For nearly a decade, actress Natalia Dyer has played flamethrower-wielding older sis Nancy Wheeler on Netflix's "Stranger Things," a fierce run that will come to a close with the fifth and final season of the sci-fi juggernaut, which kicked off with the four-episode Volume I on Nov. 26. (Three more episodes will hit the streaming service on Dec. 25, followed by the oversized, action-packed series finale on Dec. 31.)
However, though that beloved series will undoubtedly be one of the major projects that Dyer is known for, the 30-year-old actress also has other worthy credits dotting her IMDb filmography, including the underrated 2019 coming-of-age comedy "Yes, God, Yes."
The directorial debut of Karen Maine — who memorably penned the great "Obvious Child" — "Yes, God, Yes" follows a Catholic teen struggling with physical urges and concerns of eternal damnation in the early 2000s. It's a little "Saved!," a little "Lady Bird," a little "PEN15" and an all-around fun watch. And you can stream it right now on Prime Video.
What is 'Yes, God, Yes' about?
"Yes, God, Yes" is based on writer-director Karen Maine's own experiences attending Catholic school in Iowa, where sex-ed curriculum began and ended with the emphasis of simply not engaging in any sexual activity before marriage. The funny flick picks up in the fall of 2000 with 15-year-old Alice (Dyer), an intelligent but sexually inexperienced junior, who discovers masturbation after an innocent AOL chat turns unexpectedly racy.
Struggling with her burgeoning sexuality and the subsequent shame instilled in her by her religious upbringing, Alice goes off on a church-sponsored youth retreat to reconnect with God. But her internal conflict doesn't get any easier with the arrival of a hunky retreat leader (Wolfgang Novogratz) and the revealing hypocrisy of those trying to stifle her desires.
Why you should you stream 'Yes, God, Yes' on Prime Video
At the heart of this naughty-but-nice satire on religious repression and the growing pains (and pleasures) of adolescence is Dyer's charming lead performance, which allows the star to stretch comedically — nailing both Alice's awkward relatability and bound-up physicality — in ways that "Stranger Things" can't. (Not that Nancy Wheeler doesn't have her moments.)
Richard Brody of The New Yorker praised not other Dyer's acting (her "mercurially nuanced yet unforced performance conveys Alice’s deep-rooted character as well as her practical struggles," he wrote) but also Maine's directing, calling it a "remarkable" first feature for the filmmaker.
The critic ended up putting "Yes, God, Yes" on his list of the best films of 2020, though it's understandable if you missed it during the — waves hand — COVID of it all. So take Dyer's big "Stranger Things" bow as an opportune time to check out this less seen but no less engaging role from the Netflix star.
Stream "Yes, God, Yes" on Prime Video
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