simply unpleasant—particularly Mel Gibson’s portrayal of Bill Long. The story itself unfolds poorly during that initial stretch. It wasn't until Stuart Long began his journey toward becoming a preacher that I started to become engaged; and the reason for this is because he was an awful person for so long that it made watching him difficult. I did end up liking Stuart Long’s character by the film’s conclusion, but I couldn’t bring myself to like him earlier on. The movie isn't completely bad, but it's not particularly good either. The final act is decent, however, the first act is quite poor, and the second, where Stu transitions, feels just average. This doesn't add up to a worthwhile film; when a movie struggles for its first two acts, a strong third act can’t necessarily save it, which is unfortunate because that last section wasn't terrible. The theme of redemption is familiar territory, and we’ve seen it explored with more compelling characters before. That isn't to say the path to redemption isn't interesting to watch, but it feels somewhat unoriginal. It was a relief to see Bill Long evolve into a reasonably decent person by the film’s end, as he finally recognized his need to care for his son, Stu. However, this doesn’t fully redeem him within the context of the story. He remains an objectionable character throughout most of the movie, making it hard to like him even at the very end; though that final dance with his wife was something else. At its heart, "Father Stu" is about forgiveness, a point I've already mentioned. What’s more noteworthy is how nearly every character has something they need to be forgiven for. Bill and Kathleen Long appear to regret the choices that led them to where they are, and it’s clear they wish things hadn’t fallen apart. As for Stu, he seeks forgiveness for everything. He regrets almost all of his past actions. The problem is there's just too much baggage for the audience to completely forgive him, even considering what ultimately happened to him. Ultimately, I don't consider "Father Stu" a terrible movie, but it’s mediocre at best. While the third act is well-executed, everything that comes before leaves a negative impression. If you’re curious, give it a look, but otherwise, I’d suggest moving on. Overall, “Father Stu” gets a thumbs down from me.

Source on TMDB