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Yes, God, Yes (2020)

The obvious direction Yes, God, Yes could’ve gone is the comedic route. It also had equal potential as a highly critical drama. Writer/director Karen Maine finds the delicate balance in between. This coming-of-age story has plenty of laughs and offers a little bit of food for thought too. I can think of a lot of people who will recognize themselves in this film like I did.

15-year-old Alice (Natalia Dyer) goes to a Catholic high school, meaning her sex-ed class consists of “it’s only done once you’re married, and the only objective is procreation”. She struggles to make sense of the inklings of sexual desire developing inside her. Attending the school’s 3-day weekend retreat both increase her confusion and provides several unexpected temptations.

What makes the movie funny is Alice’s blessed ignorance. She might’ve never seen any pornography, have any idea what masturbation is like, or understand what "tossing a salad means" but her classmates, teachers, and we do. She makes you laugh in an "it's so cute you don't know" kind of way but you also sympathize. We’ve all been there at one point or another. Seeing this young woman slowly figure things out brings you back to simpler times. You're chuckling at yourself too because as hard as things might've been back then, it turned out alright in the end. Her ignorance lands her in a couple of scenarios where she has to scramble to not get caught or avoid suspicion and that’s a lot of fun to watch.

Despite the wacky scenarios, Yes, God, Yes always remains grounded. Like her, I remember the first time I saw Titanic. Everyone around me said that moment where the guy falls and hits the propeller was the best scene. I had a different moment in mind but never wanted to admit it out loud. I also remember less-than-stellar sex ed classes that left me with a lot of questions I was too embarrassed to ask. It deals with the hypocrisy you’ll experience from many of the people who talk about abstinence as the only solution to your growing desires without being mean-spirited about it. You expect Alice to be shocked. What's more interesting is that a lot of the stuff she sees, she likes even if she doesn't understand why.

The movie is honest but doesn’t feel so autobiographical to be elusive to anyone watching. The performances are spot-on, as is dialogue, setting, and relationships. Yes, God, Yes is only 78 minutes long and that’s perfect. If it went on for more, there’d be sub-plots about closeted students/staff members who feel ostracized, we’d probably get some big but phony laughs at the expense of Alice’s parents, and escalating shocks and gross-outs, all of which would ultimately add nothing. As a directorial debut, Karen Maine has made a great impression. You're left with nuggets of wisdom, a smile on your face, and a warm feeling inside. (January 17, 2021)

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Yes, God, Yes Cast, and Character Guide - A guide for the movie "Yes, God, Yes." Included are noted cast members, information about their character, and other additional details. - #alishaboe #francescareale #gabriellagarcia #nataliadyer #parkerwierling #susanblackwell #timothysimons #wolfgangnovogratz