Up until the time it was made, 'The Best Two Years' was by far the best film made for LDS audiences on a number of fronts: First, it was well produced by a great ensemble cast; second, Kirby Heyborne was in a role that truly allowed him to stretch into the kind of actor I suspected he could be once he got away from that horrid role in 'The R.M.', third, it was filmed completely OUTSIDE of Utah and in fact in location in Holland; fourth, it went outside of stereotype; fifth, it did not rely on the continuous 'in' jokes that only Mormons would understand; and sixth, it had a broad appeal that people of all faiths and persuasions could appreciate.
The film starts out as a 'greenie' (brand new missionary) is assigned to this specific area in Holland to a bunch of veteran missionaries. Not having experienced any of the rejection that so many missionaries do such as door slamming, dogs turned on them and the like remember, he JUST got there he believes that he alone can make a difference, and is determined to make a difference all by himself. Keep in mind that Holland is one of the most difficult proselyting missions in the world and that many missionaries who serve there come home without having performed any baptisms at all.
Unlike God's Army which had some slapstick humor such as the bathroom scenes where a bunch of 19-year-old boys are playing pranks on each other, this movie handled the missionary experience with a great deal of dignity and class. These years in any young man's life are tough enough as it is; whether on active duty in the military, in college, on a mission as these young men were, each of them find themselves faced with choices they will be making that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Their ability to look past themselves to the long-term picture is a testament to their faith in God, themselves and to their belief something larger than themselves.
'The Best Two Years' goes to show that for many of these young men that it really is the best two years of their lives to that point, and that this missionary service lays in place a strong foundation on which the remainder of a successful, productive and rewarding life can and will be built. This film was definitely time well spent watching and is a must-add to any film library.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this film a 10! ***
The film starts out as a 'greenie' (brand new missionary) is assigned to this specific area in Holland to a bunch of veteran missionaries. Not having experienced any of the rejection that so many missionaries do such as door slamming, dogs turned on them and the like remember, he JUST got there he believes that he alone can make a difference, and is determined to make a difference all by himself. Keep in mind that Holland is one of the most difficult proselyting missions in the world and that many missionaries who serve there come home without having performed any baptisms at all.
Unlike God's Army which had some slapstick humor such as the bathroom scenes where a bunch of 19-year-old boys are playing pranks on each other, this movie handled the missionary experience with a great deal of dignity and class. These years in any young man's life are tough enough as it is; whether on active duty in the military, in college, on a mission as these young men were, each of them find themselves faced with choices they will be making that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Their ability to look past themselves to the long-term picture is a testament to their faith in God, themselves and to their belief something larger than themselves.
'The Best Two Years' goes to show that for many of these young men that it really is the best two years of their lives to that point, and that this missionary service lays in place a strong foundation on which the remainder of a successful, productive and rewarding life can and will be built. This film was definitely time well spent watching and is a must-add to any film library.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this film a 10! ***