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Christopher
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Posted: August 13, 2004 at 12:00am
Mary (Jena Malone) and Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore) are the best of friends attending a christian high school together. Mary's boyfriend Dean (Chad Faust) tells her he's gay. She sees a vision of Jesus telling her to save him. She does just that by making out with him and having him grope her. When nothing seems to work, she decides to have sex with him. Not too long after, Nancy is told by Dean's parents that they found a muscle magazine under his bed. Seeing that he was gay, they sent him to Mercy House, which is a place for christians to right their wrongs. And to make it easier on Mary, she's pregnant.
After the all the big news, we're introduced to the jewish rebel Cassandra (Eva Amurri). She's only there because she got kicked out of the only other near by high school. Hilary makes it a point to turn Cassandra into a christian, while Hilary's crippled brother Roland (Macaulay Culkin) grows quite the crush on Cassandra. In the meantime, Mary finds herself a new crush as well. Patrick (Patrick Fugit), a skateboarder who just got back from missionary work that took place in another state. Though Hilary thinks the same of Patrick and plans to get him with her no matter what.
Roland and Cassandra become an item and tell each other about themselves. It seems that Roland isn't even a Christian. The two outcasts recruit Mary into their little group when they see her leaving a hospital when she checks to see if she's really pregnant. Cassandra confronts her about the hospital visit and tries to help her out. Everything starts to go down hill for Mary when Hilary finds out that she's pregnant. Hilary finds a way to get both Cassandra and Mary kicked out of school. Though Hilary still doesn't end up with Patrick in the long run.
As if you couldn't tell, this film is completely devoted to religion, which is something I cannot stand. Though I sucked it up and watched it all the way through. Macaulay Culkin and Eva Amurri definitely stole the entire show. There was this one part during a school rebirth type deal when Cassandra starts speaking in tongues and acting like she's going to rip her clothes off. It pans to Hilary and she thinks "She's faking it." Then to Roland "She's going to show her boobs!" Then to Patrick "She's going to show her boobs!" She eventually gets down to her bra, but just the two thinking the same thing was golden.
Mandy Moore's performance was bland as usual. And of course there had to be a scene where she flaunted her great musical talent... it was a short scene, if you know what I'm saying. Jena Malone put on a good performance as well. Unfortunately, this movie lost big points with me due to the big christian message in it. Which was pretty much; Don't worry if you're not a perfect person, Jesus still loves you. Sure, it's a christian based movie, but my goodness. The film could have been much better without all the 'Jesus Christ, my lord and savior, punish the wicked, save the good' hoopla.
Final Conclusion: 8/10
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Dametria
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Posted: April 27, 2007 at 7:43pm
I wanted to hate this movie, I REALLY did. A pro-christian movie starring MandyMoore?! No way. I was however wrong (this one time). If you watch it with christians they think its pro them BUT if your not you can sit back and laugh at them. Stupid thing like when they sing (no matter WHAT it is) the have to look up, put at least one hand in the air, and close their eyes...even the one trying to play piano. The crazy homophobia that runs rampant is brilliant, and I love the way Jenna Malones character gives this whole monolague during the opening scene that sound like she has the mind of a brainwashed 12 year old. Macaulay Culkins character Roland is by far the most hilarious thing Ive seen in a good long while...strange thats hes standing behind rest of the cast on the cover......Basically give it a shot, just take it with a grain of salt and youll find its funny as hell
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