This movie from Brigham Young University graduate Mitch Davis is so one-sided that it reeks of propaganda. Based on the true story of Mormon John Groberg (Christopher Gorham, A LIFE LESS ORDINARY) and his mission in Tonga, the film never captures one ounce of believability. The message and purpose may not have been to preach, but it comes off that way.
The portrayals of the islanders are either as devoted robots to the church or slightly more civilized than a bunch of backwards savages that good ol’ white bread is there to save — in more ways than one. The film makes it out like the guy converted the whole freakin’ country. It never shows the side of the people he couldn’t reach.
It tackles the many hardships that Groberg endured, but never in a way that wasn’t either ridiculously sentimental and overdramatic or cheapened by a tone that panders to the “family” audience. You can make family films that don’t talk down to adults and children that still show real life like WHALE RIDER or MILLIONS. Conflicts and problems are solved quicker than a half hour sitcom.
Never once does the film attain any tension. The letters to his sweetheart Jean (Anne Hathaway, THE PRINCESS DIARIES) never create any real threat that she won’t be waiting for him when he gets home. He’s so determined and happy about his mission that we never get to see the struggle in him between his calling to God and the woman he supposedly loved.
I mean there wasn’t an ounce of doubt when he was starving? I mean Christ even asked to have the cup taken away from him when times got bad. It just comes off as disingenuous. This doesn’t seem like a real person, just the fantasy of the perfect Mormon.
I was very tempted to give the film one star, but I can’t say it’s 100% unwatchable. Gorham isn’t terrible and the cinematography is pretty. For a small picture, the visual effects are pretty solid. The quality of production values puts a shiny coat over the mess that lies underneath.
The film seems like it was a labor of love for Davis, who also wrote the screenplay. He had true guts to make a film so upfront about trying to convert souls to Mormonism and why Groberg believed what he believed. However, the filmmakers were blinded by their love for the film and its message and churned out something that only preaches to the choir. There’s a reason why his film went direct-to-video. It makes you really appreciate the stellar work that Mel Gibson did on THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST even more.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
