Although I'm not sure why, people often ask my opinion of the "Mormon Movies," the recent crop of pictures by LDS filmmakers about the LDS culture that have followed in the wake of Richard Dutcher's success with "God's Army" and "Brigham City."
So far, I've gone on record about just two — "God's Army," when it initially hit theaters (and turned out to be such a delightful surprise), and "Brigham City," when it was released on DVD last April.
Now it's time to discuss a third as it lands on DVD — "The Singles Ward," the only comedy of the lot. (Which I'm sure will be followed in fairly quick succession by "The Other Side of Heaven," "Out of Step," "Handcart" and "Charly"; we'll take those on as they arrive.)
"The Singles Ward" (Halestorm, 2002, PG, $24.95). When I saw this in a theater — despite the laughter of the twentysomethings around me — it struck me as little more than a bigger-budget roadshow.
What little plot there is has to do with a divorced, inactive LDS standup comic who falls for a woman in his singles ward. Silly comic subplots and characters abound, and then things get mawkish when she is offended by his standup act, which includes jokes about Mormon culture. (She is so lacking a sense of humor that she would also hate this movie!)
"Singles Ward" is really just a series of skits — some good, some mediocre, some awful — and the performances are a mix of professional and amateurish, including the LDS celebrity guest cameos. (Just because you're having fun on the set doesn't necessarily mean it will translate to the audience.)
The film's jokes and colloquialisms are extremely inside; those unfamiliar with the culture may be lost. And, of course, most gags play off of broad stereotypes.
Having watched it again, I still find much of it puerile, but I did chuckle here and there. It really plays better on the small screen, where its flaws have less impact.
Extras: Most of these are quite clever, and many are more amusing than the film itself. Widescreen, outtakes, music videos, Jell-O recipes, interactive games, trailers, DVD-ROM applications.
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force" (Cloud Ten, 2002, not rated, $29.95). The same day "The Singles Ward" arrived on my desk I also received this faith-oriented DVD, the second in the "Left Behind" series (which, of course, is not LDS).
I watched the first "Left Behind" before taking in the sequel, and found it a fairly intriguing TV-style movie fictionalizing events from the Book of Revelations. The main selling point is the Rapture, as people all over the world disappear. After, a small group of Christians band together to fight the Antichrist's attempts at world domination.
The second film doesn't have anything quite that strong, and seems even more of a set-up for the series. But it does carry the story forward, as Kirk Cameron and Brad Johnson foil the Antichrist's plans to declare himself as the Messiah. (The Antichrist, by the way, is a Russian!)
"Left Behind II's" freedom fighters resemble those in the "V" science-fiction miniseries, albeit with occasional heavy-handed messages about Christianity. (As with the first film, this one is being released on video before going to theaters.)
"Left Behind II" is not rated but is in line with the first in the series, which received a PG-13 for violence.
Extras: Widescreen, making-of documentary, deleted scenes, alternate ending, bloopers, trailers, production notes, etc.
PERHAPS THIS IS ALSO a good place to note that some of LDS filmmaker T.C. Christensen's beloved short films are finding their way to DVD (priced at $11.95 each).
The still-hilarious "The Mouths of Babes," an LDS spin on Art Linkletter's old "Kids Say the Darndest Things," along with the more generic Christian "Son of Babes," are on one disc. And Christensen's gorgeous "The Touch of the Master's Hand," adapted from the famous Myra Brooks Welch poem, has also been given a nice DVD treatment. (Christensen provides both discs with entertaining, self-effacing audio-commentary tracks.)
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com