I have not read any of Jack Weyland's work, even though I found a lecture he gave quite entertaining. My wife had to coax me into watching this movie. She hasn't read the book, either. I thought the movie was a little long and slow, but also thought provoking and well made for an LDS film.
"Charly" seemed like two separate stories to me. The first half of the movie is about Charly's internal struggle. She resolves it, and the movie could end there, happily ever after. I'm not sure I would watch the sequel, however. The second half of the movie is more poignant. In this story, Sam struggles with his own beliefs, and his struggle seems more intense than Charly's. The second half of this movie is better than the first, but it takes a long time to get there!
The movie makes you think about your own beliefs and the important things in life. Personally, I enjoy movies that make me think or make me want to be better.
The quality is better than most LDS films to date. The lead actors do a fairly good job, despite their lack of experience. Many of the supporting actors leave something to be desired, however.
"Charly" is a top-notch film for the LDS genre. It ranks up there with "The Other Side of Heaven" and "Roots and Wings." Such movies don't require you to be a Mormon to enjoy the story they tell. The love story in "Charly" could happen to a person of any faith. This one just happens to take place in Salt Lake City.
