Movie Breakdown: Yes, God, Yes
Pre-Screening Stance:
Yes, God, Yes looks a bit like 2004’s Saved!, which is certainly a good thing. Also, even though Stranger Things has lost its way a bit, it’s still exciting to see people from the show (in this case, it’s Natalia Dyer) pop up elsewhere.
Post-Screening Ramble:
Yes, God, Yes is a small, brief film (its runtime is just under 80 minutes), but it really brings a lot to the table. Natalie Dyer is Alice, a naive 16 year-old who has started to feel certain urges. She very much wants to give into them, but since she’s a devout individual, she instead packs up and heads off to a revered religious retreat in search of redemption, answers and more. Things, of course, do not get easier for Alice while she’s there, especially since the topic of sex or feeling “turned on” is met with guilt/shame from Father Murphy (VEEP’s Timothy Simons, who is more imposing than funny here) and judgement from her peers, so the poor girl is left to awkwardly work through her newfound feelings on her own. What she gradually discovers though is that she isn’t on her own at all, she’s actually surrounded by people feeling the exact same way (and some that are sneakily acting on these feelings), and it not only allows her to come to terms with what she’s going through but it also grants her some much needed perspective on her belief system.
You should definitely seek out Yes, God, Yes when it hits VOD services tomorrow (July 24). It’s a funny, endearing and nicely crafted film that comes with an important lesson – no one knows what they’re doing, no one has all the answers, and no one only makes good decisions. I also think it serves as a real solid reminder that adolescence is just the weirdest time for everyone.
One Last Thought:
The most unbelievable part about Yes, God, Yes isn’t all of the hidden dirty stuff that goes on at the religious retreat that Natalie Dyer’s character attends, it’s that she has her own room. Nowhere in the real world is there a retreat, church camp, or anything involving easily stackable youth that provides such comfy accommodations!
