A movie about LDS missionaries for the mainstream audience? Though I begrudgingly went, I left with a new appreciation for the Mormon message. And I thoroughly enjoyed this warm, surprisingly frank, funny film. If I ever encounter an affable LDS missionary with a Bible, I'm going to take it.
THE BEST TWO YEARS is about young male missionaries in Holland: Elder Johnson (David Nibley), the district leader, and his team partner, Elder Van Pelt (Cameron Hopkin), Elder Rogers (KC Clyde), and his fresh from missionary training school partner, Elder Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne).
Elder Johnson is trying to keep the team inspired, Van Pelt holds bragging rights for giving out the most Books of Mormon, and Rogers is just biding his time left in Holland. He is depressed since his girlfriend wrote telling him she is marrying someone else. However, Elder Calhoun is anxious to start making converts.
Calhoun is shocked to learn that the team has not made even one baptism! The team's distribution of Books of Mormon is dismal.
What I really appreciated about THE BEST TWO YEARS is its complete lack of preaching or sanctimonious approach to missionary work. At times, it was even irreverent. These guys were normal, well-intentioned, and, though weary, faith-based. There is a brief scene where the men talk about their faith, and while they are supposed to pray every morning, Rogers rather sleep.
Each day the missionaries go out hoping to engage people in conversation. As team leader, Johnson has to keep the disappointing log of how many Books of Mormon are given out.
When Calhoun actually finds a young man who accepts a book and agrees to come over to the house for a talk, the team is, and this is the right word, flabbergasted!
Based on a play written by director Scott S. Anderson, this is an insightful look into modern missionary work played against the realities of the real world. Right now, with the world attention on Islam and THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, I recommend this charming film for not pounding religion on our heads, but softly floating its message within our grasp.
Rating: ** [2 out of 4 stars]
Produced by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including writer-director Scott S. Anderson, "The Best Two Years" is an earnest, fictionalized account of the lives of four American Mormon missionaries -- including a brooding doubter and a bespectacled nerd -- assigned to the Netherlands.
Well-acted and technically accomplished, with beautiful location photography (windmills, tulips, even wooden shoes), "The Best Two Years" is too bland to be of much interest to nonbelievers, although it does show that Mormon missionaries are normal guys with normal girlfriend worries and normal personality clashes, even if they do seem to live within the drug-, alcohol- and sex-free context of an old TV series. More intriguing than the plot is the film's delineation of the particulars of missionary work, as the "Elders" keep detailed records of how many people they proselytize. Even better is the revelation of Mormon slang; it's a hoot to hear someone name-drop "the Tab Choir" and realize that this reference to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is as recognizable to the Elders as a reference to Bruce Springsteen as "The Boss" would be to mainstream Americans.
For those keeping score like the Elders, "The Best Two Years" is the third Mormon movie to be booked in Memphis in the past four years, including the similar "God's Army" in 2000 and the Mormon noir (really) of "Brigham City" in 2001.
'The Best Two Years' is based on writer/director's autobiography
It's about young Mormon missionaries, but "The Best Two Years" (opening today at the Englewood Theatre) often plays and feels like a vintage barracks comedy -- with a bit of "Animal House" thrown in for good measure.
Written and directed by Scott S. Anderson and based on an autobiographical play he wrote nearly 20 years ago, this is the second recent film on the subject (the other was 2000's "God's Army").
It probably won't be the last. Male members of the LDS Church often regard their two years of voluntary missionary service as the seminal experience of their young lives (much in the way other men look back on their sexual initiations as the quintessential coming-of-age event).
Anderson's effort should be easily accessible to non-Mormons because it's genuinely funny and sanctimony-free and features uniformly fine performances. In its best moments "The Best Two Years" generates a goofy hilarity that remains rooted in reality and genuine human emotion.
Set in Holland, where the exteriors were filmed (the interiors were shot in Utah), the movie centers on four young men at various stages in their voluntary two-year tours-of-duty.
The central character is John Rogers (K.C. Clyde), who is nearing the end of his mission. And none too soon.
