THE BEST TWO YEARS

Year: 2003
USA: HaleStorm Distribution
Cast: K C Clyde, Kirby Heyborne, David Nibley, Cameron Hopkin, Scott Christopher, Andrea Anderson , Jaime Anderson, Alice Lonsdale, Michael Flynn, Ineke den Hollander
Director: Scott S Anderson
Country: USA
USA: 108 mins
USA Rated: PG for thematic elements
USA Release Date: 20 February 2003 (Limited Release)

Synopsis

THE BEST TWO YEARS tells the story of four Mormon missionaries who share an apartment in Haarlem, Holland. Elder Rogers (KC Clyde) has only a couple of months remaining on his mission, but his testimony and zeal for missionary work has suffered from hardships he experienced in letters from home. He is now simply serving out his time with as little effort as possible when he is given a new missionary from Oklahoma as a junior companion. Elder Calhoun (Kirby Heyborne) has the enthusiasm, innocence and naivete of a new missionary, and the relationship between the two missionaries creates some very funny moments.

These two elders share a typical missionary apartment with Elders Van Pelt (Cameron Hopkin) and Johnson (David Nibley). Elder Van Pelt believes that he is rather handsome and quite the ladies man. He is keeping an ongoing correspondence with three 'girlfriends' back home. He is also very ambitious, and sees himself quickly moving up the ranks of missionary leadership. Elder Johnson, Elder Van Pelt's senior companion, has a more 'seasoned' view of being a missionary. He is looking forward to returning home and marrying his girlfriend. Both elders have certain habits that tend to wear on the other.

The dialogue is fast-paced and engaging. We follow the elders from the day of Elder Calhoun's arrival to the day of Elder Rogers's departure. The story is funny, but also has dramatic moments as we witness Elder Rogers find his testimony and discover his real reasons for serving a mission from the simple but unshakeable faith of Elder Calhoun.

THE BEST TWO YEARS was shot on location in the Netherlands and Alpine, UT. THE BEST TWO YEARS is based on a play 'The Best Two Years of My Life' written by Scott S Anderson. The story centers on Anderson's own missionary experiences in Holland. It is a wonderfully funny and sensitive dramatic comedy that captures typical missionary feelings and dilemmas. The original play was first performed in 1982.