Mark Wahlberg is “Father Stu,” which will be featured at the Fredonia Opera House.

In the Cinema Series at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is the true story-based “Father Stu,” starring Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson and Jackie Weaver. It will be screened on Saturday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long (Wahlberg) moves to L.A. There, he meets Carmen, a Catholic Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. But surviving a terrible motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others find their way, leading to the surprising realization that he is meant to be a Catholic priest.

Brent Simon, in AV Club, calls the film “first and foremost a sure-handed match of material and a movie star’s strengths …told with sensitivity, earnestness and no small amount of sly, rascally charm.” Richard Roeper in the Chicago Sun Times, calls it “a solid and worthy tribute to the real-life Father Stu.” Armond White, in the National Review, calls it “the most emotionally satisfying American movie in years.” Brttany Witherspoon, in Film Threat, says the film “is unlike any other faith-based film I’ve seen. It’s raw, honest, and uplifting without tapping into preachy territory, which ultimately makes it effortlessly uplifting.” Rated R for language throughout, “Father Stu” runs two hours, four minutes.

Tickets are available at the door for $7 (adults), $6.50 (seniors & Opera House members) and $5 (students) the night of each screening. A book of 10 movie passes is available for $60 at the door or online at www.fredopera.org. For more information, call the Opera House Box Office at 716-679-1891. The Opera House Cinema Series is sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. In addition, Opera House programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The Opera House is equipped with individualized closed captioning eyeglasses for the deaf as well as with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member.

Opera House Executive Director Rick Davis notes that “masks are no longer required at Fredonia Opera House events. We do still encourage patrons to wear masks while in the venue; and staff and volunteers may continue to be masked.”

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.