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Forget all the hype you've heard about this movie. Forget the critics who consider it a great satire on religious fundamentalism and intolerance. Forget the critics who complain that it's not satirical enough, that it missed a great opportunity and went soft on religious fundamentalism. And forget the zealots who say this movie is nothing more than an attack on Christianity. Go into this film knowing that its foundation is a teen comedy and you'll probably come out feeling the same way I did; that you've just seen the best teen comedy of your life.When I first saw this movie, I posted a review and gave it three stars. I can't stress how much I regret that now. I don't think I knew what to really make of it. I saw some of the reviews and heard some of the complaints about it, and think I watched it with slightly clouded judgment. Since then, I've seen it a few more times and am no longer hung-up on whether the movie is trying to impart a political opinion on me. I am able to see it for what's really there; a film with more heart than one of this type should have.You'll be surprised by how many touching scenes there are in this movie. Seriously, they're some of the most moving moments you'll ever see in a teen comedy and they just keep coming. The best one takes place in the school's bathroom where the heroine, a teenager who's alone and friendless, carrying a secret burden many adults can't even handle, is tricked into confessing the secret by an antagonist. She breaks down and starts to cry, and is quickly befriended by the girl. Words can't describe what an unbelievably moving moment that is. It's the best I've ever seen in a teen comedy, and I grew up in the 80's, I've seen them all. After watching movies like this for some twenty plus years, I've been conditioned to believe we're not supposed to get moments like that in movies like these. What a wonderful surprise. It's a scene that caused the theater to grow quiet, except for a few moans of "Oh" and "Aw", where people suddenly reached for their pop to help wash down the lump in their throat (I'm not exaggerating, an elderly gentleman sitting next to me had to dry his eyes). I'm a guy, and therefore can't admit to getting tearful, but if I were a chick . . .There are a lot of scenes like that in this movie. Some take place after her boyfriend is sent away; she is hurt and confused, and incapable of understanding how something like that could happen. In one scene, where the heroine first learns a crushing revelation, there is no dialog, we just see the expression on her face (Malone is amazing) yet it's absolutely heartbreaking. There's another, similar to that, near the end of the movie, where her secret is revealed. Or the scenes with her romantic interest in the film, Patrick. He's the good-natured son of the pastor, who tries to court her. He knows she likes him so can't understand why she rejects him. Another, when Mary's (Malone) mom is about to send her away. They're sitting on the bed packing a suitcase when Mary asks if she ruined her mom's life. Her mom leaves the room without answering her question and the camera shows Mary sitting alone on her bed, shaking her head, trying to understand. Wow (I should probably remind you, at this point, that this is a teen comedy).There's also a surprisingly good scene between the pastor and Mary's mom, Lillian. They're at a Valentines Day dinner and she's staring longingly over at another couple who are sharing a romantic kiss. The pastor feels guilty about their relationship and has difficulty expressing his affection for her. Here was a great idea, a romantic scene between the adults that was just as tender and thoughtful as the romantic scenes between the kids.There are many other scenes like these, I couldn't describe them all in under 1000 words, but none of them are depressing. Sad, touching, moving, sweet, funny, heartbreaking, romantic: there are a lot of adjectives I could use to describe this film but it always seems headed in a positive and upbeat direction. There is a unique combination of story, acting, direction, and even music that produced something so rare I've never seen it before: a teenage comedy with more heart than any melodramatic, mega production Hollywood will pimp out around Oscar time.

This gentle and very funny satire is the most positively Christian movie I have seen in years. This movie restored my faith and my sense of humor. Mary (Jena Malone) belongs to the "Christian Jewels" led by Hillary Faye (Mandy Moore); a high school girl gang for Jesus. But, even though the "Jewels" mimic Christian ritual on the surface of their lives, they are not Christians in their hearts. Their hypocrisy is the source of much of the movie's comedy, but this hypocrisy is never confused with real Christianity. Mary discovers that her boyfriend, Dean (Chad Faust) is gay. She believes that Jesus wants her to "cure" Dean, so she has sex with him. However, Dean is still gay and sent away to "Mercy House" and Mary discovers she is pregnant. Enter Cassandra (Eve Amurri) and Roland (Macaulay Culkin) into Mary's life. Cassandra is the school's lone Jewish attendee. She is a hell raiser hoyden and her clashes with Hillary Faye are the pivot around which much of the comedy revolves. She is also a wise and loving human being. Roland is Hilary Faye's much-abused brother. He is irreverent, puckish, and wheelchair bound. The comedy is fantastic. The scene where Roland is dancing in his wheelchair in the Mall only lasts several seconds, but I will never forget it. Cassandra speaks in tongues, but it is not the message her classmates want to hear--well, not the sort of message ALL her classmates want to hear. These two "outcasts" find each other and nurture Mary through her pregancy. Principal Skip's son, Patrick (Patrick Fugit) falls in love with Mary. Dean, with his male partner, escapes from "Mercy House" to attend the school Prom. Dean is overjoyed to discover he is about to become a father. Add Mary's mother Lillian (Mary-Louise Parker) to this family mix, and Mary and her child become the center of a loving and supportive human circle. It is Mary, from her maternity hospital bed, who admits that she doesn't always know what Jesus wants, but she'll keep trying to figure it out. The movie's point, underneath the mischievous and witty comedy, is about the importance of love. Love is the most powerful lesson Jesus taught, and it is sometimes the hardest to understand, which this movie so brilliantly and comically demonstrates.

This is really a neat movie with some good lessons for older teens, but with some comedy and entertainment.

It’s a lovely little independent film of a girl finding her own way into her religion without following the sheep. I enjoy it.

Any film that questions and mocks religion is OK with me. Eva Amurri totally makes this for me. Her character , The outcast , the rebel , with the biggest heart. The funniest character. Beautiful woman Eva is. Jena Malone great as usual. McCauley Culkin and Patrick Fugit too. Some good laughs. Some questions raised. And Eva Amurri. Go for it.

Oggetto che non poteva mancare alla mia collezione di film...divertente e pensato...un must

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Excellente comédie

Movie was re-sealed with a bit of bubble wrap to protect the disc, excellent care in shipping, movie was awesome, seen it a handful of times over the years and had to buy it