God's Army (2000)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Richard Dutcher

Writer:

Richard Dutcher (writer)

Release Date:

10 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Saving the world one soul at a time

Plot:

Life as a Mormon missionary isn't what 19-year-old Brandon Allen expected: so many rules and so few successes...

Plot Keywords:

Missionary | Mormon | Latter Day Saints | Los Angeles California | Baptism

Cast

Matthew A. Brown	...	Elder Allen
Richard Dutcher	...	Elder Dalton
Jacque Gray	...	Sister Fronk
Jeffrey Scott Kelly	...	Elder Mangum
Desean Terry	...	Elder Banks
Michael Buster	...	Elder Kinegar
Luis Robledo	...	Elder Sandoval
John Pentecost	...	President Beecroft
Lynne Carr	...	Sister Beecroft
Kelli Coleman	...	Sister Monson
Anthony Anselmi	...	Elder Harmer
Peter Jackson	...	Elder Downey
Seamus Hurley	...	Elder Rex
Francine Riber	...	Connie
Fawn Perez	...	Laura

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and some language.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

New Zealand:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Main Street Movie Company

Trivia:

The Elder Allen character background is loosely based on Richard Dutcher's own life.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In real life, Elder Dalton would have been sent home from his mission when he had brain cancer. No missionary is ever allowed to stay in the field "just because he wants to," particularly in life-or-death matters of health like that.

Quotes:

Dalton: So, what did you think of the sisters?
Allen: Monson's nice, I don't know about the other one.
Dalton: Yeah, Sister Fronk.
Allen: Yeah, her.
Dalton: She's a very smart girl.
Allen: Well, she thinks so.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The R.M. (2003)

Soundtrack:

Best of Me

Integrity sets this film apart from other works in the fledgling "Mormon cinema."

The start of, and perhaps, the definitive work thus far with regards to the fledgling "Mormon cinema" movement, God's Army is an honest and worthy cinematic effort. Writer/Director/Actor/Producer Richard Dutcher tells a story he really beliefs in with honesty and passion, and although the acting and production value of the film are not up to par with his subsequent effort, Brigham City, the integrity of the film makes it far more enjoyable and far more appealing. With reference to the other works within "Mormon cinema" including Singles Ward, Brigham City and Out of Step, God's Army stands tall in comparison, the quality perhaps being reflected in a boxoffice take more than twice it's closest competitor. Singles Ward and Out of Step in particular are cheap, easy and unimaginative swill churned out to an eager, but small, target audience of Mormons starved of entertainment they can reallly call their own. These films pander to the lowest common denominator, whereas God's Army

attempts to rise above purely Mormon culture and give the world a taste of what it is like to serve a higher and unseen entity - relying purely on faith, as an insecure, young, and unlearned youth.