SYNOPSICS
The Home Teachers (2004) is a English movie. Kurt Hale has directed this movie. Danny Allen,Jim Bennett,Jeff Birk,Michael Birkeland are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2004. The Home Teachers (2004) is considered one of the best Comedy movie in India and around the world.
Stocky Greg's passion is football, and he rounds up his family from their respective church meetings and rushes home just in time to make the kick-off of the Sunday afternoon Vikings game. He has just planted himself in front of his massive television screen scarfing down chicken when his new home teaching companion, Nelson, calls to inform him that he has set an appointment to visit the Mori family in 15 minutes. Mormon males serving as home teachers are admonished to visit with their assigned families once a month, bring them a spiritual message, and provide help as necessary. Nelson, a nerdy "letter of the law" kind of Mormon who will not even purchase gas on a Sunday, intends to visit 100 % of his assigned families every month, and as this is the last day of the month even the many madcap mishaps that start immediately will not deter him from completing his duty despite Greg's griping and attempts to get back to the games.
More
The Home Teachers (2004) Reviews
Uproariously Funny!
Kurt Hale and John Moyer's look into typical Mormon life shows humor in what most LDS people experience on a monthly basis. This comedy is life with physical humor on par with "Tommy Boy". It is refreshing to see a movie that the whole family can enjoy and laugh at. The writer and director created a comedy without resorting to crude or morally debasing material. This takes place in one day at the end of the month. Murphy visits these two bumbling home teachers every moment in everything they do as they attempt to visit 3 families. A great ride!
Grotesque cinema, a shameless waste of film
There's usually a lot of work that goes into making a film: writing a good script, finding talented actors to play appealing characters (and yes, bad guys can be appealing too), setting up a believable and entertaining plot and interweaving some kind of theme. The Home Teachers failed miserably at all of the above. After the relatively charming Singles Ward, the general public seemed a little disappointed with Halestorm's next endeavor, The R.M. The cultural fluff jokes were overused and made Mormons look like absolute idiots. So, having no expectations for The Home Teachers, I knew deep down it would turn out to be tripe in the extreme. At least in this I was NOT disappointed. It's one of the worst films of the year, maybe even of the decade. First of all, the two main characters were dreadfully annoying. Neither of them had any real redeeming qualities, and I would hate to know either of them in person. While the actors playing them did well at being obnoxious, I guess, most of the blame in this lies in the hands of the screenwriters. The script was an absolute joke. I must admit the most eye-rolling part was when the life-changing, attitude-altering home teaching visit involved burying a dog (called a "yapper" by Michael Birkeland's character in true Chris Farley fashion). Laugh-out-loud yes, but ridiculous and contrived as well. The whole experience seems like Tommy Boy for Mormons gone terribly, TERRIBLY wrong. The comparisons and similarities were blatant, undeniable and shameless. A road comedy, involving one fat, sloppy, lazy oaf who talks loud and stupid, and a thin, uptight, self-righteous goody-goody, and a road trip involving a car being totalled and a deer. The soundtrack was repetitive (any of the cuts from the first two films would have worked as well), the cinematography was mediocre, the acting was like something you'd see in a Stake Roadshow. Yes, I'm LDS, but that doesn't mean I have to support something that highlights the ridiculous Culture side of the church and totally demoralizes the actual Gospel. Some will like it, but unfortunately that's because Mormons are easily picked on and don't realize how stupid it makes us look. *sigh* Hopefully, as I've heard it said, Richard Dutcher will be able to pull us out of this one. For real LDS cinema (and just good films besides!), check out God's Army, or Dutcher's masterpiece Brigham City, or even the update of Pride & Prejudice. Skip the Home Teachers. It will make you want to slam the door on YOUR home teachers next time they come over, regardless of what message these guys TRIED to stick into the story at the end.
Expectations surpassed
I'm surprised at how the majority of these reviews are so negative. Perhaps it's based in large part on expectations, but I came into the movie expecting pretty much the same caliber of film that I'd seen from these film makers before, and I was pleasantly surprised that they had raised the bar. My wife and I both noticed that production values are much better for this movie than the other 'Mormon' films we'd seen. The lighting, sound, and music seemed very well done. Of course, I realize that production doesn't count for much if the script is a dog, but I felt this film came through on that account as well. No, we weren't rolling in our seats with laughter, but there was good chemistry between the two leads, and I never felt myself cringing (as I find myself in many movies) thinking, "no one talks like that" or "that's not something somebody would say." They kept it pretty real...over-the-top in humor, but real in its characterizations. Perhaps the best compliment that I can give is that this film was funnier than the last few so-called blockbuster Hollywood comedies that I've seen. Well done. I may be watching this one again.
Lot's of fun and pretty brainless!
I am LDS but my husband is not. We rented this video so that he could see how "peculiar" a people we LDs really are. He loved it! He thought that it was one of the funniest things he had ever seen. I also love "The Best Two Years" and "The RM" and hope to show these movies to him also. These videos can open up dialog about particulars of LDS doctrine and practices in a relaxed way with people who aren't LDS. I recommend them. YES, they are not the pinnacles of cinematic production--- they aren't meant to be. This movie was meant to be watched by the whole family and to both poke fun at LDS life and to praise it. The characters are flawed but recognizable and the situation is so typical to Mormons that the crazy antics of the main characters are really laughable. ;j
For non-Mormons, that one is
Like all HaleStorm productions Home Teachers is a satirical, sometimes cynical view on Mormon life, but unlike "Singles Ward" and "The R.M." You do not have to know too much about the Mormon culture to find this movie funny. There is a lot of Chris-Farley-like screaming total destruction of things, slapstick humor as well as two great stand-up comedians in the leads, complementing each other perfectly. The standup quality of the two leads can best be seen in the outtakes on the DVD, where Jeff Birk especially does some bits that are totally out of his character, deliberately ruined the take, but are a lot of fun to watch now. So if You want a humorous look at the Mormon culture, or just watch a clean, stupid comedy, go for this movie. If You want a more serious approach and/or a brilliant thriller, go for Brigham City.