Rogers seems to have run out of steam. While his flat mates are on their knees in morning prayer, he's still abed. He has developed a dry sense of humor and a sardonic view of himself and others. And when it comes to winning converts, he's not even trying.
Then he's saddled with a new trainee. Hezekiah Calhoun (Kirby Heybourne) is a dorky guy with pasted-down hair, thick-rimmed glasses, a world-class case of naivete and an Oklahoma accent so pronounced you can hear it even through his halting efforts to speak Dutch.
But as hopeless as Calhoun appears, he's a true believer whose desire to win souls finally infects even the cynical Rogers.
Non-LDS viewers will find the film informative, not because it reveals much in the way of Mormon theology but for the little details.
The characters never refer to one another by their first names -- they're always addressed as Elder Johnson or Elder Rogers. They never go out in public unless in uniform: black suits, white shirts, polished shoes and non-flashy neckties.
Their missionary business is organized along corporate lines, and like salesmen each week they turn in charts chronicling their activities -- hours devoted to proselytizing, copies of the Book of Mormon distributed, conversion challenges made and actual baptisms performed.
But what's really enjoyable about "The Best Two Years" is the interpersonal stuff -- the feuds, pranks, backbiting and mind games that inevitably develop when four healthy young men (with no outlets in sex, drink, drugs, caffeine, cussing, TV or movies) must co-exist in the squalor of a crowded apartment.
Like most of the recent crop of Mormon movies, this one is aimed primarily at the faithful. But it's good enough that even an infidel will find it an amusing diversion.
Who's in it? K.C. Clyde, Kirby Heybourne, Cameron Hopkin, David Nibley
Did you know . . . Other recent "Mormon" movies include "God's Army," "Brigham City," "The Book of Mormon Movie" and "Sons of Provo."
Rated: PG for thematic elements
Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Rating: *** [3 out of 5 stars]
I've seen a few 'religious' films over the years and for the most part I'm not a big fan. More often than not they're preachy to the extreme, appealing only to those who are already converted. But while the theology is clearly defined and upfront in Scott S. Anderson's The Best Two Years, as far as religiously themed movies go, it's very accessible to those, like myself, who live outside the target audience.
The Best Two Years follows four young Mormon missionaries bunking together in the Netherlands as they struggle to get the Book of Mormon out to the unconverted. Instead of preaching, the film focuses on the lives of the four men as they're all at various stages in their life journeys. For a couple it's largely superficial. They're there merely to compliment the backdrop of Elder Rogers (KC Clyde). He's nearing the end of his stint in Holland and seems ready to move on. Dumped by his girlfriend for his old roommate, Rogers is also going through a crisis of faith, wondering where he stands. When eager and slightly nerdy rookie missionary Elder Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne) comes along, he is able to breath a little life into Rogers and Elders van Pelt (Cameron Hopkin) and Johnson (David Nibley).
The Best Two Years might be a Mormon movie, but it's one that's open to everyone, at least until the closing few minutes where the theme lets itself become hammered home. Unlike a lot of religious films, The Best Two Years doesn't take itself too seriously either. The characters, although they have a faith, are not perfect. Rather, they're real people with real struggles. They're not holier than thou. This is important because it keeps the film on the same level as the viewer. Too many religiously minded movies don't do this but rather stuff morality down your throat. They say, "Look, this person is perfect because they saw the light." And when that happens, there's no way to relate. In making the Elders people with problems of universal truth, The Best Two Years comes alongside its audience and allows them to relate.
The film is an adaptation of Anderson's largely autobiographical stage play The Best Two Years of My Life. This comes across quite clearly as the action is largely confined to fast dialogue and witty banter. Despite not a lot happening in the way of physical action, this dialogue flows and has the sound of actual talking instead of something superficial. On occasion it does drag on a little, but not too often that it's a glaring problem.
Still, there should be a reason that a play might want to expand onto film. This comes through in the locales. Shot on location, the blossoming tulips and antique architecture bring an exotic appeal to what's on screen. The authticity of the locations is something no amount of stage props and painted backdrops could portray.
