(For Friday) The Singles Ward - 2002

"Isn't that a Mormon movie?"
"Why yes, yes it is. But does that preclude me from watching it, laughing at it, crying at it and enjoying it thoroughly? No. No it does not."

For my MORMON friends, you've all seen this movie. You have no reason to sit here and read my review. For my non-Mormon friends, I actually suggest you consider taking the time to watch this movie - you may end up surprising the heck out of yourself with how much you will enjoy it.

I don't really LIKE the plot description on IMDB, so actually I am pretty glad that I have the chance to re-write it here.

The Singles Ward is about John - he's a young Mormon man who married someone who changed their mind about their faith. He came home one day to beer in the fridge and a woman who no longer decided to live by the same values he wanted to. So John decides to live however he wants to live until his faith catches up with him and he makes some new choices based on the actions of his friends and his emerging feelings for a new woman he insulted and then inadvertently danced with at a stake dance.

John struggles with his faith - not just his faith in religion, but also his faith in himself...his faith in others and his faith in being happy again. The movie does an excellent job of showing you how in the darkest moments when you feel most alone, the most emotional growth can happen. I was in tears as John sat in tears - sitting alone in his car on a cliff and reflecting on his life. We've all had those moments where we find ourselves questioning who we are and where we are going and how in the blazes we intend to get where we want to be in life. I shared John's fears, his feelings, his emotions and cheered when he made the choices and changes in his life.

There are some scenes that may be a little hard to understand if you're not Mormon, feel free to ask me if there's anything that doesn't translate for you. :) Oh, and an "in-joke" for my Mormon friends still reading this: NOW I HAVE TO FIND GOD'S ARMY ON DVD SO I CAN SEE THIS BATHROOM SCENE!

The IMDB Link