Movies - The R.M.

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	Movies - The R.M.

The R.M. is a 2003 comedy film about the experiences of an LDS returned missionary. "RM" is an LDS initialism for "return missionary." It is one of the new line of LDS comedy films by Kurt Hale and John E. Moyer.

Overview

The RM is very LDS-centric and generally meant to appeal to an LDS audience. Most non-LDS viewers would not understand the numerous references and satires of the LDS—and Utah—sub-culture.

Plot

Jared Phelps returns home from his mission in Wyoming to find a world very different from the one he left two years ago.

This movie opens with a send-off at the airport full of family and friends of Elder Phelps. He serves a two year mission in the Wyoming, Evanston South Mission. The opening credits are shown by using instant photographs. They also show Elder Phelps going from a greenie (new missionary), to district leader, to zone leader and finally to an assistant to the mission president.

Upon returning home, things don't go so well. His parents thought that he was coming home the following month, so no one is there to meet him at the airport. He didn't receive the letter that his family had moved, so he is surprised by the greeting of the new homeowner in the form of a karate kick. His bed is now occupied by a foreign exchange student from Tonga. Jared's girlfriend, who promised to wait for him to return, is getting married in two weeks. The jewelry store where he bought the ring won't take it back. And his former employer who promised to give him a job upon his return has sold the business and started an Internet enterprise and the only job opening is to mine diamonds in South Africa.

Things get worse from there. He quickly goes through a series of jobs, and even considers selling knives. He also gets boils, and eventually gets arrested. Because of the arrest, he is released from his church calling as elders' quorum president. He has to seriously consider whether to lie and likely be acquitted, or to tell the truth and likely be put in jail.

The audience is treated to a heavy dose of the Utah-Mormon subculture as Jared struggles to get back on his feet and adapt to post-mission life. There are ups as well as the downs. It eventually ends on a positive note.

Selected credits

Cast

Kirby Heyborne, Jared Phelps
Britani Bateman, Kelly Powers
Will Swenson, Kori Swenson

Crew

Kurt Hale, director
Kurt Hale & John E. Moyer, writing

Trivia

When Jared Phelps' ex-girlfriend shows him the wedding announcement, he notices that the man's name is Kirby. He says, "Kirby! That's a vacuum cleaner!" Kirby Heyborne plays Jared Phelps.
When Jared Phelps attempts to return the engagement ring, the jeweler is acting like a bartender. While discussing how Jared's girlfriend dropped him, the jeweler serves Jared a diet, but not caffeine-free, Coca-Cola.

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