ONE GOOD MAN — ★★ — Tim Threlfall, Pam Eichner, Adam Johnson; rated PG (adult themes, slapstick violence); in general release
"One Good Man" is certainly one of the more professional looking and accomplished features from the most recent round of LDS-centric films.
It has nearly everything you wouldn't expect from a lower-budgeted movie, including quality photography, editing, lighting, sound quality and performances.
Unfortunately, the one thing the film doesn't have is a really compelling storyline. It's so mundane and ordinary that it starts to feel like outtakes from a dull reality television program.
Also, there's no sense of drama because the lead character always does the right thing and never really has a crisis of faith or conscience. As a result, the movie perhaps should be retitled "One Too-Good-to-Be-True Man."
Local actor Tim Threlfall stars as family man Aaron Young. This husband and father of six is a faithful member of the LDS Church.
So it's really no surprise to anyone when he's called to become the bishop of his ward.
However, it appears the calling couldn't come at a worse time. Aaron's boss (Curt Dousett) is trying to force him to lay off employees. (Aaron is a personnel director.)
His oldest daughter, Laura (Lindsay Bird), just announced her engagement to Peter Decker (Andy Rindlisbach). Another daughter, teenager Amanda (Aley Underwood), has been staying out all hours of the night.
One son, Sam (Maclain Nelson), is coming back from a mission and another, Luke (Nick Whitaker), is getting ready to receive his mission call.
Amid all this chaos, Aaron still has to do his job and take care of the members of his ward.
Screenwriter/director Christian Vuissa ("The Errand of Angels") allegedly based that main character on a few real-life figures he's known, including his own father.
And Vuissa paints Aaron Young, as well as the others, in a flattering light. You certainly wouldn't mind having any of them for neighbors.
But again, there's never any suspense or any anticipation about what the main character is going to do in any given circumstance. It will always be the right thing.
For example, when Aaron agrees to go to a bar with his non-LDS co-worker (Adam Johnson) — at the conclusion of a particularly frustrating work day for both men — we're not worried about him succumbing to temptation and quaffing an alcoholic drink. That outcome is already painfully obvious.
Also, Threlfall is too low-key, and his line delivery is too monotone. He's really not a compelling figure.
Still, Pam Eichner is good as his steadfast wife, Cindy. And the teens and children that play their children are all appealing.
"One Good Man" is rated PG and features some mature thematic material and brief comic violence (pratfalls), as well as a bar scene (featuring some smoking and drinking). Running time: 90 minutes.
e-mail: jeff@desnews.com