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Original poster

To ask if anyone else didn’t like Book of Mormon?

81 replies

Thrxverd · 03/07/2022 17:51

I went to see it yesterday and was really expecting to love it. I know many people who’ve seen it and it always gets rave reviews. The person I went with absolutely loved it.

I thought it was fine, had a couple of laughs, but I didn’t think it was a brilliant, hilarious masterpiece. It’s in our city this week and my social media is covered in people saying how it’s the best show they’ve ever seen, cried laughing etc.

Has anyone else been disappointed by it? It didn’t offend me or anything, I just didn’t think it was as brilliant and funny as it seems every other person I know does.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 03/07/2022 21:59

I got given tickets for a birthday. I had never heard much about it and when I googled it, the clips I saw were quite boring. Plus a really good friend died two days before, so I really didn’t feel like going. But when we did, we found it hysterical! It was so ridiculously outrageous, completely OTT, I have no idea how they got away with it. I remember spending the whole night going “omg did they really just say that??” I’ve spent quite a lot of time visiting America and Africa over the years, and I think that made it funnier somehow, but obviously the characters were deliberately over the top.

But a chap two rows in front of us fell asleep! We found that hysterical too.

Tangled123 · 03/07/2022 22:06

I saw it a few years ago. I don’t remember much of it now, but I think I enjoyed it. I didn’t know anything about it before going to see it though, it’s always hard for movies shows or books to live up to their hype IMO. The secret is to have no/low expectations.

LizzieSiddal · 03/07/2022 22:08

I thought it was really mean spirited and not really funny at all. Wtf is funny about poor people desperate for a better life and fgm.

Agree very much with this. I don’t find rape and fgm jokes funny, even if they are “satyrical”. Dh and I walked out at the interval and went and had some cocktails instead.

Girliegirl83 · 03/07/2022 22:08

Worst show I've ever seen. Barely laughed after first act.

PollyPeeves · 03/07/2022 22:11

I think the “hype” is the problem.

I saw it in London a few years ago with my sister. we booked some random shows to see while we were there. I knew nothing about it and can honestly say I thought it was hilarious. I always have a laugh with my sister though so it could also have been part of it.

SarahSissions · 03/07/2022 22:29

Really over rated. Reminded me of a kid who has just learned a rude word and just keeps repeating it because they think it’s funny. No actual depth to the comedy at all.
I got the feeling that people were laughing because they wanted to prove they were difficult to offend.

Dressbuying · 03/07/2022 22:39

SarahSissions · 03/07/2022 22:29

Really over rated. Reminded me of a kid who has just learned a rude word and just keeps repeating it because they think it’s funny. No actual depth to the comedy at all.
I got the feeling that people were laughing because they wanted to prove they were difficult to offend.

Oh this in spades.

I really hated it.

Glencanto · 03/07/2022 22:45

Really over rated. Reminded me of a kid who has just learned a rude word and just keeps repeating it because they think it’s funny. No actual depth to the comedy at all.
That’s really unfair, the satire of Mormonism (and religion in general) was really well done, and not entirely unkind to those with faith. It did a good job a critiquing the white saviour attitudes of the missionaries (sharing scripture that was of no practical benefit to the Ugandans) before progressing to starting a new faith, that was a force for good, based on shared (very fictional) stories that would become its parables.

The ‘something incredible’ misdirect was also very well done.

Some of the satire that was Mormon-specific probably does require audiences to have a certain level of knowledge about the church going in, which is probably less common in the UK.

If you thought it was just all rude words, it probably went over your head.

orbitalcrisis · 03/07/2022 23:00

I thought it was very funny, but I do have several Mormon friends and family and have read the Book of Mormon! I found that very funny too but for different reasons.

Glencanto · 03/07/2022 23:11

orbitalcrisis · 03/07/2022 23:00

I thought it was very funny, but I do have several Mormon friends and family and have read the Book of Mormon! I found that very funny too but for different reasons.

Yeah I do think familiarity with the Church and it’s teachings makes a big difference to the viewer (particularly for the songs All American Prophet, Joseph Smith: American Moses and I Believe ).

Teder · 03/07/2022 23:23

I saw it when it first came to London around 8/9 years ago. At the time, I laughed a lot but felt a bit weird inside. Looking back, I’m shocked. There were parts of the satire that I felt were edgy but some are just plain awful - raping babies and HIV “jokes”.

