The Singles Ward
Grade:
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Opinion:
The Singles Ward is the first feature film from HaleStorm Entertainment, and one of the first straight comedies in the new genre of "Mormon Cinema". I say straight comedy because the majority of the film is designed as a framework to throw out as many Mormon jokes as possible, although the film does touch on some deeper, more serious issues such as the isolation single members may feel in a family-oriented Church, and the purpose and use of free agency.
Critical analysis of a comedy comes down to one issue: was it funny? The answer for "Singles Ward" is yes, albeit somewhat sporadically. The filmmakers appear to be working from the theory that if you pack in as many jokes as humanly possible into the film, even if half of them don't work, the audience will still be laughing most of the time. Yes, probably half of the jokes don't really work, but the volume is high enough that the movie avoids having a lot of 'dead time' (you know, where you see/hear something that isn't funny, but you could tell was supposed to be funny except no one's laughing and there's that uncomfortable silence for a second) simply by going on to the next joke very quickly (not unlike the technique used by stand-up comedians, one of which is the main character of the movie).
The issue of guest-stars is a little more problematic. The filmmakers throw in famous faces from Utah and LDS culture often without a specific joke in mind--apparently just so audience members can point to the screen and say, "Hey...it's LAVELL EDWARDS!" While the 'serious' parts of the film are effective, the film doesn't quite reconcile the 'serious' and 'funny' parts together. (At one point we're supposed to laugh at how some members overreact to jokes at church member's expense in "God's Army" and other films, but then later we're supposed to sympathize with Cammie when she's offended by someone else telling tha same kind of jokes.)
In the end, "The Singles Ward"'s biggest problem isn't content or execution, but one of editing and focus. Taking out many of the lamer jokes or pointless cameos by famous Mormons, and tightening up the flow of the movie would have made it more effective. Still, the movie has some good laughs and an important and effective message (which puts it ahead of
"The Other Side Of Heaven" right there) and is worth seeing.
Content Analysis:
The Singles Ward is rated PG and contains nothing offensive (unless you find the occasional polygamy joke objectionable). Since it's main focus is dating and marriage, young kids will probably be bored (and wouldn't get many of the Mormon 'in-jokes', anyway...)
In-depth Analysis:
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one, wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away. --2 Nephi 2: 11-13
How many of you have heard an atheist/agnostic who is critical of religion say that organized religions are bad because they 'take away people's free agency'? Interestingly, many of these same people also become angry with God after terrorist attacks and/or tragic accidents for 'letting it happen', often saying the existence of evil is 'proof' that God doesn't exist--despite the fact that this argument directly contradicts their first argument. (God gives man 'too much' free agency in the second, but 'not enough' in the first. So...which is it? Should man be free to choose or not?)
Many people complain that the LDS Church having a prophet who has 'absolute authority' takes away people's right to disagree or disobey--despite the blindingly obvious fact that people disagree with and disobey the prophet all the time. If having a prophet takes away the free agency of man, then we should never see or hear of any Church members drink, smoke, or break the law of chastity, right?
Elder John A Widtsoe said:
"Acceptance of the teachings of the prophet does not violate the right of free agency; but rather enhances it. The Lord expects every man to solve, as far as possible, his own problems with the knowledge and power given him. Yet, divine help is often offered to mortal man who labors under the severe limitations of earth life. Every revelation from the Lord is for the increasing welfare of mankind. Always, however, men retain the right to accept or reject the offered gift. Membership in the Church itself is voluntary; is never forced upon a person. Nevertheless, such membership includes the acceptance of a series of principles and ordinances, among them the presence of a prophet to stand as the Lord's spokesman to the Church. When therefore, a Latter-day Saint yields adherence to the Prophet's advice, he merely uses the free agency which led him to membership in the Church. He does not thereby renounce his free agency; instead he reinforces his claim upon it. He follows the prophet because he chooses to do so in view of the doctrine and constitution of the Church in which he voluntarily claims membership. When he fails to give his consent to the prophet's teachings, he limits, reduces, and removes the free agency which brought him into the Church."
--Evidences and Reconciliations pg. 239.
The fact is: Church leaders will tell us what to do in order to obtain the most happiness, and then we choose whether to obey or not. That's free agency. That's the principle that God and His followers fought a war in heaven over in order to let us have, which should be a sign about how important a principle it was in the plan of salvation.
Know this, that every soul is free
To choose his life and what he'll be;
For this eternal truth is given,
That God will force no man to heaven.
He'll call, persuade, direct aright-
Bless him with wisdom, love, and light-
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.-Wm. C. Gregg
