Was the Biblical era populated by soap opera rejects enacting melodramatic storylines on a consistent basis? I don't think so, but that's what One Night with the King would lead viewers to believe. Although an earnest film, its storytelling methods reveal a mild case of the B-movie blues.

Set in Persia sometime before the one and only Jesus Christ made his debut, the story centers around Hadassah (Tiffany Dupont), a young Jewish woman who's lived with her uncle (John Rhys-Davies) since the death of her parents. King Xerxes (Luke Goss) reigns supreme, and his rule is a peaceful one, although growing opposition from the Greeks threaten to hurl the land into war.

So opposed is Xerxes' own wife to the prospect of battle that he abandons her and promptly begins a search for a new queen. Scores of women are rounded up, including Hadassah, who takes on the name of "Esther" to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Unexpectedly, though, she falls in love with Xerxes, and vice versa, soon commencing their rule over Persia as husband and wife. But when a man (James Callis) with a sinister plan to eradicate the kingdom's Jews starts to rise through the royal ranks, it's up to Esther to decide whether or not she's willing to sacrifice herself in order to save her people from destruction.

I tend to prefer movies based on religious history more than those with religious themes, so I looked forward to seeing  One Night with the King. Sadly, despite a number of valiant efforts to tell a sound and meaningful story, the film is a melodramatic mess. Also, it was made on the cheap and looks it. The cinematography, sets and costumes are about on par with a made-for-TV miniseries, and the script is even worse. One Night with the King sets out to educate those unaware of the story of Esther (such as myself) and to remind those who do know about its true meaning, both most honorable intentions indeed. But the story becomes weighed down in too many confusing double-crosses, royal treachery, and thin romances. 

The acting here is rather mixed. Dupont, a sparkling beauty, really tries to carry the weight of such a conflicted character, but the role starts to eat her up and her performance turns flat. Goss (probably best known as a murderous uber-vampire from Blade II) prances around like he's on the cover of a Harlequin romance novel, Callis chews on the scenery as if it were filet mignon, and Peter O'Toole, who gets top billing on the DVD cover, appears for a whopping thirty seconds -- tops. At least Rhys-Davies and Omar Sharif turn in decent supporting performances, and despite some over-dramatic storytelling, the story's message isn't hampered. The idea of a woman struggling with her own identity in a time when, as the Queen of Persia, the fate of her true people is in her hands still rings strongly here, thereby showing the filmmakers have some skill if such a powerful message stands up amid an avalanche of over-the-top dramatics.

There have been Bible stories on film told better than One Night with the King, and there probably will be more in the future. Still, while this movie might not be the greatest story ever told, it's not the worst one either. 

MY RATING: ** (out of ****)

(Released by Fox Faith and rated "PG" for violence, thematic elements and some sensuality.)