Charly

I was disappointed that the story seemed to take a back seat to pushing the religious message. If the viewer already is "in the fold," this will probably be enormously satisfying. Others may feel like they've been duped. I didn't think it was worth the $9 admission I had to pay. My fault for going to a movie that wasn't reviewed in the paper, haha.

Actually, I thought Heather Beers' performance was outstanding, as was that of the woman who played her artist-grandmother, but the other characters were shallow and underdeveloped, especially the leading man, who had a lot of screen time and should have come through with more depth . . . but then I don't think that was the goal of the movie. The message is, "If you accept the church, your life will have more meaning."

Cynics may say that the movie intends to tell everyone to join the Mormon Church. The main character's decision to join or not only occurs in the first half of the movie. The rest deals with the relationship between Charly and Sam, including the arguments, hardships and tragedies that happen IN SPITE OF their faith. To me, that's what makes the movie such a good idea: sure, the main characters talk about baptism, but they do it with personality, and they never turn to the camera and say that the Mormon church is for everyone. I call that tasteful. I was especially impressed with the supporting characters, like Charly's grandmother and the fiancée. The parts were well-acted, and fleshed out the story nicely. The questions and ideas this movie proposes about life are just as difficult and commonly asked today as they were when the original book was written. While you watch the movie be sure to accept that some people actually choose to believe in something.

I have not read any of Jack Weyland's work, even though I found a lecture he gave quite entertaining. My wife had to coax me into watching this movie. She hasn't read the book, either. I thought the movie was a little long and slow, but also thought provoking and well made for an LDS film.

"Charly" seemed like two separate stories to me. The first half of the movie is about Charly's internal struggle. She resolves it, and the movie could end there, happily ever after. I'm not sure I would watch the sequel, however. The second half of the movie is more poignant. In this story, Sam struggles with his own beliefs, and his struggle seems more intense than Charly's. The second half of this movie is better than the first, but it takes a long time to get there!

The movie makes you think about your own beliefs and the important things in life. Personally, I enjoy movies that make me think or make me want to be better.

The quality is better than most LDS films to date. The lead actors do a fairly good job, despite their lack of experience. Many of the supporting actors leave something to be desired, however.

"Charly" is a top-notch film for the LDS genre. It ranks up there with "The Other Side of Heaven" and "Roots and Wings." Such movies don't require you to be a Mormon to enjoy the story they tell. The love story in "Charly" could happen to a person of any faith. This one just happens to take place in Salt Lake City.

If this is not a 'Date Night' movie, nothing else is.

A typical romantic movie, touching all bases, boy meet girl, girl reject boy, boy jealous an eternal triangle, girl marries boy, girl get cancer, the here after.

So so many done it. Ryan O'Neal, a love story is the original .

I am not a big movie goer. For one I simply can not afford them and to go in to a theater and be insulted by what I see makes me mad. I love action, and to be honest I love sex, however I don't enjoy seeing other people have it. I am not really into the "chick flicks" either. I like one I can go home and feel excited about and actually feel like I was there. I never cry in movies, it is just not me. I may get teary eyed, but I do that when I watch my children dance or play. However the movie Charley touched me in a way I can not even explain. I felt the joy and sorrow in that movie. I felt like I knew these people and they were my friends. I not only got teary eyed, but I lost it, I totally lost it. I did not take my kleenex, I never need them, so I had to get some napkins. This was not an LDS movie, this was a love story that was centered around a belief that happened to be LDS. We have movies that are centered around Jews. (Jazz singer) or catholics and we do not say, "awwww that was a Jewish movie". This movie is touching in the fact that this man believed so much in his faith and yet had challenges that made him question it. Yet it was a love story that could make you be there and want that for yourself. It was clean, and funny and Hollywood should take note.

I would recommend Charley to anyone of any faith that would enjoy a good clean movie that can make you laugh and make you cry. Look past the low budget and see the heart of the movie and the actors. It was a movie that did not need all the big props and lights, the story is what gave it the heart.