Suits on the Loose

Brandon Beemer and Ty Hodges are on the loose. They escape from a juvenile delinquent boot camp that is run by one authoritarian general played by Charles Napier. But the track they hijack from the camp breaks down. So as luck would have it they get to hijack another vehicle driven by Mormon Elders Shaun Weiss and Jason Winer with all their clothes and Mormon paraphernalia.

Wouldn't you know it, they run smack into a Mormon cop who escorts them to Bishop Robert Prosky and the assignment awaiting the two they left on the Mojave desert. After that Beemer and Hodges have no other choice but to continue the masquerade as Suits On The Loose.

Producer Kurt Hale no doubt took some inspiration from films like The Left Hand Of God and Guns For San Sebastian where Humphrey Bogart and Anthony Quinn had to masquerade as Catholic priests for their own reasons. Suits On The Loose is done with quite a bit of a lighter touch than those classics.

In fact it's a pleasing enough comedy that could definitely appeal to more than an LDS audience. Beemer and Hodges get quite a life's lesson in their disguises, basically about growing up and accepting responsibility even if you don't convert to be a Mormon.

Such Hollywood veterans as Robert Prosky as the Mormon Bishop, Fred Dryer as Beemer's father and Napier give the younger members of the cast some inspiration for their performances. Special mention should also go to Reginald Vel Johnson of Family Matters who just might be the fattest cowboy on record, Andy Devine included.

I'd give this one a look even if you're a gentile.

What a sound track!!! The photography, acting, professional actors, story line, an actual message, funny, believable, these are some of the things we thought were super in this movie. We admire Mr. Henson for having the courage to stick with his passion and getting a good family movie out there. We laughed all the way thru, and actually got a little emotional too with the love story. We hope Mr. Henson continues to fight opposition to bring us even better movies. Thanks for the fun nights. You can't just see this movie once, you need to go back for the moments you missed while you were laughing. The whole family will enjoy it. Take your friends and neighbors too.

Kudos to the filmmakers for putting out a fun, feel-good movie that's appropriate for the whole family. It was a sensitive, funny, and heart-warming film. It had a great story and was well written. The cast was fun and very talented. Ty Hodges character was hysterical. The score was great as well. It was fun to hear the music by Gene loves Jezebel (popular 80's band). I even went out after the movie and bought the soundtrack and was pleasantly surprised. I believe this may be the best movie Halestorm has put out. I hope people support this film so there will be more good family entertainment to follow. Keep up the good work. Thanks

As a pioneer-descended, Utah-raised Mormon bishop, I'm obliged to agree with some of the negative reviews. Perhaps I'm demanding, but when I see a comedy, I expect there to be a laugh or two somewhere in it. The actors are fine - very good, in fact. The film editing is fine. The script and direction are abysmal. Forget the plot holes and loose ends: The gratuitous swipes at other faiths and pro-LDS smugness are unbecoming and embarrassing. And I agree with one reviewer: enough with the paint ball obsession, Halestorm. This film wants to be funny and heart-warming and faith-promoting, but it comes out 0 for 3. The scriptwriters write as though they've no idea how to speak to a non-BYU audience. This film won't appeal to anyone but Mormons, and only the most undemanding at that. More's the pity.

The best by far of the movies released through Halestorm--possibly because it wasn't written by a Hale. The Hales, of course, do a fine job of catering to their Mormon audience (as is indicated by the success of all of their recent movies, INCLUDING "the hometeachers". If you've seen it, you'll know why it's so surprising that the movie has turned a profit.) This movie, however, addresses its niche market (Mormons) while still telling a STORY! No joke, a real, honest-to-goodness story, with emotional ups and downs, humor, pathos, interest, the works. It's NOT just a vehicle for a bunch of cliché Mormon jokes with a moral duct-taped to the end. (Again, I refer you to "the hometeachers", "the RM", etc. etc.) Although it doesn't quite approach the depth of emotion of some of Dutcher's movies, this is an excellent film.

For those of you who want a summary: We start out in the Mojave desert, at what is apparently a camp for juvenile delinquents. Don't lose it here. About fifteen minutes in to the movie I was about to assume this was going to be a horribly dull movie, and I place the responsibility for that primarily on the general, who's not nearly funny and one-dimensional enough. (He's a stock character, find someone who yells...) Two young men escape from the camp, steal a truck and head out, only to have their truck break down. When two missionaries stop at the same rest-stop, the escapees hop into the car and are able to pose as missionaries for the next several days while the real missionaries struggle through the desert. Hilarity, of course, ensues. Some of the acting leaves a bit wanting (the real Elder Johnson and the fake Elder Talbot are both excellent, though) and some of the plot-lines don't seem necessary (why is it so important that Justin, the fake Elder Johnson, is the son of a Senator? Why is there that crazy old woman flying the plane around all the time?)

I give it an eight for its great addition to a niche market. (I don't say others can't enjoy it, but I do think the film makers did an excellent job by identifying and targeting their market.)