The Best Two Years

From a production values point of view, this is by far the best of the "Mormon Cinema". The acting, writing, camera work and even the soundtrack are all first rate. The scenery in Holland is very beautiful as well.

The story, superbly acted by an ensemble cast, is familiar. Essentially, a newbie missionary shows up and attempts to fit in with more established, more cynical veterans. The results: After the expected bumps and false starts, they all wind up growing, and benefiting from his presence, spirit and enthusiasm... much to their own surprise. This could have been a movie about a new salesman joining the firm.... a new athlete joining the team... a new peace corps volunteer experiencing a foreign country... etc. It works because the experience is universal enough that we all can relate. But this movie still manages to give this plot vehicle a fresh face.

The humor was all genuine and very sympathetic, but nonetheless satisfying and effective. There was very little of the slapstick, low humor that is usually relied on in this kind of effort. Also, the movie conveys a sense of the actors' faith and mission, without ever being heavy-handed or preachy. They let you see what they do and why they do it, without bashing you over the head with it.

An additional bonus: They managed to make a movie, set in Holland, without a single reference or use of that country's proclivity for loose or kinky sexual mores. Holland was simply where the missionaries were stationed... nothing more. That must be some kind of a modern-day first.

I would encourage anyone, Mormon or not, to see this movie, if the goal is a pleasant, feel good, warm-hearted and funny two hours. That's what the movie promises, and that's what it delivers.

I didn't expect much from this movie when I first bought this movie. I had seen "The Home Teachers" and although it was funny (for a Mormon like me), it was totally corny and stupid. But when I watch "The Best Two Years", "The Home Teachers" was erased from my memory. I enjoyed the movie that much.

It was way better than any other Mormon movie I had seen before. The spirit was still strong in it, the characters were interesting, and overall, it was hilarious. I especially enjoyed Elder Calhoun and his nerdy antics. And even better was Elder Rodgers sarcastic remarks and dry, yet witty humor. I don't think any other Mormon movie comes close to this film.

Now here's a "SPECIAL EDITION" DVD that really is "SPECIAL"! Not only is "THE BEST TWO YEARS" one of the finest movies made by LDS filmmakers to date, but the DVD has some nice "Extras" that make it a true "Special Edition".

The film is based on director Scott S. Anderson's personal experiences as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while serving in Holland. Some years after his mission he wrote it into play form. A version of that play (as performed at the Promised Valley Playhouse in downtown Salt Lake City) is included as part of this DVD. You can watch it all my itself or in conjunction with the movie itself.

The DVD also includes a Filmmakers Commentary and an Actors Commentary track as well as a Making of Documentary, Outtakes & Deleted Scenes, Production Gallery and Trailers. Now that's quite a package.

The film itself is very well done, with nice location photography shot in Holland. The performances are first-rate and the directing and script sharp. Watching the film and then seeing the play version makes for an insightful look at how something personal makes it to film.

Note: If you have trouble locating a seller of this DVD, then you might want to try Deseret Book Company or Seagull Book & Tape. This one is worth tracking down. A special "Thank You" to HaleStorm Distribution for doing such a nice job on this DVD release.

This is one of a number of Mormon-themed films produced by HaleStorm Entertainment, but don't be put off by that as The Best Two Years is not preachy but highly entertaining as well as educating to any non-Mormon such as myself.

This is a tale of four young Mormon missionaries serving their two years in Holland. They are four intelligent young men who suffer all the doubts and problems of anyone their age. The story is told by Elder John Rogers and represents the actual events in the life of the writer. At the beginning of the film, Elder Rogers is a little more that two month from the end of his two years but instead of looking back upon a successful mission, he is in the depths of depression. His girl back home in Utah has found another, and that has knocked Elder Rogers completely off his feet. Instead of nurturing and guiding the new missionaries put under his tutelage (called "companions"), he has managed to discourage and drive them all away. It seems that his first companion and good friend was the one who left at the end of his missionary, went back home, and stole Elder Rogers' girl.

Elder Hezekiah Calhoun and Elder Steven Van Pelt are the companions who share the apartment with Elder Rogers. Calhoun is the mature, level-headed one of the group, and Van Pelt is the wealthy, egotistical, ladies man. Of course, that's ladies man in the Mormon sense of the term in that he has three beautiful girls back home with whom he communicates - committing himself to none. Calhoun and Van Pelt are very much concerned about Rogers' depression and fear that he considers his mission a failure even though he had great success at the beginning.

Elder Rogers is being assigned his last companion in the hopes that he will be able to snap out of his doldrums and rise to the occasion. Thus arrives Elder Emit Johnson, a wide-eyed boy from Texas who is in hopes of accomplishing amazing things during his missionary. Need-less-to-say - as feel good movies go - Johnson's spirit and determination has a great effect upon Rogers.

Most of the scenes of this film take place in the young men's less that luxurious apartment, but there are many scenes of the beauty of Holland when they are out and about on their bicycles dressed in their dark business suits. All of this is accompanied by some better than average music with lyrics that further the story.

The four young actors who play the elders are excellent in their parts and give the viewer a good sense of idealistic young men devoted to a cause. They, along with another young man who plays a convert, make this film an uplifting joy to watch.

Personally, I think organized religions are blights upon the world and that any good accomplished can never make up for all the harm that is done in their names. Obviously, I'm in the minority, so whenever I find an example of the goodness of an organized religion, I welcome the knowledge. The Best Two Years is a genuine story based upon factual events in the author's life and is worthwhile viewing.

The real difference in LDS Films seems to be two things:

1. Acting. Many LDS films have had poor acting. This film had superb acting. My wife and I were shocked at how good the acting was. We kept waiting for sophomoric acting, and only saw minor glimpses of it a couple times. What a treat!

2. Budget for marketing. It seems at least 1/3 to 1/2 the money raised for these low-cost films has to go towards marketing. Not sure this one did that, but hopefully word-of-mouth will spread and build up a decent return for the investors/makers.

I think this film surpasses God's Army because the acting was much more consistent. Many will not agree with me. I still place "Charly" as the #1 LDS film because it had romance (a theme all of these need more of; and not the cynicsim the often have) and a knock-out performance by the title lead, Beery (is that her name?). The actor playing Sam was not as strong, but he held his own most of the time.

Kudos to an unexpectedly good film with "The Two Best Year" just when many people were about to give up on LDS film after the abysmal BoM movie and Pride & Prejudice, which has simply horrible acting.