YES, GOD, YES (2020)

Written & Directed By: Karen Maine  Cinematography: Todd Antonio Somodevilla  Editor: Jennifer Lee 

Cast: Natalia Dyer, Timothy Simons, Donna Lynne Champlin, Wolfgang Novogratz, Alisha Boe, Francesca Reale, Susan Blackwell, Parker Wierling

After an innocent AOL chat turns racy, a Catholic teenager in the early 00s discovers masturbating and struggles to suppress her new urges in the face of eternal damnation.

A star vehicle of sorts for actress Natalia Dyer of the television show STRANGER THINGS. That seems a little controversial but by the end might be shocked at how human and tame it ends up being. 

The film is short but makes it presence filled just enough.

This presents itself as a kind of teen comedy about sex or at least puberty and feelings of sexuality and masturbation in particular. 

Though the film is small scale and feels a lot more Personal. As it presents a bunch of different problems for the characters but doesn’t offer all the answers. As the ones it does provide can be seen as right or wrong depending on the individual.

It takes it’s time but doesn’t offer much in the form of energy. As it plays more dramatic at times and has it’s own moments to ponder and take into account what has just happened.

Not a typical teen coming of age comedy. As the characters have a Hypocritical nature but you can understand the characters somewhat and see that they mean well 

What is honorable about the film is that not every character is good or evil. They are not right or wrong. They go with what they believe is the truth even if not living by those rules.

They live by what they believe is best for all. They aren’t doing it to be cruel just to help in their own way. 

The characters are allowed to be flawed and not totally good or evil. Though some might be more annoying and some just don’t know any better. Even the ones who are going to have it all together and know what they are talking about and strong, in the beginning, prove to be weak by the end. 

Finally what works is that even though some of the events come off as cynical throughout the film like it’s lead character never seems to go that route. They have faith and belief that they stick to despite it all throughout and by the end have their own kind of acceptance.

Grade: C+