I'm not mormon, but I live in Salt Lake City. I watched this movie because I heard it was cute, and it's fun to see the film locations in my city.
Without the Utah, LDS culture shoving its way down my throat, I would have thought this was a just a good old love story/tearjerker. Instead, the first half is all about an adorable, charismatic, girl named Charly who visits her family in Utah. While she is there, she gets to know a religious boy named Sam, who right off the bat wears a "BYU" baseball cap. Sam, a dude who basically seems like he has a stick up his a** the entire time, UNTIL Charly starts sharing his interest in the Mormon church. Sweet Charly only seems to only be accepted by Sam once she falls in love with the church, and gets baptized. Good for Charlie, but I personally thought that the whole first half put out a vibe that she was not good enough before. Sam is kind of awkward, judgmental, and only perked up in parts where the religion was being talked about. Don't get me wrong, her parents are a little judgy too.
THE BEST part of the whole movie was the part where Sam finds out that Charly lost her virginity, all in her past, pre-baptized life, and calls her "used goods." Good job, Sam. Another a**hole point!
Bla bla bla, they make up, get married, have a baby, and unfortunally Charly is diagnosed with Cancer. This part of the movie shows sadness, strength, hope, and love, which I think is good in any sad movie. THIS part was refreshing once the religious aspect mellowed out.
Bottom line, as far as the LDS culture in Utah, they pinned the nail on the head. I've watched plenty of Mormon movies, and I've liked lots of them. This movie in particular hit close to home. It showed a lot of the pressure and lack of acceptance that some people in the Mormon church show the people who are not like them. Even when you're a Christian, it seems like you are not good enough unless you are a member of the LDS church. In my opinion, this movie portrayed that WELL, and if I ever want to feel bad about myself again, I will watch this film.
Without the Utah, LDS culture shoving its way down my throat, I would have thought this was a just a good old love story/tearjerker. Instead, the first half is all about an adorable, charismatic, girl named Charly who visits her family in Utah. While she is there, she gets to know a religious boy named Sam, who right off the bat wears a "BYU" baseball cap. Sam, a dude who basically seems like he has a stick up his a** the entire time, UNTIL Charly starts sharing his interest in the Mormon church. Sweet Charly only seems to only be accepted by Sam once she falls in love with the church, and gets baptized. Good for Charlie, but I personally thought that the whole first half put out a vibe that she was not good enough before. Sam is kind of awkward, judgmental, and only perked up in parts where the religion was being talked about. Don't get me wrong, her parents are a little judgy too.
THE BEST part of the whole movie was the part where Sam finds out that Charly lost her virginity, all in her past, pre-baptized life, and calls her "used goods." Good job, Sam. Another a**hole point!
Bla bla bla, they make up, get married, have a baby, and unfortunally Charly is diagnosed with Cancer. This part of the movie shows sadness, strength, hope, and love, which I think is good in any sad movie. THIS part was refreshing once the religious aspect mellowed out.
Bottom line, as far as the LDS culture in Utah, they pinned the nail on the head. I've watched plenty of Mormon movies, and I've liked lots of them. This movie in particular hit close to home. It showed a lot of the pressure and lack of acceptance that some people in the Mormon church show the people who are not like them. Even when you're a Christian, it seems like you are not good enough unless you are a member of the LDS church. In my opinion, this movie portrayed that WELL, and if I ever want to feel bad about myself again, I will watch this film.