For a truly inspired date movie, try "The Best Two Years." Don't laugh, especially for audiences around here this entertaining film warmly captures missionary life like no film before it. Shot gorgeously in and around picturesque Holland, the film was adapted from a stage play and rewritten by its original author Scott Anderson.
Featuring four strong performances by its leads, it offers a welcome, unforced comedic approach that deftly presages the poignancy of its never preachy but penetrating spiritual moments. The bar for LDS-themed films has clearly been raised. This is the film that deserves AND rewards your investment.
Rating: A-
Several people have written to ask me why, with the recent releases of Pride and Prejudice and Halestorm's latest feature The Home Teachers, I haven't written any reviews of these films. The fact is that I have been sequestered from the world in preparation for some very important exams that are just around the corner for me, and it would take something extraordinary to bring me out of my cocoon right now. Well, actually it took TWO extraordinary things.
The Best Two Years
The first of these is the release of a wonderful little film called The Best Two Years. No, this film isn't the second coming of It's a Wonderful Life, but as far as making a film for the LDS market, I think this film hits it right on the head. In fact, I would not hesitate to say that of all the various LDS-market theatrical release feature films (including those from Richard Dutcher and the relatively high-budget The Other Side of Heaven), I personally enjoyed watching this one most of all.
The Best Two Years was written and directed by Scott Anderson and is based on Anderson's play "The Best Two Years of My Life," about his experiences as a missionary in Holland. It centers on the lives of four missionaries sharing a small apartment in Haarlem, a city west of Amsterdam. The film stars Kirby Heyborne as Elder Calhoun, the epitome of the nerdy greenie missionary, and KC Clyde as Elder Rogers, his less-than-enthusiastic trainer. Cameron Hopkin is Elder Van Pelt, a self-obsessed missionary who has at least three different girls waiting for him at home, David Nibley plays district leader Elder Johnson and Scott Christopher puts in a nice, restrained appearance as Kyle Harrison, an American visitor to Holland who Elder Calhoun keeps running into and keeps trying to give him a Book of Mormon.
Although at first glance, the film relies on stereotypical LDS missionary caricatures, the script and the performances are strong enough to overcome this potential weakness. Many return missionaries watching the film will feel that it reflects mission life more accurately than any of the previous mission-based films, and although the filmmakers did not go out of their way to try and attract a crossover non-LDS audience (which would probably have ended up weakening the story), the themes and interpersonal relationships depicted are universal enough that any person who happens to watch the film should be able to engage in the story, regardless of their religious background and despite some story elements which would be unfamiliar to most outside of the church.
With outdoor scenes being shot in Holland, director of photography Gordon C. Lonsdale captures the beauty of the multi-colored Dutch landscape. Well-known LDS songwriter Michael McLean adds his talents to the production, and all in all, it's just a feel-good movie about faith and just plain getting along, with just a few corny moments along the way.
The Best Two Years combines good storytelling with an excellent understanding of its target audience. It doesn't aspire to be anything more than what it is, a low budget film catering specifically to Latter-day Saints, yet within those parameters, Anderson and producers Fred Danneman and Michael Flynn (who appeared as Laban in last year's The Book of Mormon Movie: Volume 1) have put together a charming little film that manages to entertain audiences without (I believe) offending even the most conservative of church members.
Incidentally, after the box office performance of recent LDS market films, if this film doesn't turn a profit, it will not bode well for the future of the LDS Cinema in general. I think this film will be a pretty good indicator of the financial health of the genre, because I just can't see anyone making a film that is better suited for the LDS market than this one.
By the way, in case you haven't been counting, The Best Two Years is the 15th LDS Cinema feature film (not counting The Legend of Johnny Lingo, which is not technically LDS Cinema, although a large portion of its audience has certainly consisted of members of the church familiar with the original Brigham Young University-produced short film).
[The next section of this article is about "Saints and Soldiers," and the MPAA rating system, and is not related to "The Best Two Years."]
