Religulous - Bill Maher

[3-LockBox]

I looked forward to this movie for many reasons, one of them being that I am in many ways, anti-religion. Not saying I don't believe, or do believe, in one thing over another, and to a point, never feel the desire to state my religous views, and nor does Maher, only that he questions organized religion. Fine, so do I. Except here, Maher can't help reveal his one true object of worship...himself. He comes across just as smug and self-serving as the religions he attempts to scewer. Instead of a real expose of the world's religions (their differences, their similarities, their doctrines) we get Bill Maher's constant insistance that he's smarter than everyone he interviews.

As a documentary, it fails. This film doesn't make anyone any smarter, in that most religious people familiar with Maher are going to avoid this film like the plague. For those of us who find this topic fascinating, it spins its wheels. Much of what's in this film can be discovered on the web, so as a form of entertainment, its somewhat redundant to those of us who've yahooed or googled this stuff years ago. He touches upon the tenants of a few religions, but only long enough for a sound bite. Everything sounds like a setup for a punchline. But even as a comedy it fails, because some of his vitriol is misplaced, and you wind feeling sorry for some of his interviewees. He does bring up some interesting points, but not enough of them. There's a few chuckle worthy moments, but Maher seems to want to make his subjects look awkward, and this comedic device fizzles after the first few times we see it. As a monument to Bill Maher's disdain for all things not Bill Maher, I suppose it works, provided you don't get his cable show, because that too, will make this film redundant.

If you are unaware of who Maher is, and you're curious about other religions or have your own doubts about religion, this movie might work for you, provided you like your info with a generous helping of sarcasm. But in saying that, its doubtful you'll find much reason to change your mind if you are religious, and if you are religious, you already got the memo to boycott this movie anyway, so the info contained therein is inconsequential.

FWIW: if he seems to reserve most of his venom for Christianity, take it with a grain of salt - he obviously got the Rushdie memo.