'Dogma' funny despite offensive plot
By Kristopher Hanson
Daily Forty-Niner
Catholics -- Beware!
Murderous angels, a foul-mouthed apostle,
drug-using prophets and a stripper Muse are all depicted in director Kevin
Smith's new satire "Dogma," a controversial film labeled by Catholic groups
as blasphemous.
An all-star cast including Matt Damon,
Ben Affleck, Chris Rock and Linda Fiorentino play a gang of rag-tag celestial
characters on a mission from, and against, God.
The film's heroine, Bethany (Fiorentino)
is an abortion clinic worker visited one night by a messenger from God
(Alanis Morissette).
Over time, another messenger (Alan Rickman)
explains that she is actually a descendant of Jesus, and her mission is
to prevent two fallen angels (Affleck and Damon) from re-entering Heaven
through the doors of a New Jersey Catholic Church.
After two unlikely prophets named Silent
Bob and Jay (Smith and Jason Mewes) rescue her from an attack, she embarks
on a journey with them from her home in Illinois to the church in New Jersey.
Along the way, they are joined by the 13th
apostle, Rufus (Rock), who tells the group that he was omitted from the
Bible by the racists who wrote it and also claims Jesus was an African.
The fallen angels, Loki and Bartlebe, are
on a mission to gain entrance into Heaven after God tossed them out one
thousand years ago.
The only way for them to get in is through
the front doors of the New Jersey church, whose bishop is hilariously played
by George Carlin.
In one scene, Carlin introduces a "new,
kinder" image of Jesus to replace the crucifixion image.
This one smiles, winks, and gives a thumbs-up
to onlookers.
Scenes like this are examples of the Catholic
parody Smith bases his film on.
Angels use profanity and yearn for sex,
God is a woman and the prophets are bumbling, pot-smoking losers from New
Jersey.
The loosely-based plot serves mostly as
a vehicle for the stars' jokes and gags.
As is common with Smith's films (Clerks,
Chasing Amy), there are plenty of low-brow adolescent cracks which portray
the limit of his humor.
If he can rise above the bathroom jokes,
Smith has the potential to become a well-respected filmmaker.
Although many followers might find it offensive,
"Dogma" seems to support most of the basic themes of Catholicism.
Questions of salvation, redemption, judgment
and faith are addressed, albeit in an irreverant way.
Bethany, at first pondering her role in
the world's future, eventually comes to accept her mission.
Rufus is non-violent and forgiving, like
the twelve apostles.
In the end, the film is not all Catholic
bashing.
"Dogma" is a balanced comedy, adventure
and romance that will give the viewer a new way of looking at organized
religion. |
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