This is Kevin Smith's gleeful romp into the most controversial of all subjects: religion. He takes some nasty shots at the orthodox methods and belief structure of Catholicism in this cranked-up bit about two renegade angels trying to get back into heaven after disobeying their Creator and being cast down into the hell of all hells: Wisconsin. Smith has the tendency to be preachy and overwrought in detail of his thoughts and opinions when writing a script, and this movie allows him the perfect opportunity to sound off from all sides through his diverse and zany cast of characters. Everyone is their own religious theorist that has the tiresome tendency to progress simple dialogue into long-winded sermons stuffed chock-full of theological banter. It is easier to take this time around since he has splashed his nonconforming and adroit sense of humor about the place, lightening a situation when it becomes too thought-provoking or dense for some.
His amusing supposition of God is that the Divine One is an avid skeeball player and, once in a while, converts his Almighty aura to human flesh so he can drop in at the local arcade to play a few rounds. But evil forces are about, and three dirty little adolescents called the Stygian triplets beat the Almighty's frail body to the ground with their hockey sticks of death, capturing the deity and holding him against his will as a threat to the stability of Heaven and Earth collectively. Skip to an airport somewhere in hell, er, Wisconsin where Bartleby (Affleck) and Loki (Damon), the above-mentioned renegades, begin their plotting to get back into paradise. The process of how and why is explained as Bartleby convinces Loki to get involved and they begin their trek across the US to reach a small church in New Jersey, the place where the existing backdoor lies in wait for their entry.
Little do they know, an ancestor of the Almighty has just been chosen to prevent their reentry and her name is Bethany Sloane, a simple citizen of Earth who works at, of all places, an abortion clinic. If the criticism of the medieval and unruly ethics of Catholicism wasn't enough, Smith has the balls to include the hostile, rampant war between pro and anti-abortionists. She is visited in the night by the Holy host Metatron, the substituted voice of God and messenger to her quest. This is when the movie gets good. Smith couldn't have done better when he cast Alan Rickman as the sardonic seraphim. His raw delivery but gentle presence is a pleasure above all the casting choices he has made in the past, good and bad. Rickman alone is worth the watch with his rapier wit and polished experience.
Granted, Ben and Matt are the perfect pair, seeing as how they're childhood friends, personal acquaintances of the director and have already shown what they're capable of in their Oscar-winning film `Good Will Hunting'. The only problem I have with them is that when they're working together in this movie, it's like watching `Good Will Hunting' again, only with a livelier story line and a deeper moral. They seem to be playing themselves more than they're playing Bartleby and Loki. This `He's my best buddy and I want to include him in every movie I'm starring in' crap is getting a little old. Of course, with an Oscar sitting on their mantle, they won't need to find each other jobs for quite a while.
Chris Rock was a hilarious original as Rufus, the 13th apostle of God purposely unaccounted for in the bible because of his race. He drops the usual mottled routine he heralds on-stage, substituting a subtler charm and snappier humor. George Carlin is perfect as the sanctimonious highflyer Cardinal Glick, a vicar who doggedly campaigns the modernized and worship-friendly changes to Catholicism. His transition into Glick's ambitious persona is done with the greatest ease, proving once again that he is a wonder to behold on a movie set as well as in front of a live audience. Carlin's skilled comedic prowess makes donning the priestly robes the ultimate irony and he delivers the holy haughtiness of Glick's character with dexterity and precision.
Who I really thought was an interesting choice on Smith's part is Linda Fiorentino as the Last Scion. Judging by her failures in movies such as the forgettable 80's fop `Gotcha!' and the cheap sex thriller `Jade' (not to mention acting alongside David Caruso), Linda is taking a step up from martyrdom as Bethany, the bitter child of God who cures her lost faith by saving the world from total damnation. There are other actresses who had their foot in the door for this part, but Linda seems to have that special, sexy charm that can't be compared.
Smith has done well so far, picking himself up when he's fallen down, but not without words. How can we expect any less of our belligerent and quarrelsome screenwriter? His mouth has gotten him many places, and may his working mind continue to keep him decent in his writing.
His amusing supposition of God is that the Divine One is an avid skeeball player and, once in a while, converts his Almighty aura to human flesh so he can drop in at the local arcade to play a few rounds. But evil forces are about, and three dirty little adolescents called the Stygian triplets beat the Almighty's frail body to the ground with their hockey sticks of death, capturing the deity and holding him against his will as a threat to the stability of Heaven and Earth collectively. Skip to an airport somewhere in hell, er, Wisconsin where Bartleby (Affleck) and Loki (Damon), the above-mentioned renegades, begin their plotting to get back into paradise. The process of how and why is explained as Bartleby convinces Loki to get involved and they begin their trek across the US to reach a small church in New Jersey, the place where the existing backdoor lies in wait for their entry.
Little do they know, an ancestor of the Almighty has just been chosen to prevent their reentry and her name is Bethany Sloane, a simple citizen of Earth who works at, of all places, an abortion clinic. If the criticism of the medieval and unruly ethics of Catholicism wasn't enough, Smith has the balls to include the hostile, rampant war between pro and anti-abortionists. She is visited in the night by the Holy host Metatron, the substituted voice of God and messenger to her quest. This is when the movie gets good. Smith couldn't have done better when he cast Alan Rickman as the sardonic seraphim. His raw delivery but gentle presence is a pleasure above all the casting choices he has made in the past, good and bad. Rickman alone is worth the watch with his rapier wit and polished experience.
Granted, Ben and Matt are the perfect pair, seeing as how they're childhood friends, personal acquaintances of the director and have already shown what they're capable of in their Oscar-winning film `Good Will Hunting'. The only problem I have with them is that when they're working together in this movie, it's like watching `Good Will Hunting' again, only with a livelier story line and a deeper moral. They seem to be playing themselves more than they're playing Bartleby and Loki. This `He's my best buddy and I want to include him in every movie I'm starring in' crap is getting a little old. Of course, with an Oscar sitting on their mantle, they won't need to find each other jobs for quite a while.
Chris Rock was a hilarious original as Rufus, the 13th apostle of God purposely unaccounted for in the bible because of his race. He drops the usual mottled routine he heralds on-stage, substituting a subtler charm and snappier humor. George Carlin is perfect as the sanctimonious highflyer Cardinal Glick, a vicar who doggedly campaigns the modernized and worship-friendly changes to Catholicism. His transition into Glick's ambitious persona is done with the greatest ease, proving once again that he is a wonder to behold on a movie set as well as in front of a live audience. Carlin's skilled comedic prowess makes donning the priestly robes the ultimate irony and he delivers the holy haughtiness of Glick's character with dexterity and precision.
Who I really thought was an interesting choice on Smith's part is Linda Fiorentino as the Last Scion. Judging by her failures in movies such as the forgettable 80's fop `Gotcha!' and the cheap sex thriller `Jade' (not to mention acting alongside David Caruso), Linda is taking a step up from martyrdom as Bethany, the bitter child of God who cures her lost faith by saving the world from total damnation. There are other actresses who had their foot in the door for this part, but Linda seems to have that special, sexy charm that can't be compared.
Smith has done well so far, picking himself up when he's fallen down, but not without words. How can we expect any less of our belligerent and quarrelsome screenwriter? His mouth has gotten him many places, and may his working mind continue to keep him decent in his writing.