LDS Movie Review: "Anxiously Engaged"

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

13 Oct 2007 03:00 PM

"Anxiously Engaged," also known as "Piccadilly Cowboy," for some reason, is one of the newest additions to the genre of LDS film.

The story revolved around Carson Wells (Jaelin Petrie), a young man from Montana who now lives and works in London for a beef magnate. He is dating Lucy Armstrong, a young woman from his LDS ward, and has decided to ask her to marry him. She accepts and says that the only condition is that he go and talk to her grandfather to ask for her hand.

When Carson gets in to see Mr. Armstrong, he realizes that Lucy's grandfather is also his boss at the company. Why he didn't connect the name, I don't know - maybe he thought it was a coincidence. Anyway, Mr. Armstrong agrees to the engagement on the condition that Carson help Gemma, Lucy's sister, find a husband as well.

Gemma is nearly thirty and her grandfather thinks she's in trouble in the love department. But she's content with life as it is. Yes, she would like to get married, but she's finding joy in every day and is at peace with waiting to see what lies ahead. When Carson starts setting her up on blind dates right and left, telling her that Lucy would like a double wedding, she goes along with it for her sister's sake, but in reality it's driving her nuts.

Lucy is spoiled and selfish, while Gemma is warm and giving. Soon Carson finds he has feelings for Gemma, but she's already involved with one of her blind dates, and likes him very much.

A little mystery to be solved is thrown in as well, and they all live happily ever after.

I liked this movie better than some others in the LDS genre. I thought the whole Montana thing was way overdone - he comes to work in cowboy boots and hat, drawls constantly, and uses strange expressions that I'm sure are designed to never let the viewer forget for a single second that hey, he's from Montana! However, all the British actors did a fabulous job and I found them very believable. Carson does say some pretty insensitive things from time to time, but the girls don't let him forget it and he learns from his faux pas.

If you're in the mood for a lighthearted comedy without too much depth, this one's for you. This movie is rated PG.

Related Blogs:

The Work and the Glory: American Zion

Beauty and the Beast: A Latter-day Tale

Top Ten LDS Movies

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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