Suits on the Loose is a 2005 film directed by Rodney Henson. Billed as "a heartfelt
coming-of-age comedy", the film follows two juvenile delinquents named Justin and Tyler who are sent to a desert survival camp. They manage to escape from the camp by stealing a truck, which breaks down at rest stop. There, they encounter two naive missionaries called Elder Johnson and Elder Talbot. Justin and Tyler steal the missionaries' car and decide that the best way to hide is to
pretend to be missionaries. Before they can make a break for it, they somehow get caught up in missionary work in the town of New Harmony.
Suits on the Loose provides examples of:
- Brick Joke: Justin and Tyler win a bet with the Burnett brothers that they should attend church for the next six months. In the post-credits scene, the brothers are seen in the congregation.
- Coming of Age Story: Justin comes to terms with his father sending him to a desert survival camp.
- Creator Cameo: The film's director has a role as the pipe guard.
- Department of Redundancy Department: "Wise words of wisdom".
- Easy Evangelism: Reginald Steedman wants to get baptized after learning from missionaries who barely know how to teach the lessons.
- Feedback Rule: Happens when Justin and Tyler go up to the podium to bear their testimonies.
- Feet-First Introduction: Given to all participants of the desert survival camp.
- Forbidden Love: Justin starts to form a relationship with Sarah, but since he's disguised as a missionary they can't really get together at first.
- Great Escape: Justin and Tyler's escape from survival camp.
- I Am the Noun: General Wilkins tells the desert survival campers, "I am the law."
- Internal Reveal: After Darren Burnett recognizes one of the missionaries from playing pool the bar, Justin and Tyler reveal that they actually aren't missionaries. Then the actual missionaries turn up.
- Lost Love Montage: When Justin and Tyler are sent back to survival camp, there's a montage which focuses on Justin and Sarah's relationship.
- The Missionary: Elder Talbot and Elder Johnson
- Mugged for Disguise: Double Subversion. At first Justin and Tyler just steal the missionary's car at a rest stop. However, Tyler realizes the missionary uniforms could make good disguises.
- No Party Like a Donner Party: Stranded in the desert, Elder Talbot says Elder Johnson can eat him if he dies.
- Sleazy Politician: Senator Roy Boxwell (Justin's father) portrays himself as a family man during his re-election campaign, even though he sent his child to a desert survival camp.
- Stock Footage: The footage of Justin pocketing an eight-ball is used twice, but the second time it's flipped.
- A Storm Is Coming: Lampshaded in the creator's commentary, which says that the thunder near the beginning of the movie "means trouble's brewing". They explain that the rain is important to show Justin and Tyler's progression throughout the story, so that as life get better, it gets sunnier.
- Straight Man and Wise Guy: Justin is the Straight Man and Tyler provides Plucky Comic Relief.
- Tracking Device: Officer Stone puts tracking devices in Justin and Tyler's hats, so they put their hats in the general's truck.