"The Best Two Years" started out as a real-life LDS missionary experience, morphed into a play, and is now yet another LDS-themed movie. And it's a surprisingly, pleasantly good one at that.
The film, which opens Friday, is distributed under the familiar Halestorm label, but is produced by a separate entity of filmmakers. Written and directed by Scott S. Anderson and produced by Anderson with Michael Flynn, the film centers around the foibles, frustrations, drama and humor of life in the LDS mission field. In this case, the setting is Haarlem, Holland.
Elder Rogers (KC Clyde), who has only months left on his mission, has become beaten down and jaded by the hardships of mission life, and particularly by the disappointing things happening back home. He's simply coasting through the last part of his mission, waiting for it all to end.
But a new junior companion from Oklahoma played by Kirby Heyborne ("The R.M.") alters that when he bounds recklessly into the mission with dopey enthusiasm.
Elder Calhoun is a nerdy convert to the LDS faith who has a childlike fascination with the distant idea of having a girlfriend and a fierce desire to use his time as a missionary wisely. Rogers is initially annoyed, then affected by Elder Calhoun's innocence and zeal.
Calhoun has severe difficulty with the Dutch language, but tries valiantly anyway. Eventually he meets an English speaking American (Scott Christopher) who is working in Holland, and in spite of Elder Roger's discouraging remarks and unwillingness to help, Calhoun relentlessly hounds this new prospect into becoming an investigator.
The two companions share a run-down missionary apartment with two other missionaries. Elder Johnson (David Nibley) is a mature and responsible missionary who's looking forward to returning home and marrying his girlfriend.
Elder Van Pelt (Cameron Hopkin) is an overly-confident and highly motivated "ladies man" who keeps pictures of three different girlfriends from back home on the wall and plans on "moving up" quickly in the mission. The two are constantly picking at each other's irritating nuances and mannerisms.
Heyborne, who I've already previously out as being at the top of the heap of charismatic talent in the LDS movie niche, turns in his usual wholly likable and goofy performance. Hopkin is also entertaining as the smugly satisfied Elder Van Pelt. And Nibley and Clyde as the two senior companions -- one a straight -- arrow and the other a bored slouch -- also give solid performances.
But it's Scott Christopher as the reluctant investigator that gives the film a depth and strength it might not otherwise have had. His serious and introspective but barely detached presence counters the comic moments and gives real weight to what could otherwise be a somewhat fluffy film. It also provides some much-needed tension and suspense in a story that could be predictable.
A pleasantly earthy soundtrack by Michael McLean is certainly off the beaten track of rock version hymns and primary songs so often seen in this niche. And intimate writing and direction by Scott S. Anderson shows the mission at it's most vulnerable -- the wasted time, the stupid mistakes, the tiny encouragements, the awkward moments, the joyous victories -- all of which somehow meld together to create the best two years of a young man's life.
Anderson is also careful not to zero in too much on any one missionary's story. He's not overly attached to any one missionary's story, and we're treated to four compelling, funny, and touching stories woven together in a tiny apartment in Holland.
This is truly a well crafted and compelling exploration of lives changed by religion. Among the best of it's kind.
Grade: B+
"The Best Two Years" follows the everyday lives and struggles of 4 Mormon Missionaries serving their two-year proselytizing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) in Holland. While three of the four have been there for a time, the fourth Elder Hezekiah Calhoun, played by Kirby Heyborne, is brand new to the mission and must be trained.
KC Clyde as Elder John Rogers, has been given the challenge of training the "greenie" missionary. Despite his lack of faith and ambition due to his time in the field and losing his girl to a returned missionary friend, Rogers takes on the task.
"The Best Two Years" is simply the best of the current films focusing on LDS themes. Understated with a well-written script by Scott S. Anderson, the story allows a balance of comedy and emotional drama without going too far over the top. And despite the film's "low budget" it is surprisingly well filmed and directed.
KC Clyde does a superb job as the brooding Elder John Rogers. Clyde, who has been seen in many smaller roles, manages to bring a profound quality to his character. Likewise David Nibley as Elder Emmit Johnson, brings a kind of honest wisdom to his role. Cameron Hopkin delivers a fine and watchable performance as Elder Van Pelt, who is a bit conceited.
