By Scott Thompson
Church Ball. The very words bring back fond memories of brotherly love, good sportsmanship and hard elbows to the face that come from 'the brawl that begins with a prayer.'
LDS-genre director Kurt Hale wants moviegoers to relive those memories in his latest family-friendly comedy 'Church Ball,' which hits theaters Friday, Mar. 17, 2006.
With 'Church Ball,' Halestorm Entertainment is seeking to leave behind the strictly LDS market and become a more general, family-oriented movie company.
'We watered out all of the LDS-inclusive jokes,' Hale said. 'We set out to make three Mormon films ('The Singles Ward,' 'The R.M.' and 'Church Ball'), but we ended up making like 20. We are worried that we are tiring out the audience.'
'Church Ball,' in addition to ridding itself of Mormon jokes and language that people outside the church would not understand, gets an added boost from its experienced cast of Hollywood actors.
The story of 'Church Ball' begins when church officials have decided this year will be the last season of church ball because the basketball program has become too competitive and violent, losing sight of its commission to foster physical well being and brotherly affection.
Fred Willard ('Anchorman,' 'The Wedding Planner') plays Bishop Linderman who, after being suspended from church basketball over 20 years ago for violent behavior, is desperate to see his ward''s team win the final church tournament. He commissions the reluctant hero Dennis, played by Andrew Wilson ('Rushmore,' Zoolander'), to lead the Mud Lake Ward''s team of misfits to victory over the 12-year champions, Crystal Hills.
Mud Lake''s 'dream team' also includes 'mean Gene,' the fiercely competitive ward clerk played by Clint Howard ('Austin Powers,' 'Apollo 13') and nice guy Charles Higgins, played by none other than Gary Coleman himself.
The Hollywood actors enjoyed the experience of making this film, which was shot in only 18 days.
'Anytime that someone is going to throw me a bounce pass and hand me a paycheck, I''ll take it,' Howard said. 'I signed up right away.'
Howard, who has admittedly practiced some fairly crude comedy in all three 'Austin Powers' movies, said he enjoyed the change to a more family oriented style of humor.
'It''s harder to be clean and do comedy,' he said. 'It takes a little extra discipline and care when you deliver it. For me it is easier to go a little dirty.'
Gary Coleman, who recently moved to Utah Valley, said he was eager to fill the role that was written specifically for him.
'I love doing stunts,' Coleman said. 'I obviously don''t get to do them very often.'
Working in an LDS environment was not a difficult transition for Coleman, who said even though he is not Mormon, most of his personal ideologies are perfectly in line with Mormon doctrine and ideals.
'Mormons are like how I wish all of America was,' he said. 'They are very nice.'
'Church Ball' also features many local celebrities that movie goers will easily recognize and relate to. Basketball figures in the movie include the great Thurl Bailey, Mark Eaton and the voice of the Utah Jazz, 'Hot Rod' Hundley. Local media personalities Jimmy Chunga (101.9 The End) and Big Buddah (Fox 13) also have small roles in the film.
'Anybody brought up in the church has memories of church ball. At BYU it seems to get even bigger with intramurals,' said director Kurt Hale. 'Everyone can relate to this movie.'
'Church Ball' opens Friday (Mar. 17, 2006); check local theater listings for showtimes.
(For comments, e-mail Scott Thompson at scottthompson@byu.net)