"Sons of Provo" is a mockumentary about a Mormon boy band. I laugh just thinking about it, but while the movie shows promise,
it isn't as funny as a movie about a Mormon boy band ought to be. Will Swenson, a fixture in LDS cinema ( "The Singles Ward," "The R.M." ), conceived the project with Peter Brown, the two of them writing an outline that was subsequently improvised by the actors, with Swenson taking the lead role and directing the film. Everyone involved has obviously studied the important works of this genre (especially "This Is Spinal Tap"), and the basic elements -- clueless protagonists, deadpan humor, songs that are funny to us but not to the characters -- are all in place. The film begins strongly as it introduces the band members and subtly brings us into the world of Provo, Utah, the heartland of Mormon culture. Will Jensen (Will Swenson) and his brother Danny (Danny Tarasevich), 10 months apart in age and harmonizing since infancy, have just lost the friend who made them a trio and are seeking to revitalize their little band. "We want to move the band in a more positive direction, a more frugal direction, a more punctual direction," says Will with great earnestness.
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