On a different note, I was so bored in Les Mis. I lost focus and was pleased when it ended. I do
like some of the songs but I never got the hype. I feel similarly about Cats the musical, I only went to see Beverly Knight sing Memory. She was awesome! But it was a boring show for one amazing song. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Glencanto · 03/07/2022 23:24

Cats is absolute garbage. Amazing how it’s been so successful.

HelloHeathcliffeItsMe · 03/07/2022 23:29

I found it funny. My dad is African (moved to the UK in his 20s). He would find it horrendous but not because of racism but because he is religious. MIL is Nigerian but Atheist and found it funny.

I didn't feel they were mocking Ugandans at all, instead they are mocking the "white saviours" coming in to offer little practical help and instead spout nonsense at them.

I don't usually like musicals (though can't believe an above poster didn't enjoy Les Mis...are you made of stone?!) but belly laughed my way through this one. Struggled with the HIV/baby rape jokes but know the message was about religious beliefs as a whole and giving perspective on how illogical they all are, rather than an attack on Uganda.

waveyourpompoms · 04/07/2022 00:02

Nope, I loved it! It was absolutely one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen, great songs and characters and I can’t wait to see it again.

Pac35 · 04/07/2022 03:48

I didn't enjoy it. I was so looking forward to it after all the hype. I thought a lot of the jokes went too far & weren't funny. It's like it was trying to be as crude as possible when it wasn't really necessary. I'm not a prude and love potty humour but I thought it was over kill and trying too hard

Winkydink · 04/07/2022 04:08

YANBU. I didn’t find it funny at all. And I have a fairly well developed sense of humour! After I saw it I found a lone negative review online that expressed how I felt - I think it was the Times but I can’t recall now. The musical was supposed to be satire but I found it patronising even through the “satire”.

I did love the opening dance routine, however.

chutzpahchick · 04/07/2022 05:17

Didn't like it either, neither did DH. I found the jokes quite unsophisticated and unfunny. I'm not religous BTW so not personally offended but I still thought it was just mean. Really disappointed, especially after all the hype.

Greenfinch7 · 04/07/2022 05:25

Boring and obvious

FunDragon · 04/07/2022 05:30

No, I didn’t like it or find it funny, although I did think some of the songs were good from a purely musical perspective.

I also never thought South Park or Team America were funny. And I automatically write off anyone who ‘quotes’ Team America and thinks they’re being amusing.

hagelslaagfiend · 04/07/2022 07:37

I never really liked South Park but have seen BofM twice. I've think it's really clever satire and the music is fab. The second time recently I picked up more of the nods to other musicals- Annie, Sound of music etc. I get why people don't like it, there are times that are uncomfortable to watch. I have Mormon family. The repressed emotions and suppression of pleasures are spot on! And living in a bubble. I like how it satirises blind faith and the distinction between faith and church.

Wish I could get spooky Mormon hell dream or I believe out of my brain though. Terrible ear worms!

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 04/07/2022 08:44

I loved it, I'm a big musical fan and didn't know what to expect even being a South park fan when I was a teenager. Yes some of the jokes were shocking, and it took me a few minutes to work put if the Mormons outside at the end were real.

Yes they were, and really polite considering they'd just had the piss ripped out them mercilessly for 2 hours. I mean, they must have been told what it contains, right?

GrowlingManchego · 04/07/2022 08:49

It was shite, I also concur that Les Mis is shite as well. 😂

newnamethanks · 04/07/2022 08:56

Yes. Uncomfortable? That's the point of it.

Original poster
Thrxverd · 04/07/2022 15:27

newnamethanks · 04/07/2022 08:56

Yes. Uncomfortable? That's the point of it.

I didn’t think it was uncomfortable. I thought it was dull in places and only mildly amusing.

Just couldn’t understand why people were in tears of laughter and hailing it the best musical ever.

Like the AIDS song. The first time he said it I could understand the shock humour. But when he said it the eighteenth time and it’s so obvious it’s coming, people were howling with laughter.

OP posts:
Whataplanker · 04/07/2022 17:56

My DH is an RE teacher and he gave me an outline of Mormon beliefs before we went. I already knew the obvious stuff but he told me things I didn't know and I was glad he did as I was really able to pick up on the satire on different levels.