Yoh! Bestie

Grade: NOT RECOMMENDED

Summary

While the movie's core theme of jealousy is relatable, its romantic comedy genre often normalizes covetousness and potentially impure relationships. The absence of an MPAA rating and the genre's typical tropes suggest a likelihood of content that could present occasions of sin, particularly regarding the 9th and 10th Commandments.

Moral Concerns

• Covetousness (9th and 10th Commandments) as a central plot device, potentially normalized or made light of
• Potential for scandal by depicting a woman pursuing a man engaged to another, even if she is his 'best friend'
• Romantic comedy genre tropes often include suggestive humor, immodesty, or casual attitudes toward pre-marital relationships, which could lead to impurity (6th Commandment)
• Lack of MPAA rating means content could be unsuitable for younger audiences without clear guidance
• Potential for emotional manipulation or deceit if Thando actively tries to break up the engagement

Positive Elements

• Exploration of complex human emotions like jealousy and unrequited love, which, if handled morally, could offer lessons in self-control and virtue
• Potential for a message about accepting God's will and finding true love in the right way, though this is speculative based on the genre

Detailed Analysis

The movie 'Yoh! Bestie' is graded as 'NOT RECOMMENDED' primarily due to its central plot revolving around Thando's jealousy over her best friend's fiancée. This directly implicates the 9th and 10th Commandments ('Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife' and 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods'), as Thando is clearly coveting a relationship that belongs to another woman. While jealousy is a human emotion, the romantic comedy genre often tends to normalize or even romanticize such covetous behavior, presenting the pursuit of an engaged person as a charming or understandable quest rather than a grave moral issue. This could lead to scandal, especially for younger viewers, by presenting sin as acceptable or even desirable. Furthermore, romantic comedies frequently include suggestive content, immodest dress, or lighthearted approaches to pre-marital relationships, which could constitute venial sins or occasions of sin against the 6th Commandment. Without an MPAA rating, there is no clear indication of the level of suggestive content or profanity that might be present. While there is a slim possibility that the film could ultimately teach a lesson about overcoming jealousy and respecting boundaries, the typical trajectory of such plots often involves Thando actively working to win her friend, which would involve deliberate scandal and potentially grave matter by attempting to break up an engagement. Therefore, the inherent premise and genre tropes make it problematic for Catholic families seeking to avoid occasions of sin and uphold moral principles regarding purity, fidelity, and respect for others' relationships.

This review is based on traditional Catholic moral teaching as found in the Baltimore Catechism and the Ten Commandments. It is intended to help Catholic families make informed viewing decisions.