The Best Two Years sets an example for future religious films. It's able to get its point and purpose across in a way that's both entertaining and doesn't alienate the broader audience.
Grade: C
EXCERPT: "The experiences of these young men probably would resonate with anyone who has undergone similar trials, but I saw few themes that would resonate with a larger audience."
Rating: *** [3 out of 4 stars]
EXCERPT: "...has the feel of authenticity backed by sincerity."
Rating: ** [2 out of 4 stars]
Movies about Mormon missionaries have almost become a new genre. Some are made by Mormons ("God's Army"), some are outrageously anti-Mormon ("Orgazmo") and some are more moderately critical ("Latter Days").
The latest to appear in theaters, "The Best Two Years," is closest to "God's Army" in spirit, though it isn't as preachy or as juvenile. While it's still speaking to the choir, it does so in a less gung-ho, more realistic, even pessimistic way. Indeed, rejection is the true subject.
Not only do four young missionaries to Holland get doors slammed in their faces; they get dumped by their formerly faithful girlfriends. Homesick and feeling abandoned, they grouse about their romantic follies and lack of success in making converts; the most cynical of them wears a sweatshirt that proclaims "Good Boys Go to Heaven, Bad Boys Go to Amsterdam."
The newest and nerdiest member of the team, Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne), is of course the most enthusiastic. He's assigned a partner, Rogers (KC Clyde), who is so discouraged that he expects people to reject the Book of Mormon when he takes to the streets. When Calhoun lands a potential convert, Rogers tries to prepare him for the worst, and he's astonished when the conversion starts to feel genuine.
The movie works best when it deals with the interaction between these two, and between their feuding roommates, Johnson (David Nibley) and Van Pelt (Cameron Hopkin), who behave like deprived children when they work out their frustrations on each other. The actors all have showbiz credentials, and Heyborne and Nibley have done improv comedy; it shows in their light, professional approach to the material.
The writer-director, Scott S. Anderson, based the script on his own missionary experiences and his 1981 play, "The Best Two Years of My Life." He handles the frat-house humor more convincingly than he does the conversion scenes, which are so serious and emotional that they seem to come from a different movie.
It doesn't help that Anderson provides so little basis for an outsider to understand the process. The name "Joseph Smith" is sprinkled around like pixie dust, but if you know nothing about Mormon history, "The Best Two Years" won't be much help in filling that vacuum. "God's Army" may have erred in the other direction, but at least it was consistent.
Rating: *** [3 out of 4 stars]
Halestorm Entertainment has carved out a niche by producing family friendly material targeted at Mormon audiences. The company's latest venture, "The Best Two Years," is focused on a group of American missionaries struggling to win converts in Holland, and it is a winning little film. At least, it will be for the right audience.
"Two Years" marks the second Halestorm film I've reviewed, so I'm comfortable reporting that their projects are generally low-budget comedies that make no attempt to break traditional storytelling formulas and always boast strong Christian messages. They also exude a certain charm missing from most small-studio religious films, and they are the only pictures I've seen that speak so directly to Mormon life.
For general viewers, this will likely be off-putting -- although there is certainly nothing offensive -- but for Mormon audiences, the references must be a joy.
"Best Two Years" tackles missionary life with an insider's perspective that is warm and fuzzy without any apparent dishonesty. Each of the four missionaries at the center of the film have varying perspectives and outlooks on their faith. Elder Johnson (David Nibley) is the straight-arrow leader who approaches his religious duties with zest. He is contrasted by Elder Rogers (KC Clyde), a sharp young man jaded by the fact that the girl he left back home decided to marry his best friend.
Clearly, the scene is set for a tale of lost faith and the processes that go into restoring it. Elder Rogers makes his way through life doing his best to avoid his religious responsibilities until he is assigned stewardship of a new missionary named Elder Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne). Calhoun is a goofy and naive Oklahoma boy excited to be spreading his faith, and Rogers must either buy into his excitement or fail completely.
In the meantime, Elder Rogers does his best to keep tabs on his charge, a junior missionary who considers himself a lady's man (Cameron Hopkin).
