Carlos and Alexa PenaVega on 'Mr. Manhattan' and Leaning on God When Life Doesn't Make Sense

For husband and wife actors Carlos and Alexa PenaVega, the opportunity to work together onscreen has certainly been a blessing to them. Beginning with her guest appearance on his Big Time Rush television series in 2013, Carlos and Alexa have steadily cobbled together a string of nearly ten movie and television projects together.

The PenaVegas’ make no secret that they love working together as they point to knowing each other’s limitations, acting sensibilities, and their playful personalities as the key to their onscreen success.

This intrinsic synergy is never more evident than their latest movie project, Mr. Manhattan. Making its streaming debut today on Great American PureFlix, the film is a heartwarming story about what it means to find joy after grief and to give God control over every aspect of our lives.

Mr. Manhattan reminds us that it is perfectly fine to lean on God when life doesn’t make sense and that His ways are far better than we could ever imagine. 

The foundational concepts found in Mr. Manhattan have recently taken on a greater significance for the PenaVega’s who wed in 2014. Following the heart wrenching death of their newborn daughter in April, God has comforted them greatly and strengthened their relationship as a result. 

I recently sat down with Carlos and Alexa to discuss why these types of movies are so important to encourage people in their faith, why God’s plan is so much better than ours, and why they love working together so much.

For every actor, there always seems to be a trigger, a tipping point, a moment where you say to yourself, “I have to be a part of this project!” For Mr. Manhattan, what was that moment for you?

Alexa PenaVega: I read the script and I was actually really, really excited. Mainly because I loved my character, but I was really excited for Carlos. The journey his character goes through with discovering a relationship in God and realizing that God is not this transactional God, but such a relational God who actually cares. It was so fun reading that journey, and I just thought that my husband, as we can see, he's very lively. I just thought that he could bring that to life so well. It's something I think that we've all kind of gone through at one point in our lives, but watching Carlos's faith journey from when we first started dating to where he is now, he's a completely different person. And I just knew that he could bring something so special to that character. That's what stood out to me.

Carlos PenaVega: For me, when the lead actress Alexa PenaVega said yes to the role, I knew that it was going to be a fantastic movie. I've been watching her work. I've been following her work for the last 15 years.

Alexa PenaVega: I'm going to kick you out. You're not allowed to do this. (laughs)

Carlos PenaVega: I'm being serious. Come on. We’ve got a husband and wife doing a movie together. And a faith-based movie like this was so much fun. Not to mention  that when I saw that it was Mr. Manhattan and that some of the scenes took place in New York, and then I found out we were actually going to be shooting in the city, that was the big selling point for me.

Mr. Manhattan provided the two of you to work together onscreen together again. You have worked together on at least five or six occasions that I can recall, the movie Love at Sea and of course the two of you were on Dancing with the Stars together. Is working together on projects something you seek out intentionally or does it just sort of happening organically?

Carlos PenaVega: I think we're close to 10 projects. We love working together. If it's possible, we absolutely want to do it, especially these types of movies. They are so fun.

Alexa PenaVega: What I love about it is we both know what we're capable of. It is great because if we want to maybe go off script a little bit and bring something else to the scene, I know that he'll go there with me. We just have such a great relationship and chemistry that we can go back and forth. And that's not always the case when you're on a project. So it's very special to be able to work together.

Specifically, how was the experience of working together on Mr. Manhattan?

Carlos PenaVega: We always say that when you're doing something for the Lord, the enemy is just trying to take you down. This project was no different. There were a lot of challenges. A lot of challenges. But the end result was so fulfilling. With working together, we don't leave the kids somewhere for four weeks and then show back up. The kids are not at an airbnb with a nanny. When we go to work all day, we're checking in. If we can sneak away for lunch, we're sneaking away, and then we're coming home and we're hanging out with the kids and doing it again and again. So, in that sense, we really do love being able to work and keep our family together. And then to have her as my wife and then also my work wife, it’s like let's go!

This movie seems perfect for a family movie night. You will laugh together, likely shed a few tears, and ultimately be encouraged to trust God’s plan for your life. Why are these types of movies so important for people to see in light of the world we are currently living in?

Alexa PenaVega: I feel like these movies are always important for people to see, but specifically right now.  I just feel like we're in such a time where people feel very disheartened. They may feel a little hopeless. And what I love about this movie is it goes a little deeper into showing what that walk looks like. It goes a little deeper into showing that Christianity isn't some easy, perfect thing. It's hard. A person’s faith walk is hard. Wrestling with God is not the easiest thing. But when you're willing to give up that control, He shows up. And I think right now we're in such a place of wanting instant gratification, and being so in control. We're in the world of self-help this, and self-help that. We actually just need to stop looking at ourselves for five seconds and look to God.

This movie serves as a gentle reminder that you don’t have to do everything on your own and God’s plan is better than you could ever imagine. Could you comment on that a bit?

Carlos PenaVega: Lately, we've just really been wanting God to lead us versus us making these decisions without Him. And even the simplest decisions, right?

But we, we as humans, it's just like we consume ourselves with, okay, I’ve got to do this. I had met somebody the other day who ended up delivering our groceries like two days later. After we met him, we hung out and had a really good conversation. After he left, Alexa and I kind of felt that he was almost like an angel. He shows up and delivers our groceries. Based on the things he was saying to us our jaws were all on the floor. We just looked at each other (in amazement). We thought, what is he doing here?

He doesn't know who he's delivering groceries to. He goes and picks it up, gets the address, he drives there, and drops it off. And he says, “What's crazy is I was praying for you guys as I was coming over here, and then when your wife opened the door, I couldn't believe it.”

After audiences have had a chance to watch Mr. Manhattan what would you like people to get out of the viewing experience? What is your greatest hope for the film?

Alexa PenaVega: Just that you walk out feeling closer to God. That you walk out feeling like God actually wants to meet me where I'm at. And even though I might not be where I want to be, He's here with me and He'll walk me through it.

Mr. Manhattan is available to stream right now on Great American Pure Flix.

WATCH A TRAILER FOR MR. MANHATTAN: