Rating: Summary: Bad movie or occasionally funny 2 hour sketch? Review: "Singles Ward" looks and feels like a 2 hour "Saturday Night Live" sketch with a mormon twist to it. While occasionally funny and clever, the majority of the humor comes from stereotypical mormon jokes. Yes, there are jello jokes, "friendimonies", heavy use of the word "flip", poking fun at the BYU marriage obsession, and all the other stuff anyone who's lived in Utah has already heard. Someone just decided to film them.A big problem with this film is that all the jokes are just thrown together with no real cohesion. They film makers try to wrap them all up in a love story about a guy who has drifted away from the LDS church but quickly comes back to pursue a girl. When this plot takes the driver's seat, things become really long and painful. The 2 main characters (the guy and girl in love) really bring this film down. Although he's supposed to be the main source of humor, the guy's delivery is lacking. The problem with the girl is probably due to bad scripting, as she comes off as very self-righteous and judgemental. I think we're supposed to like her, but other than having a nice face and figure, there's really nothing to like. The minor characters of the film save this movie from being a complete waste. I thought the guy getting ready to go on a mission was good, as well as the guy who's consistantly hitting on the ladies. As a film, "Singles Ward" barely justifies being called a movie. As a sketch comedy on video, the first hour can be mildly rewarding, and after that, pain.
Rating: Summary: Hilarious if you are LDS! Review: A thoroughly entertaining movie if you are LDS. If not, you probably won't get much of the humor. Will Swenson did especially well. Thumbs up -- considering its budget and audience!
Rating: Summary: Who needs to be mormon to like this? Review: All right I admit that there might be a mormon language just like there is a catholic language or buddist but I still got the picture. This movie was wildly hilarious for an independent style film. When each spotlight character was pointed out from other movies it gave me a great desire to see those also. After reading other reviews that were negative, worrying about how a non mormon would see this movie I can say they are wrong. I found it highly entertaining and even now have purchased it on DVD and shared it with other friends which are not mormon. This is a great movie cross-cultural for these characters are not just in the mormon church but they are in the clubs and elsewhere in the single life. If you have been single and gone into the world you will see many of these same characters repeated. For all those uptight mormons that won't share, 'Non mormons' like a good clean laugh as much as the next guy -So get over yourselves. (Don't believe those 'mormon' friends that say you won't understand it). In conclusion whether your mormon or not this is a funny film good for a great laugh.
Rating: Summary: A wholesome crazy LDS comedy Review: Anyone who has been reading my reviews should know my secret now... If not I'll tell you... I'm LDS (Mormon.) Not only that, but I'm proud of it, never hiding the fact, or fearing public ridicule which is commonplace in many of the non-Utah states I've lived in. I won't get into politics, or religion here though. I must confess that this isn't a movie that a "non-member" would enjoy, as the film is very much a satire of LDS Single life. Many may not know this, but being single and being LDS is a terrible way to live life, as we are taught that family is the most important thing in life. Many LDS single adults get caught up in this idea and sometimes end up marrying the wrong person, that's what happens to our main man Jonathan who ends up divorcing after his wife looses faith in the church and resorts to alcohol and cigarettes (a big no-no in our faith.) From there Jonathan himself begins to loose faith... though not as badly, and ends up going inactive (stops going to church) until one day fate steps in and strands him at an LDS Singles dance (the horror!) where he meets Cammie a beautiful young woman who also serves as the ward activities director... there's only one problem, she had called him earlier to invite him to a church activity and he rather rudely told her off. Now Jonathan must make things right and prove to Cammie that he is not the jerk that he made himself out to be. While the premise is pretty straight forward, what is enjoyable about this film is the way it perfectly parodies LDS Singles Wards. The sad truth of it is that real Singles Wards really do often come off as being as low, picky, desperate, and pathetic as many of the characters (as loveable as they really are) of this film are. While the movie very much plays off of stereotypes its scary how a member of a real Singles Ward can go through the cast of characters and find someone in their own ward to match that character up with. The film also parodies life in Utah to some extent, and is an excellent piece that one could use to give someone a comical view of what Mormons are really like. No we don't have horns on our head... The downside to this movie is that it has an extremely limited audience. Not only is this movie not going to make sense to "non-Mormons" but it will also alienate anyone who has yet to experience the LDS Singles Ward sub culture that the movie parodies, which is a lot of older Mormons, and many who live in areas that may not have, or many not have easy access to a Singles Ward. While I highly recommend this film, I also caution that anyone who may want to see the film go to an LDS Singles Ward for a while first, that way you'll be able to appreciate the humor this great movie has to offer.
Rating: Summary: We are a peculiar people Review: As a raised in the Church "Mormon" I don't know how many of the jokes people not familiar with the Church will get, but believe me this is a very funny movie. It makes fun of the Church (or the members) without making light of the temple, the prophet, the doctrines or anything else most "Mormon" find sacred. Watching this movie will make all those "Mormons" who grew up saying, "What so peculiar about us,?" laugh at how peculiar we can be. Because you can't really see members of any other faith doing anything equivalent to some of things that the characters in the movie do, but we all know (or are) members who act and feel that way. As one who has had several music callings, I loved the music in this movie. Classic hymns and children's songs in fun new arrangements. Picture a lounge singing performing "Teach me to Walk in the Light" or a pop version of "Popcorn Popping" and you get an idea of some of the music in this movie. Not the most spiritual movie ,but I loved it.
Rating: Summary: A bucket of laughs--if you're mormon. Review: BY THE WAY, the movie was PG (as Amazon has it as unrated). The movie is about two LDS singles trying to hook it up with special appearances from nearly every prominent Mormon you can think of. They take every single Mormon stereotype, quark, etc., and exploit it to the fullest to leave your sides aching, if you're Mormon. That's the only real problem for the movie, is unless you make up a part of that 2% of the U.S. population, you're probably not going to get. It does go over the top on its jokes occasionally, but sit back and enjoy the flick! It's worth your while.
Rating: Summary: Some really fine moments - good leads Review: First and foremost I am glad to see movies made for the LDS culture. Having lived my life in Michigan (except the two years in Australia), the LDS church isn't mentioned much in the popular media and when it is it is too often in predictable stereotypes. So, this movie and its cousins are welcome fresh air to me. This is a pretty funny movie. Will Swenson is pretty good in the lead role. He has a nice screen presence and has a light touch in what less able hands could turn into mush. Connie Young is also quite nice as Cammie. The plot is predictable and no one is claiming high art here, but there are some fine moments. Before the divorce when Jordan is opening the fridge and we see the beer immediately and it takes him awhile to do the double take just about the time we are wondering why it's in their fridge. And when he realizes Cammie's father is a general authority. And, thankfully, when Cammie actually leaves on her mission. But some of the comedy is too heavy handed. The controller for the big screen TV is over the top. The beyond the valley of the nerds nerdishness of a couple of the characters is just too much. And though the carrot shavings in the green Jell-O may be a delicious target for those who find the clich?s of our culture a bit much, and artist (even a journeyman artist) must know that the easy targets, especially clich?s, must be left alone. Work a bit harder and think of something more fresh. There is plenty to go after. But, those are minor quibbles. Thanks for making the movie and for helping us get at our culture through movies. Good job!
Rating: Summary: Some really fine moments - good leads Review: First and foremost I am glad to see movies made for the LDS culture. Having lived my life in Michigan (except the two years in Australia), the LDS church isn't mentioned much in the popular media and when it is it is too often in predictable stereotypes. So, this movie and its cousins are welcome fresh air to me. This is a pretty funny movie. Will Swenson is pretty good in the lead role. He has a nice screen presence and has a light touch in what less able hands could turn into mush. Connie Young is also quite nice as Cammie. The plot is predictable and no one is claiming high art here, but there are some fine moments. Before the divorce when Jordan is opening the fridge and we see the beer immediately and it takes him awhile to do the double take just about the time we are wondering why it's in their fridge. And when he realizes Cammie's father is a general authority. And, thankfully, when Cammie actually leaves on her mission. But some of the comedy is too heavy handed. The controller for the big screen TV is over the top. The beyond the valley of the nerds nerdishness of a couple of the characters is just too much. And though the carrot shavings in the green Jell-O may be a delicious target for those who find the clichés of our culture a bit much, and artist (even a journeyman artist) must know that the easy targets, especially clichés, must be left alone. Work a bit harder and think of something more fresh. There is plenty to go after. But, those are minor quibbles. Thanks for making the movie and for helping us get at our culture through movies. Good job!
Rating: Summary: A great mormon movie. Review: First off if you're not mormon then you probably won't get all the jokes. But it is so funny. I recommend no matter what religion. I think that it does give a good depiction of some of the stereo-types and misconceptions about mormons. If you'd like to see a little about what the mormons believe and have some fun doing I suggest this movie. I loved it.
Rating: Summary: An Original Mormon Comedy Review: Growing up in Utah and being an active member of the Mormon Church (and being a member of a couple of singles' wards myself) I thought this was a well written, very clever comedy for the LDS community. In fact, I dare say that it is one of my favorite movies. What I liked most about this movie is that it goes where a lot of Mormon cinema in the past did not dare tread, while at the same time not being critical or "apostate" in church policies, views, or what have you. I liked that fact that it took place (and was filmed) in Utah. But that is just me getting my kicks because I love Utah. So, pick it up if you are so inclined. It's really good.
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