The group has a shaky chemistry resembling that of most siblings and the performers are quite likable. In fact, the predictability of the plot might have undermined the whole affair if it weren't for the charming cast.
All told, the film has nothing new to say about faith, human nature or storytelling. But few movies do. The value of "The Best Two Years" is its wholesome, sometimes humorous view, of missionary life. Now that's something you don't find at the multiplex everyday.
Rating: *** [3 out of 4 stars]
This pleasant movie about young Mormon missionaries helps explain their two-year mandatory missionary work. It has plenty of comedy along with a real interesting story.
Set in Holland, the movie centers on four young guys at various stages of their two-year tour of duty. The main character is John Rogers (K.C. Clyde) who is almost at the end of his mission and seems troubled. The fun starts when a new nerdy type trainee is assigned to Rogers. The other two missionaries are interesting too.
The film is excellent and very informative to non-Mormons. I worked with several in the past and always wondered about this two-year voluntary mission. Its great!
A HaleStone Entertainment release of a Harvest Films production. Produced by Michael FlynnMichael Flynn, Scott S. Anderson. Executive producer, Fred C. Danneman. Directed, written by Scott S. Anderson.
Elder John Rogers - KC Clyde
Elder Hezekiah Calhoun - Kirby Heyborne
Elder Steven Van Pelt - Cameron Hopkin
Elder Emmit Johnson - David Nibley
Kyle Harrison - Scott Christopher
President Sandburg - Michael Flynn
There's more frat-house bonhomie than religious fervor on display throughout "The Best Two Years," latest entry in a burgeoning subgenre of small-budget indies made by, with and mostly for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Currently unspooling in regional theatricaltheatrical release, amiably amusing pic could draw slightly larger crossover audaud than such earlier Mormon-centric fare as "God's Army""God's Army" and "The Singles Ward." Favorable word of mouth in LDS circles (and among secular viewers in search of wholesome entertainment) should ensure long homevid shelf life.
Adapting his own stage play for the screen, writer-director Scott S. Anderson focuses on seriocomic misadventures of four young American-born "elders" sharing an apartment in Haarlem, Holland, while serving as LDS missionaries.
Elder John RogersJohn Rogers (KC Rogers), senior member of the group, is growing ever more cynical and disillusioned as he nears the end of his two-year commitment. He's more than a little upset because, during his stint in Holland, his girlfriend back home in the States married another guy. And to make maters worse, the guy she married was Rogers' ex-roommate and former fellow LDS missionary.
As "Best Two Years" begins, Rogers is merely going through the motions of seeking converts, much to the dismay of his two more industrious roomies: Elder Steven Van Pelt (Cameron Hopkin), a self-styled ladies' man who aims to enter upper levels of LDS leadership; and Elder Emmit Johnson (David Nibley), an easygoing fellow who may be too trusting of his own girlfriend back home.
Enter Elder Hezekiah Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne), a gung-ho "greenie" from Oklahoma. Brimming with enthusiasm, Calhoun arrives in Holland determined to knock on as many doors, approach as many pedestrians, and distribute as many Books of Mormon as humanly possible. His unbridled zeal slowly reignites Rogers' sense of purpose, and the two missionaries set their sights on converting a surprisingly receptive optometrist (Scott Christopher).
While Anderson uses more than enough shot-on-location exteriors to credibly establish the Netherlands setting, he keeps most of the action inside the confines of the cramped apartment. As a result, pic often has feel and flavor of an extended sitcomsitcom pilot. Fortunately, Anderson is able to sustain interest with spirited interplay among well-cast, vividly played "elders." Mainstream auds primed to expect deeply religious characters to come off as stiffly sanctimonious will be pleasantly surprised by sometimes acerbic, sometimes boisterous give-and-take of lead characters. Serious conversations about matters of faith are given proper weight, but don't upset pic's overall balance.
Relationships are so effectively dramatized that, when a character's departure signals pic's finale, Anderson easily achieves the bittersweet tone for which he's clearly striving. Without pushing too hard, helmer underscores why all four elders -- especially Rogers and Calhoun -- likely will use pic's title in decades to come to describe their shared experiences.