Honorable mention goes to Kirby Heyborne, a veteran of several Mormon films, most recently the comedy "The R.M" and "The Book of Mormon Movie." Heyborne, as Elder Calhoun, comes off (at first) a bit too funny -- a bit too Gomer Pyle. Then as the story unfolds, his character balances into a touching, endearing and memorable role.
In the final reel, the story is a solid one and well worth your time to see. "The Best Two Years" gets 3 stars and is rated PG for thematic elements.
One might call the new LDS themed The Best Two Years, "God's Army Light," as this picture is similar to Richard Dutcher's missionary drama but much breezier and certainly played for a lot more laughs.
I'm not a member of the LDS church, though my wife is a Mormon and over the past several years, I've become very good friends with many of them. I guess the reason I bring this up is so that everyone out there knows that even though I don't practice this faith myself, I do have a more than fair knowledge of it.
The Best Two Years takes place in Holland and follows Elder Rogers (a missionary who's been in the field long enough to have lost his fervor and has settled into lax proselytizing schedule) and Elder Calhoun (a "greenie" fresh out in the field, ready to line 'em up and dunk 'em). Obviously this is a set-up for Mormon mayhem, as Elder Rogers is soon hitting the cobblestone at a much more zealous pace, and though he resists the two manage to become friends.
First and foremost, The Best Two Years is surprisingly comical in it's approach, and I never felt that it was preachy, nor did it come across as church propaganda. God's Army, by contrast, was too heavy handed for my taste, going so far as to include a scene in which a blessing performed results in a miracle.
I have a daughter who was born four months early, and was given a slim chance at survival and she's now a wonderful, lively five year old, so if you ask me if I believe in miracles, I would reply with a resounding YES! However, the particular miracle that occurs in God's Army was a little hard to swallow. Though I've had people close to me tell me they've seen such amazing occurrences, it felt all too foreign to me.
The Best Two Years isn't interested in such business. This is a film that attempts to describe the "mission experience" through communication, friendship and love. There is definitely spirituality to be found in this picture, but it's understated enough to work, which is a refreshing. The film also isn't afraid to shy away from the notion that sometimes missionaries have to find their purpose - it doesn't always come naturally. In fact the inevitable scene where the disillusioned Elder Rogers has a faith-restoring experience is handled in a way that was surprisingly touching.
I also fell in love with the Holland locations, absolutely gorgeous vistas that were worlds away from the rather glum (but equally impressive) areas presented in Girl With A Pearl Earring (it should be noted that that movie took place in 17th century while The Best Two Years is contemporary).
K.C. Clyde, Cameron Hopkin and the rest of the cast are likable and light on their feet although Kirby Heyborne (who's become a household name in the LDS film market with The R.M. and the upcoming Saints and Soldiers under his belt) plays Elder Calhoun a little too broad. His nerdy, nebbish demeanor is overplayed and takes away from the subtle, comical rhythm that flows through the rest of the movie. He does, however, shine during some moments of the picture, and he isn't so annoying that the movie suffers as a result of it. This is a role that would have simply worked better had his character been less a collection of cliches and been dialed down a notch. As it stands, Heyborne should have a nice career ahead of him as he has proven in past films (and, to a certain extent, in this one) that he has a knack for comical timing. He's also quite good in dramatic roles (as you'll see in Saints and Soldiers).
For those of you who have been on missions, you will, no doubt, detect a sense of truth and honesty at the heart of The Best Two Years. Obviously I have not been called to serve, but I've had lengthy discussions with people who have. And perhaps the most admirable aspect of this movie is it's acknowledgment that a mission isn't just about spreading the gospel - it's also about making friends, finding one's self and creating some pretty flippin' awesome memories.
I wouldn't say that The Best Two Years is the best two hours I've spent in a movie theater, but it's clearly one of the best LDS themed movies I've seen
Grade: B-