Movie distributors always try to find little ways to make their movies stick in critics' minds - but the gimmick employed by the makers of the Mormon migration drama "17 Miracles" is a headscratcher.

Before the press screening on Tuesday night, a woman handed me a press kit and a small bundle in a muslin cloth. Inside, I was told, was a small bag of flour - symbolic of the small rations that the pioneers were allowed to eat each day on the trail from Nebraska to Utah.

Three thoughts come to mind about this gift:

1. It's not uncommon for someone to offer donuts before a screening - but usually the donuts are cooked first.
2. Thank goodness they didn't mail the flour packets to us. Imagine how a small amount of unmarked white powder would be received in the mailroom.
3. It would be a bad thing to forget about this little gift and then try to go through airport security.

The publicist said that the same flour packets will be handed out to people at tonight's premiere of the film.