"Dogma" -- Divine Irreverence by Homer Yen (c) 1999
The litmus test to whether you'll enjoy this movie comes in the very first 15 minutes of the film. An eminent Cardinal of the Catholic Church is about to unveil a marketing promotion to reinvigorate the Church's waning attendance numbers. Comedian George Carlin plays the Cardinal. He espouses the Church's newest campaign, Catholicism Wow! He points out that people believe that the Church has lost its spark and youthfulness. This campaign intends to turn things around. To kick things off, he introduces the Church's newest sacred image called Buddy Christ. The current holy but wholly depressing icon of Jesus hanging from the cross gives the people the 'willies,' as he puts it. This updated, friendlier representation has Jesus winking, giving a warm smile, and displaying a Roger Ebert-like thumbs-up. As another component of his campaign, he designates the entrance to his church as a mechanism of forgiveness. Simply pass through the arch, and all of your sins will be forgotten.
This blessed arch is big news for two fallen angels, Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck). These two were responsible for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra, which understandably incurred God's wrath. Exiled to Wisconsin, they have long-awaited their chance to reenter paradise, and this new loophole in Church dogma may just be their ticket. The consequence, however, is that we'll all be blinked out of existence. A celestial war is about to ensue, but it is a human that will be needed to save us all. Bethany (feisty Linda Fiorentino) is selected for this holy crusade. She is visited by the 'voice of God' (Alan Rickman) who asks her for her help. Here's another wacky moment. He appears as a column of flame (a la Burning Bush) in her bedroom. She is not awed by this presence, and instead, reaches for the fire extinguisher.
She grudgingly accepts this bizarre mission. Along the way, she meets up with a host of celestial good guys who want to help Bethany. These include two prophets, very foul-mouthed Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Bob Smith); a muse-turned-stripper (Salma Hayek); and Rufus, the 13th Apostle (Chris Rock, who actually curses less than Jason Mewes). Celestial bad guys want to stop Bethany, led by Azrael (Jason Lee). He welcomes the end of existence and promises to help Loki and Bartelby reenter paradise.
What detracts from an otherwise clever film is the second act. Story lines begin to splinter and it isn't exactly clear who is trying to accomplish what and for what reasons. As the impending apocalyptic events are about to unfold, explanations are given so quickly that I felt that I needed to rewind the film again in order to really understand what was taking place. Gratuitous violence begins to overshadow the tone that has been established, and that made the film seem unbalanced.
Still, I was able to get by the 15-minute litmus test, and laughed at this satirically good-natured film. In part, I enjoyed Fiorentino's steady performance and appreciated the unconventionality of this movie, including Rufus's explanation of why no one has ever heard of the 13th apostle. And, if you can stay the course, it would be no surprise that Jesus might actually be black or that God was a woman (and they might have been because I wasn't here 2000 years ago). Beneath the obscenities, there is intelligent commentary about the belief structures in place within Church doctrine. I don't think it blasphemous of me to say that Director Kevin Smith has certainly taken a leap of faith with a film that has some genuinely clever ideas.
Grade: B
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