Passage to Zarahemla
Chris Heimerdinger

reviewed by Scott Wright

I would suggest every person to go see the movie with reservation. If you do, I think you’ll enjoy yourself and find yourself surprised, I know my wife and I did. It actually plays well on the big screen. It received a PG-13 rating I don’t feel it deserved. I have seen worse in broadcast TV shows. No gore shown nor graphic violence. Some drug reference, but again, no worse than on TV. The target audience is 8-12 year old kids and 30-50 year old parents of those kids. Everyone in those age ranges made open remarks, laughter, and joy during the film. It is LDS as the BOM is referenced in the film prominently. My kids loved the film (8-12) and my wife and I did too. It’s better than most niche market films and a wide appeal to the LDS family as a testimony builder. The leads are not playing members of the church (many are not in reality either) and it’s nice to see that no religion is shoved down their throats and therefore not ours either. A few funny references, by the ignorant characters, of Mormon custom creates some fun humor. The small amount of “Love Scenes” didn’t mess up the pacing of the film. A little cheesy? Yes. But isn’t most all? This probably less than many. It is one I would actually go see again on the big screen. Please others share your thoughts as you see it. It’s only on select screens in Utah and will move out over the months to other states including California, Hawaii and other places. Even perhaps some larger Eastern cities where Mormon population is large enough to warrant it. I’d be interested in hearing your opinions. Again, though I enjoyed it immensely, it is my opinion. Go to see it with reservations so you can get out of it, whatever you do, untainted.