Movie Review

Directed by Brian Dannelly, starring: Jena Malone (Mary), Mandy Moore, (Hilary Faye), Macauley Culkin (Roland) and Mary- Louise Parker (Mom), 92 minutes, 2004.

On the face of it, a movie about the trials and temptations of middle class kids in a Christian school doesn't seem like a story compelling enough to rent. The characters are often one-dimensional; evangelical faith is spoofed and faith issues are caricatured. Predictably the movie was condemned by Jerry Falwell. However, I liked it and was compelled to laugh at characters I know and even behaviours that I ruefully remember as my own.

Mary is in her senior year at American Eagle Christian School. She describes herself as "born again from birth" and is at the top of the social food chain along with her good friend Hilary Faye. Her "good Christian boyfriend" Dean, in an incautious moment confesses to her that he thinks he's gay. Mary sets out to save him, alas at the cost of her own virginity but never mind, there is an elaborate argument about Jesus restoring her virginity readily to hand. Dean's parents discover a beefcake magazine in his room and he is sent off to a Christian counseling centre for deprogramming. Mary starts school but soon becomes aware that she is pregnant.

The Good Samaritan in the story is Cassandra, a smoking, cursing rebel who ends up there after being kicked out of several other schools. She is the only "Jewish' that the school has ever had and this provides ample opportunity for active mission work by the leading evangelist Hilary Faye. Cassandra provides clothing and friendship to Mary when it becomes apparent that she is 'with child'. As well, she identifies with and falls in love with Roland, the wheelchair bound and bitter-ironic brother of Hilary Faye. These are no plastic saints. Cassandra can be mean spirited in her rebellion against religious piety and Roland vindictive in his jabs at his pious but good hearted sister.

Hilary Faye is the story's Pharisee. Like the historical Pharisees she sincerely seeks to live out the ideals she has inherited, convinced that they are God's will but she is not backward in proclaiming her gratitude that she is not like others.

Mary goes to The Prom with Patrick, Pastor 'Skip's' son (he's just returned from the mission field, skateboarding for Jesus). Dean shows up with his new boyfriend from the counseling centre. When Mary goes into labour and has to be taken off in an ambulance the paramedic says that only one person can accompany her. One says "I'm the father", another says "Well, I'm the boyfriend" and the other "I'm the father's boyfriend" looking for, all the world, like Magi.

Pastor Skip has had an ambiguous relationship with Mary's mother. It is not clear the depth of their relationship. On the birth of Mary's child he is still struggling and paces back and forth in the parking lot. He's trying to decide whether to bring flowers to a student who has had a child out of wedlock with a man who is openly gay. What would Jesus do?

The film celebrates the meaning of Jesus' words in John, "The truth shall make you free". The most poignant moments in the film come when the young people state that they know when adults are lying; Patrick to his father about his relationship with his mother; Mary to her Mom about her relationship with Skip; Mary when she moves from being a simple follower to a person willing to proclaim that issues of sex and sexual orientation are matters of some ambiguity that the adults appear unwilling to admit.

Apart from its potential as a good discussion starter this amusing movie has an intelligent script that will engage Christians in believable ways.