Production values are serviceable. Michael and Scott McLean provide a catchy title tune that auds may be humming to themselves long after the closing credits have rolled by.
Camera (Deluxe color), Gordon C. Lonsdale; editor, Wynn Hougaard; music, Michael McLean; production designer, Darin Anderson; costume designer, Rebecca Nibley; sound, Rick McFarland; assistant director, Dave Sapp; casting, Jeff Johnson. Reviewed at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston, Aug. 26, 2004. MPAAMPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 110 MIN.
Rating: *** [3 out of 5 stars]
More than four years after Richard Dutcher's missionary-themed "God's Army" effectively launched the still-growing Mormon independent film movement, writer/director Scott S. Anderson has brought it back to where it began in "The Best Two Years." Like Dutcher's film, "The Best Two Years" is an earnest and impressively polished attempt at providing an inside look at the experiences of full-time Mormon missionaries, though its foreign setting and broader sense of humor give it ample leeway to carve a distinct identity of its own.
Adapted by Anderson from his original stage play, "The Best Two Years" focuses on the trials and travails of two pairs of American missionaries serving in the Dutch city of Haarlem. As he nears the end of his two-year service, Elder Rogers (KC Clyde) finds himself spiritually and emotionally worn--an unlikely candidate to break in a newly-arrived junior companion like Elder Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne) who, despite his small-town Oklahoman gawkiness and a painful inability to speak or understand so much as a word of Dutch, is bursting with unbridled enthusiasm. The irony of the pairing is a source of endless amusement for their flatmates--the incessantly perky Elder Van Pelt (Cameron Hopkin) and his sturdy, stoic senior companion Elder Johnson (David Nibley)--though they too are soon touched by unforeseen events precipitated by Calhoun's innocent ardor.
There's no denying that "The Best Two Years" is first and foremost a movie made by Mormons for Mormons, rife with inside jokes and references that will completely escape anyone not steeped in the culture. At the same time, it is not entirely without crossover appeal. Like "God's Army" and "The Other Side of Heaven," it steers clear of the simplistic, polemical assaults too often associated with religious films, instead approaching the thorny issues of faith and devotion via the personal struggles and shared triumphs of the young missionaries themselves. Favoring character over caricature, it puts a human face on the white shirts and black nametags, helping further demystify an aspect of Mormon culture that many outsiders still can't fully comprehend.
Production values are especially impressive for a film of this budget level, the exceptional use of Dutch locales--superbly photographed by Gordon C. Lonsdale--going a long way to counterbalance its inherited theatricality. Also noteworthy is the picture's first-rate collection of original songs by Michael and Scott McLean and John Batdorf. Performances, too, are uniformly natural and convincing, particularly the chameleon-like Heyborne, increasingly something of a niche star in Mormon cinema. With a gift for striking an almost Chaplinesque balance between broad humor and heartfelt sentiment, a transition to more mainstream fare seems imminent.
Arriving as it does during a year that has already seen audiences inundated with films about religion and politics--previously taboo subjects in Hollywood--"The Best Two Years" faces undeniable obstacles in reaching beyond its core audience of Latter-Day Saints. Then again, in the face of pre-election nastiness, a witty, soulful, optimistic look at the best of human nature may be just what the doctor ordered.
Grade: C
The Best Two Years is the latest film with a specific religious theme to be generally released. This gentle and, with the exception of a few bursts of shouting, quiet film takes the viewer inside the lives of four Mormon missionaries who have been sent to Holland to spread the word of their church.
With all the fraternal bonding and coming-of-age comedy, think of Best Two Years as the Mormon version of Animal House, only without any of the profanity, alcohol or lewd acts. If you're thinking that doesn't leave much, you're right. There's not much to this movie. You've got four young actors turning in solid performances as four variously likable guys, some funny moments and exchanges and, thanks to the street life, windmills and flower fields of Holland, some beautiful scenery.
