KEEPING THE FAITH
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Capsule: Fresh, pleasant, and funny, KEEPING
THE FAITH manages to give new life to the tired
"romantic triangle comedy" by introducing a lot of
fun (and some material that is serious) about
Judaism and Catholicism. Ben Stiller plays a rabbi
and Ed Norton plays a priest, both of whom are in
love with their mutual childhood friend who is now
a stunning beauty. Jenna Elfman has a really
magnetic screen personality. The main storyline is
familiar territory, but there is more than enough
going on in this film to keep things popping.
Edward Norton stars, co-produces, and directs.
Rating: 7 (0 to 10), 2 (-4 to +4)
It is not easy to write a film about a romantic triangle and not cover territory that has been covered by countless other romantic triangle films like HIS GIRL FRIDAY and THE PHILADELPHIA STORY. Stuart Blumberg's script for KEEPING THE FAITH does it by filling in what would be dull spaces with insight and comedy about Judaism and Catholicism. Two of the three main characters are clergymen wanting to try unconventional approaches to make their services more enjoyable, relevant, and in general more inviting. Each has to buck an establishment tied to more traditional approaches to religious services. The two men's presence pits the more conservative and generally older members of their congregations against a younger generation more open to newer ideas. KEEPING THE FAITH can flit back and forth from the main plotline to the religious subplots and never get dull. On the whole the film mixes two parts humor with one part seriousness. And one thing that sets this film apart from so many other films is just that the jokes really are funny. It is unusual these days to find a writer who can be funny without sacrificing taste. Perhaps there will be small numbers of Catholics and Jews that will be uncomfortable with some of the "new approaches," but it is done in a much more loving fashion than similar sorts of humor in last year's DOGMA.
Back in Junior High both Jake Schram and Brian Finn became fast friends with cute and plucky Anna Reilly. Sadly, after a year or so Anna had to move away. Jake and Brian both had ideas on how to make their respective religions more fun and more relevant. Jake (Ben Stiller) became a rabbi and Brian (Edward Norton) becomes a priest. Each tries to modernize his religion, sometimes with surprising and unorthodox results. Brian mixes services with stand-up comedy. Jake mixes new forms of music into the Jewish service. Then comes the day that Anna Reilly (Jenna Elfman) contacts Brian and tells him she is returning to New York. Anna, who has matured into a stunning beauty is now a workaholic repairing businesses. She is addicted to her cell phone. The story goes back and forth between the two men's religious careers and their attraction to the woman both love, but who is forbidden to each of them. Jake is looking for a wife, but is only willing to marry a Jew. Brian is Anna's religion, but the vows of his priesthood force him to remain celibate. Like a Seinfeld episode, for a long time nothing much happens but the characters discussing their situation. But Anna's attraction is too great to resist forever. Each of the men must gauge how deeply he feels about Anna and how deeply about his religion.
It was claimed that watching just Spencer Tracy listening was more interesting than watching other actors speak. That seems to have been a lesson learned by Jenna Elfman. If the name is familiar, she is married to a nephew of film composer Danny Elfman. Jenna Elfman never just stands waiting for her next line. She is inconstant motion and reacts to every line spoken. This is just the sort of actor other actors hate to play opposite since she grabs the attention of most of the audience, certainly most of the males. Edward Norton demonstrated in PRIMAL FEAR, AMERICAN HISTORY X, and THE FIGHT CLUB that he can do some dynamic personalities. But in KEEPING THE FAITH he comes off just a bit bland. Ben Stiller is more serious here than in films like SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, but he carries the serious moments as well as the comic ones. In addition there are some veteran actors in smaller roles including Anne Bancroft, Ron Rifkin, and Eli Wallach. There is even a small role for director Milos Forman.
Anastos N. Michos gives us some moderately good photography of New York and this film gives us a counter-example to the usual wisdom that no good film ever starts with an overhead shot of New York. One quibble: one of the women Jake dates is a Jewish news commentator who specializes in the Middle East and frequently is sent to Iraq and Libya. I do not believe that Jewish women get a lot of cooperation in the Arabic countries in the Middle East.
This is a film that beats a lot of odds to be an intelligent romantic comedy that is constantly entertaining. While the end seems a little strained, it is better than one might expect. I rate it a 7 on the 0 to 10 scale and a +2 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
mleeper@lucent.com
Copyright 2000 Mark R. Leeper
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