The RM
Grade:
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Opinion:
"The RM" is the sophomore effort from HaleStorm Entertainment who brought you
"The Singles Ward" and feature many of the same people. "Singles Ward" was an entertaining if inconsistent comedy about some of the funnier aspects of LDS culture. "The RM" covers much of the same ground (albeit from slightly different angles) but in a much more focused and consistent effort. After getting their feet wet with "Singles Ward", HaleStorm has learned and progressed from the experience and have created a comedy that improves upon "Singles Ward" in virtually every area, both behind and in front of the camera. The story and pacing are more focused and the 'cameos' by famous LDS or Utah personalities are kept to a minimum--although there is still a puzzling scene with BYU football coach Gary Crowton which (a) is not funny (b) has nothing to do with football and (c) has nothing to do with the plot either. It seems to exist just so people can say "Hey, it's Gary Crowton!" (well, LaVell Edwards got his chance in the first movie...) and would probably have been better off left on the cutting room floor. For the most part, though, the acting, dialogue, and plot are leagues ahead of The Singles Ward (which, mind you, wasn't all that bad to begin with...)
Ah, but is the movie funny? As I noted in my "Singles Ward" analysis, that is in essence the only characteristic of a comedy that really matters. Yes, (oh my, yes) "The RM" is funny. The humor in "The RM", as with other aspects of the movie, benefits from the tighter scope and focus of the filmmakers. Instead of throwing dozens of gags at the audience hoping a fraction of them hit, the filmmakers have chosen the targets of humor more carefully within the bounds of the story. The volume of jokes may be lower than in "The Singles Ward", but the success ratio is higher and as a result "The RM" will come across as a funnier movie. Plus, individual scenes such as the Elders Quorum / Relief Society comparison and Jared's disastrous attempt at home teaching at the end are some of the funniest scenes you'll see in a movie all year. Props also go to the UtahWeddings.com scene which is not only quite funny, but also an effective advertisement as well (This could have easily been mishandled and turned out lame). The quality of the humor makes up for the fact that the serious aspects of "The RM" (specifically Jared's trial at the end) are the weakest part of the movie--one area where you'd have to give "Singles Ward" the edge. As noted above, though, humor is only thing that matters in a comedy, and "The RM"'s lack of serious dramatic content shouldn't be held against it much.
As with "The Singles Ward", a lot of the humor will probably go over your head if you're not LDS, but I wouldn't let that stop you from seeing it. Don't go in expecting anything 'deep' and meaningful, but for a light comedy "The RM" represents good entertainment that virtually any church member will enjoy.
Content Analysis (PG for thematic elements)
Can't think of a single thing, even by PG standards. Some ugly boils on a character's face, for those who are easily grossed out. Jared's ex-girlfriend's "Dear Johning" of him might awake some bad memories in other returned missionaries, so perhaps emotionally shattered and unstable people might want to avoid "The RM" (I'm really stretching, as you can tell.)
In-depth Analysis:
"Remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple" -- D&C 52:40
Jared's...uh, 'less effective' experience home teaching is not only one of the most creative and funniest sequences in the movie, but also contains one of the most worthwhile lessons (certainly better than the somewhat overwrought trial sequence). Home and visiting is one of the vital elements in completing the Church's mission of "perfecting the saints". Everyone's heard the home teaching jokes--99.9% of which have something to do with the 'last day of the month', and Jared's experience attempting to visit his home teachees in the late evening on the last day of the month provides a simple lesson through humorous exaggeration. It's hard sometimes to remember that home and visiting teaching is supposed to be for the benefit and convenience of the people being home taught, not the teachers--as Jared's attempts demonstrate. Why is it so hard sometimes to be a good home teacher? Richard Marshall's 1990 book Home Teaching With Purpose And Power has a good analysis:
[W]hen a Mormon goes on a mission, it calls for a general celebration in the neighborhood: slaps on the back, a crowded farewell, laudatory speeches, his favorite hymns, and so on. He gets a grand sendoff at the airport with flags flying, bands playing, plenty of tears and hoopla. And even during his mission, he is continually reinforced with letters and packages of encouragement from home. It's hard for him to fail because of so many people in the system to prop him up, keeping him productive, keeping him going. He's almost guaranteed a repeat celebration at the airport when he completes his two years, and another crowded sacrament meeting for his homecoming. Plus...he now wears a big medal on his chest, invisible though it may be, that says 'Honorably Returned Missionary'.
But just measure the change of pace when that same excited, returned missionary receives the simple assignment of becoming a plain, everyday home teacher. Missionaries are special; home teachers are everywhere. There may be a feeling that no fire-in-the-belly spirituality is needed for home teaching. For without proper understanding and vision, home teaching could seem humdrum to most priesthood holders. And there are no bands or shouts to send a home teacher off on his designated rounds every thirty days. His calling is now perfunctory, mechanical, ordinary, drab. He's expected to perform month after month, endlessly. There's no conclusion in sight, no let up, no special commendation, no celebration for a job well done....He's still going to be a home teacher when he dies, sometimes just stumbling along for years. Just a hit-or-miss, catch-as-catch-can home teacher...There's not a lot of glory in it. Glory is the stuff of missions.
As Brother Marshall indicates, often it's just a change of attitude that makes the difference between a 'so-so' home teacher and a good one. President Ezra Taft Benson warned against 'honk-and-wave' home teaching in a 1987 address, remembering an experience of Elder Marion G. Romney who had a home teacher who kept the car running outside and wouldn't step indoors, saying he was just coming by so he could 'tell the bishop he made his calls'. Having the proper attitude means you've not only arranged the visit(s) weeks before the end of the month, but also asking the right questions. Example: Asking the more effective "Do you need help moving next week?" or "Do you need a ride to work tomorrow while your car's in the shop" instead of the less effective "Is there anything we can do for you?" Obviously, in order to ask the more effective questions, you have to know the family well enough to know what their current situations and problems are. Perhaps the best advice is simply to remember the words of the Lord in Doctrine & Covenants 58
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward" --D&C 58:26-27
