Robin PottratzMovie Review: When Taken with Grain of Salt, "Religulous" provides big laughs: *** out of 4
October 9th 2008 20:17
Let's get this out of the way right now: Bill Maher is a dick. He is a dick about politics, he is a dick about drugs, he is a dick about celebrities, and without even seeing "Religulous," you can probably figure out that he is a dick about religion. However, as evidenced by "Religuous," Bill Maher is also extremely funny and very sharp. "Religulous," is his assessment of the place of religion in today's society. What surprised me about the film is that Bill Maher is not calling people stupid for their religious beliefs, he simply feels that the concept of organized religion and people taking hateful aspects of various religions in their most literal terms is wrong and can result in violence, hatred, and intolerance around the world, and that certainty cannot possibly exist in the realm of religion, only doubt.
Despite the fact that I agree with Maher on that message, one can't help but feel bad for the unsuspecting good people that are intentionally or unintentionally made to look like fools for simply having faith. The people that I speak of are people who don't appear to have a whole lot of education or money. Faith is one of the few things that they can hold on to, and it is hard not to be sympathetic when Bill Maher pokes holes in their beliefs. Maher is not trying to be mean, he is just asking questions that these people have never asked or heard before. One instance occurs in the Trucker's Chapel in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bill Maher's inquisition results in one member of the congregation getting up and leaving in an angry huff. The sight of people being angry at Maher is a familiar one in "Religulous," but unlike in other documentaries on controversial subjects its easier to view both sides of the argument in this film. Both sides of the argument are given a face, which makes "Religulous" as fair of a documentary as is likely to be put out in the current political climate.
When "Religulous" is at its most poignent and hilarious is when Maher nails the hypocrites. One instance is when Maher interviews television evangelist Rev. Jeremiah Cummings, who claims he is a doctor despite not having a degree of any kind. Maher presses him on his extravagant earnings, wardrobe, home, etc. Cummings squirms for a bit as Maher watches with his trademark arrogant smirk. The real highlight of his nailing is when he visits a man who claims to have been converted from homosexuality with the power of Jesus. Maher questions him by stating that Jesus never made any statement regarding homosexuality, the bible, which was written years later is the only "holy" book that ever made any claims of homosexuality to be immoral. The gentleman refused Maher's claim, but was a bit more receptive when Maher sort of hit on him:
Maher: I mean you're a good looking guy, you're very neat, if I saw you in a bar I would think "that guy is gay."
The segment ended awkwardly with the use of the music from "Brokeback Mountain," followed by a hug. These are the moments where "Religulous" becomes worthy of being called brilliant. Sadly, Maher and director Larry Charles (Borat) cannot keep the momentum at the same pace that it does at the beginning, but "Religulous" still has its time capsule moments.
We learn about Maher's religious background (he's half jewish and half catholic), in a hilarious interview with his sister and mother. We also follow Maher when he visits a Holy Land themed amusement park where he interviews a Jesus impersonator, we then see the theme park's bizarre and disturbing crucifixion re-enactment.
"Religuous" also has its dull moments, like when Maher interviews a Jewish gadget maker who is trying to find ways out of observing shabbos through various inventions, his discussion with a muslim rapper, or when he visits a holyman whose religious ceremonies involve smoking pot (I got the feeling that Maher didn't care about that man's religion, just the oppertunity to smoke his weed).
The dull moments are drowned out by the hilarious and poignant ones which make "Religulous" a highly entertaining and thought provoking documentary. However one can't leave it without questioning the thought process of its star. Maher is anti-religion, he has described God as "you imaginary friend," and feels that religion has little to no place in today's political climate. Whether or not you agree with Maher's stance on the last taboo of religion, I think that Maher and Larry Charles have produced an important film which demands to be seen by every person of faith, regardless of religious or political affiliation. Love Maher or hate him, one can't discredit or degrade the efforts of a man who is willing to stick it to the presumed norms and ask questions that no one would otherwise ask. He is a real maverick and I think that Hollywood needs a man like him now more than ever.
Despite the fact that I agree with Maher on that message, one can't help but feel bad for the unsuspecting good people that are intentionally or unintentionally made to look like fools for simply having faith. The people that I speak of are people who don't appear to have a whole lot of education or money. Faith is one of the few things that they can hold on to, and it is hard not to be sympathetic when Bill Maher pokes holes in their beliefs. Maher is not trying to be mean, he is just asking questions that these people have never asked or heard before. One instance occurs in the Trucker's Chapel in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bill Maher's inquisition results in one member of the congregation getting up and leaving in an angry huff. The sight of people being angry at Maher is a familiar one in "Religulous," but unlike in other documentaries on controversial subjects its easier to view both sides of the argument in this film. Both sides of the argument are given a face, which makes "Religulous" as fair of a documentary as is likely to be put out in the current political climate.
When "Religulous" is at its most poignent and hilarious is when Maher nails the hypocrites. One instance is when Maher interviews television evangelist Rev. Jeremiah Cummings, who claims he is a doctor despite not having a degree of any kind. Maher presses him on his extravagant earnings, wardrobe, home, etc. Cummings squirms for a bit as Maher watches with his trademark arrogant smirk. The real highlight of his nailing is when he visits a man who claims to have been converted from homosexuality with the power of Jesus. Maher questions him by stating that Jesus never made any statement regarding homosexuality, the bible, which was written years later is the only "holy" book that ever made any claims of homosexuality to be immoral. The gentleman refused Maher's claim, but was a bit more receptive when Maher sort of hit on him:
Maher: I mean you're a good looking guy, you're very neat, if I saw you in a bar I would think "that guy is gay."
The segment ended awkwardly with the use of the music from "Brokeback Mountain," followed by a hug. These are the moments where "Religulous" becomes worthy of being called brilliant. Sadly, Maher and director Larry Charles (Borat) cannot keep the momentum at the same pace that it does at the beginning, but "Religulous" still has its time capsule moments.
We learn about Maher's religious background (he's half jewish and half catholic), in a hilarious interview with his sister and mother. We also follow Maher when he visits a Holy Land themed amusement park where he interviews a Jesus impersonator, we then see the theme park's bizarre and disturbing crucifixion re-enactment.
"Religuous" also has its dull moments, like when Maher interviews a Jewish gadget maker who is trying to find ways out of observing shabbos through various inventions, his discussion with a muslim rapper, or when he visits a holyman whose religious ceremonies involve smoking pot (I got the feeling that Maher didn't care about that man's religion, just the oppertunity to smoke his weed).
The dull moments are drowned out by the hilarious and poignant ones which make "Religulous" a highly entertaining and thought provoking documentary. However one can't leave it without questioning the thought process of its star. Maher is anti-religion, he has described God as "you imaginary friend," and feels that religion has little to no place in today's political climate. Whether or not you agree with Maher's stance on the last taboo of religion, I think that Maher and Larry Charles have produced an important film which demands to be seen by every person of faith, regardless of religious or political affiliation. Love Maher or hate him, one can't discredit or degrade the efforts of a man who is willing to stick it to the presumed norms and ask questions that no one would otherwise ask. He is a real maverick and I think that Hollywood needs a man like him now more than ever.
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