The R.M. (2003)

Director:

Kurt Hale

Writers:

Kurt Hale (writer)
John E. Moyer (writer)

Release Date:

31 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Family

Tagline:

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the world . . .

Plot:

Jared Phelps (Kirby Heyborne) has completed two years of full-time missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

Plot Keywords:

Missionary | Latter Day Saints | Video Camera | Lds Film | Police

Cast

Kirby Heyborne	...	Jared Phelps
Daryn Tufts	...	Basketball Player
Will Swenson	...	Kori Swenson
Britani Bateman	...	Kelly Powers
Tracy Ann Evans	...	Emma Phelps
Merrill Dodge	...	Brigham Phelps
Michael Birkeland	...	Dewey
Maren Ord	...	Sariah Phelps
Big Budah	...	Humu
Curt Dousett	...	Defense Attorney
Wally Joyner	...	Brother Colin Jensen
Jericho Road	...	Prison Band
Gary Crowton	...	Bishop Andrews
Rulon Gardner	...	Good Samaritan
Larry H. Miller	...	Car Dealer

Also Known As:

The Returned Missionary (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some thematic elements.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Utah, USA

Company:

Halestorm Entertainment

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Kurt Hale]as one of the janitors at the mall where Jared tries to sell his engagement ring.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Jared's dad is talking with him in his bedroom, the crew is visible in the metallic light shade.

Quotes:

Brigham: You're not just an RM, you're an LDS RM, who's trained at the MTC who became a DL a ZL, and an AP, who was promised long ago by his bishop through a PPI after BYC that someday he'd be the EQP. I smell GA!

Movie Connections:

References The Other Side of Heaven (2001)

Soundtrack:

If You Could Hie To Kolob

Cute, but not as funny as The Singles Ward

While this film met my expectations in making fun of the returned LDS missionary mindset, I found it less funny than Hale's previous cinematic endeavor (The Singles Ward). I suppose they were going for more depth or meaning or something (although it still came nowhere close to Richard Dutcher's God's Army or Brigham City), but some of the comedy and serious moments seemed ill-timed or out of place. The type-casting of much of the cast from The Singles Ward put me off a little, as the actors that reappeared were close to the same characters as before, even though they're actually DIFFERENT characters in a different story. True, the LDS audience will probably appreciate this film more than others, and it did have its seriously funny moments, but all in all, I found The Singles Ward more entertaining. What confuses me are people who find Brigham City and God's Army offensive, but aren't bothered by the blatant and often ridiculing stereotypes the Mormon parody provides with which almost any LDS young adult can relate. Britani Bateman, however, was charming as the sweet and lovely (if not almost too-perfect) love interest for our R.M.