MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Work and the Glory’: A film critic divided

I’m actually a fairly complex man. By that, I mean I have three movie critics living inside me.

The main critic is the one who lives for anything with punching or bombs. I had to leave him home.

The second critic is all about comedy. He tagged along to “The Work” and was pretty bored. There are a few funny parts, but they were more slice-of-life moments rather than actual jokes.

The final critic actually likes movies with stories and character development. He went to this movie interested what would happen next to the Steeds.

This movie is definitely not made for critics one or two. Neither were the first two films, but I was still able to enjoy the movies for what they are meant to be.

On the whole, I think whatever feelings you held toward those first films will determine how you’ll like the third.

If you didn’t like them, you won’t like chapter three for the same reasons.

If you did, you’ll think it a great addition to the story.

If you haven’t seen the first ones, I’d recommend watching them first. This one dumps you right in the middle of things and assumes you know what’s going on.

I really liked how the film captures the time. Many period pieces, especially Church ones, look like a bunch of kids playing dress up. This one had good costumes, sets and really pulls it off.

The character development was good. The characters progress, grow and change in a way that seems natural.

Some of the more emotional moments are a little heavy-handed.

For example, I felt that they tried too hard to make the audience hate Governor Boggs. They didn’t have him stepping on kittens or anything; they just always showed him dark and angry.

I already knew he was the bad guy, they didn’t need to keep beating me over the head with it.

I didn’t like how the movie requires you to know a fair bit of American history. Heaven forbid that we know stuff.

Don’t let the negative things I’ve said dissuade you from this movie. It all detracts from the movie, but none of it ruins it.

The ending is nice. There are a few loose ends as far as plot goes but emotionally, it ends where it needs to.

It brings everything around full circle in such a way that I am almost willing to watch all three movies in a row in true marathon fashion. Of course I would have to borrow the DVDs to do that because I doubt any of the “Work and the Glories” will be making their way into my collection.

In the end, as college students, we are not the target audience for this film. At the screening I went to it was mostly preteen girls and older people.

That being said, if over Thanksgiving break some one in your family demands the whole clan go to “The Work and the Glory,” go along.

There are worse ways to spend an hour and a half.

Tell them critic number three sent you.

Steve Shinney is the Diversions editor and occasional movie critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments can be sent to steveshinney@cc.usu.edu.