Latest Mormon movie good for some laughs
“Mobsters and Mormons” is a step forward for Halestorm Entertainment, the company responsible for commercially popular Mormon movies. “Mobsters” succeeds at telling a comedic story in the context of Mormon-saturated Utah.
So how did this movie come about? One day, John Moyer, the man who wrote the screenplay for “The Singles Ward” and “The R.M.,” read a Salt Lake Tribune article that inspired “Mobsters vs. Mormons.” The article told the story of a non-Mormon family had moved into a predominantly Mormon neighborhood. The husband was a bearded biker of sorts, and the wife often mowed the lawn on Sundays in her bathing suit. The couple later received an anonymous letter which said the locals “didn’t want their types there,” and encouraged them to move. The wife gave the letter to the local bishop, who was shocked. He took the letter before the congregation and rebuked them for excluding rather than befriending their neighbors.
Moyer was appalled as well, and reflected on his experience growing up in New Jersey as a Mormon “outsider.” He took the ideas to paper, and came up with a “Mormon movie” that grapples with living in Utah from an outsider’s point of view.
Moyer’s “Mobsters and Mormons” tells the story of Carmine “The Beans” Pasquale (Mark DeCarlo), a New Jersey mobster who is forced by the FBI to rat out mob boss Angelo Marcelo (Michael Kagan). Now under the FBI’s Witness Protection Program, Carmine’s family is relocated to a straight-laced Utah suburb chock full of Mormons. As a side note, Steve Martin’s “My Blue Heaven” is a Hollywood equivalent to this film.
Befriended by some, and shunned by others, the Pasquale family, now known as the Cheesemans, adapt to their new, Happy Valley surroundings. Do the judgmental neighbors change from fearing aggressors to friendly Christians? Will the Pasquale family convert?
Whoa … forgedaboutit. This movie is too smart to follow such predictable plot-lines.
Moyer seems to finally have found his screenwriting stride. Some of his past writing credits, like “The Singles Ward” and “The RM,” seemed willing to do anything for a laugh, and therefore did almost everything it could. What makes “Mobsters” a cut above the rest is its discipline – Moyer cuts back on inside Mormon jokes and focuses on generating laughs based on the clashing of two cultures.
Most laughs are attributable to Decarlo (the host of early 90’s game show “Studs”), who’s a scene stealer with his comedic timing, rambunctious deliveries and overall charisma. This is the guy who brings life to any party.
Of course, the movie does have its flaws. Something about the audio dubbing was bothersome, and sometimes the cinematography’s low contrast made for a dull picture. And often the acting seems melodramatic and forced.
Yet, these faults give way to the film’s bright energy and disciplined storytelling. Moyer’s directorial debut is something to be proud of. Mormon or not, this is a film that should make most Utahns smile.
Chris Blakesley is a movie critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments or questions can be sent to cblakes@gmail.com.