But as far as the story goes, there's not really much of one, just a string of predictable plot points leading to an inevitable ending. That's not to say the good parts aren't good. KC Clyde is equal parts funny and charming as Elder Rogers (all missionaries are addressed as "Elder your-name-here"). When the movie opens, he's scornful and burned-out, but when he's teamed up with the new guy, a four-eyed rube named Elder Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne), you just know that his babe-in-the-woods determination is going to revive Elder Rogers' spirit.
On the one hand, it's a welcome relief as the summer movie season winds down to sit with a film that doesn't try to blow your mind or rock your world, that just wants you to spend some time in the altogether ordinary lives of its characters. But for all its expressions of soul-searching, Best Two Years stays too much on the surface of things. Writer-director Scott S. Anderson provides moments of crisis, but never goes anywhere with them and invariably resolves them with some snappy Neil Simon-esque exchange. And, not surprisingly in a movie about Mormon missionaries made and distributed by church-backed organizations, Best Two Years has a tendency to get preachy.
Rating: ** [2 out of 5 stars]
After seeing The Best Two Years, you might want to stop by a construction site to see which is more interesting, this movie or watching paint dry.
My money's on the Lucite.
Reaching new lows in monotony, The Best Two Years chronicles the exploits of Mormon missionaries overcoming language barriers while searching for converts in Holland. The location does give the earnest lads a chance to tilt at windmills, so to speak, but for the unconverted, there's not much here.
There are the usual inside jokes, including a riff on the use of "flip" as a substitute curse word, and ongoing hilarity about whether they're handing out "Books of Mormon" or "Book of Mormons." Man, these guys know how to party.
Another recurrent theme concerns the fickle nature of young LDS women, who apparently are in the habit of dumping their missionary boyfriends in favor of fellas closer to home. Members of our proselytizing team are beset by this malady several times, and they take it pretty hard.
Of course, if they'd just look out the window, they might notice the gorgeous Dutch girls sprouting all around them like tulips. They remain piously devoted to the task at hand, concerning themselves with keeping good stats and reading letters from home.
The dialogue will drive you up a wall, especially when the guys in the movie - in another Mormon custom - call each other "elder" constantly. How they can tell all these elders apart is not immediately clear.
The movie introduces another Mormon movie staple: the "lost soul" who's not really lost. In this case, it's Elder Rogers (K.C. Clyde), whose girlfriend dumped him for another missionary, who had the advantage of going home first. As Rogers drifts through his final months of service, he's joined by a fresh recruit (Kirby Heyborne from The R.M.) who makes up for his inexperience with enthusiasm.
Just as Rogers thinks there's no hope - surprise - the chance of a baptism appears. This generates some excitement, at least as much as these guys are allowed to have.
Even so, The Best Two Years is no Dutch treat.
Rating: *** 1/2 [3.5 out of 5 stars]
Cineastes, take note. There's an awful lot of independent film coming out of one place in America: Salt Lake City. As you might expect, all of these films are made by Mormons, about Mormonism. I think it may be a way to do missionary work without having to move someplace inhospitable.
Regardless, these films tend to have one thing in common: the plot. In fact, you can almost say that if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. God's Army, the king daddy of all Mo-flicks, has become an archetype for the genre, which generally comprises a bunch of Mormon missionaries (called Elders) living in cramped, frat-boy-style conditions in a place far from home, each overcoming personal obstacles as they try to find converts.
The Best Two Years takes this scenario to The Netherlands, where a gang of four Americans stumble through language barriers, lust for girls back home, anti-Mormon sentiment, and personal apathy for the task.
Imagine my surprise on numerous fronts when faced with this film. First off, these guys are all pretty good actors, a crushing departure from the stilted dialogue common in this budding genre. All unknowns, every one of them has a knack with dialogue and manages to generate a truly compelling character that continues to grow over the course of the movie. Most fun is Kirby Heyborne as a vaguely southern yokel obsessed with spreading the word; the other three fellows each face varying degrees of jadedness with the missionary process, which can be alternately humiliating, grueling, and pointless. Scraping bottom is K.C. Clyde (the only Hollywood actor in the film, if you can call appearances in films like Firestarter 2 "Hollywood"), who's become so jaded he doesn't even bother trying to make converts any more, preferring instead to take pictures of flowers.
