Charly

I really wanted to like this film. The premise has potential and the actress playing Charly is good. Unfortunately, this movie is basically a recruiting film for the Mormon church.

The story could be summarized: Sophisticated New York girl arrives in Salt Lake City, meets geekie (think "Palm Pilot") country boy at airport and within two days, regularly attends church, reads Book of Mormon, says she believes it and starts calling other women "sister."

There are much more subtle ways to make your point. I have no problem with a member of the LDS Church producing a positive, uplifting movie that promotes his personal beliefs. Just wish it had been identified that way on the jacket.

I loved this movie. It made you feel like change is possible and you can accomplish anything with God's help. It helped me to believe that God does hear and answer our prayers and that we shouldn't judge people by the way they look or act. Go see this movie it is truly a life changing experience. You won't regret it. Take kleenex's

I was disappointed that the story seemed to take a back seat to pushing the religious message. If the viewer already is "in the fold," this will probably be enormously satisfying. Others may feel like they've been duped. I didn't think it was worth the $9 admission I had to pay. My fault for going to a movie that wasn't reviewed in the paper, haha.

Actually, I thought Heather Beers' performance was outstanding, as was that of the woman who played her artist-grandmother, but the other characters were shallow and underdeveloped, especially the leading man, who had a lot of screen time and should have come through with more depth . . . but then I don't think that was the goal of the movie. The message is, "If you accept the church, your life will have more meaning."

CHARLY is one of those movies that really don't care if it's seen as being too sugary. It is what it is, and those who enjoys its positive message of faith will certainly enjoy it, while those who shuns such feelings will certainly continue to shun it. Your enjoyment of the film depends on your level of awareness with yourself. Do you mock people who have faith? If so, then CHARLY is not for you.

As a standalone movie, CHARLY is a worthwhile film, with terrific performances by the two young leads. Although the female lead's unnatural-sounding dialogue gets a bit tedious in the beginning, her transformation from carefree city girl to worthwhile human being also makes her more affable. A good thing too, because her "city girl" dialogue is really, to put it mildly, atrocious.

A good movie, with a heartfelt message it wants to tell, and does. The ending is like many films with religious themes, so those familiar with the genre won't be surprised. Those who haven't delved into the genre, though, may be a bit shocked.

7 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie and reviews of other genre and Indie films)

I am not a big movie goer. For one I simply can not afford them and to go in to a theater and be insulted by what I see makes me mad. I love action, and to be honest I love sex, however I don't enjoy seeing other people have it. I am not really into the "chick flicks" either. I like one I can go home and feel excited about and actually feel like I was there. I never cry in movies, it is just not me. I may get teary eyed, but I do that when I watch my children dance or play. However the movie Charley touched me in a way I can not even explain. I felt the joy and sorrow in that movie. I felt like I knew these people and they were my friends. I not only got teary eyed, but I lost it, I totally lost it. I did not take my kleenex, I never need them, so I had to get some napkins. This was not an LDS movie, this was a love story that was centered around a belief that happened to be LDS. We have movies that are centered around Jews. (Jazz singer) or catholics and we do not say, "awwww that was a Jewish movie". This movie is touching in the fact that this man believed so much in his faith and yet had challenges that made him question it. Yet it was a love story that could make you be there and want that for yourself. It was clean, and funny and Hollywood should take note.

I would recommend Charley to anyone of any faith that would enjoy a good clean movie that can make you laugh and make you cry. Look past the low budget and see the heart of the movie and the actors. It was a movie that did not need all the big props and lights, the story is what gave it the heart.