Well-paced and often funny, this is the rare Mormon movie that isn't afraid to make a little fun of itself -- especially Heyborne, whose precociousness made me laugh out loud more than once. The basic plot ("get more converts!") is awfully familiar and the strongarm tactics that come out in the end are ultimately uninspiring -- especially if you don't agree with Mormon doctrine -- but director Scott S. Anderson manages to transcend this more often than not. He also manages to produce a real movie with real production values -- lighting, sound, and editing are all top notch, yet this is Anderson's first feature. Well done.
If you see one Mormon movie in your life (and really, to expose yourself to a different point of view, you ought to see one), this is the one to see.
EXCERPT: "Mormons will undoubtedly find many in-jokes the rest of us will miss, but for those not in the church, it's an interesting look at an unfamiliar lifestyle"
Rating: *** [3 out of 4 stars]
Mormon missionaries do more than ride around on bicycles and knock on doors. They have crises of faith, battle loneliness and read breakup letters from girlfriends, followed by wedding announcements.
And they also make each other laugh. "The Best Two Years" makes us giggle at and with them.
To be a missionary means to maintain an untiring devotion to your cause, as well as a doggedly high tolerance for endless letdowns.
One of the most let down of these proselytizers is John Rogers, a burnout weeks away from the end of his two-year stint in Holland. Exposition in the form of morose comic dialogue with his colleagues reveals that Rogers started off his mission as an eager workhorse, but lost his sense of urgency when his former "companion," or mission partner, went back home and married Rogers' girlfriend.
Now Rogers, who has yet to land a conversion, spends his time aimlessly lounging around, waiting for the end of his stay in Holland, which has shaped up to be a fairly crummy two years. He looks with jealousy and contempt upon his roommates, who open letters from their girlfriends and tally up record-approaching numbers of copies of "The Book of Mormon" they leave in the hands of prospective converts.
The well-acted "The Best Two Years" is ostensibly the story of how Rogers (K.C. Clyde) travels a path of introspection to find his fire again, but it's really more of a male-bonding war film, with quick, lonely banter reminiscent of "The Great Escape," or a squeaky-clean version of "The Dirty Dozen."
When guys are off in a foreign land with an impossible-seeming mission to do, they have a fun way of jabbing at one another's insecurities. These are lonely men nearing their breaking point, grasping at humor as their last resort.
Writer/director Scott S. Anderson adapted the script from his stage play, "The Best Two Years of My Life," which was based on his own LDS mission.
Much of the comedy is driven by the bumbling, stumbling Hezekiah Calhoun, who is played by Kirby Heyborne, a regular on the thriving Mormon movie circuit. Heyborne had roles in "The Singles Ward," "The R.M.," "The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1" and the upcoming World War II movie "Saints and Soldiers."
A goofy, chess-playing dork from Oklahoma, Calhoun gradually wins Rogers over with his indomitable aw-shucks hopefulness. But not before Calhoun makes a fool of himself at a Holland shop by mistaking the Dutch word for "virgin." Calhoun and the other missionaries have received the church title of "elder," but a passer-by mistakes Calhoun's first name for Elmer.
To Mormon audiences, especially former missionaries who will catch all the references, the movie will probably be as much of a laugh riot as Charlie Chaplin was to moviegoers in the 1920s.
Many of the jokes, though, seem a little too Inside Baseball. Much is made over the controversy of whether multiple religious texts should be called "Books of Mormon" or "Book of Mormons," and terms such as "challenges" are tossed around without explanation.
This is a comedy by Mormons and for Mormons, and outsiders without a tolerance for different doctrine should, of course, shy away. There is enough humanistic truth here, though, to fascinate and entertain non-believers. With its writing so light and amusing and its performances so earnest, "The Best Two Years" deserves not to be known as an entertaining Mormon comedy, but an entertaining comedy, period.
Family call: The closest thing to bad language is the word "flippin'. "