Religulous (2008)

Director: Larry Charles

Starring: Bill Maher and a shitload of religious wackos

More Info: IMDB

Tagline: Heaven Help Us

Plot: Bill Maher interviews some of religion's oddest adherents. Muslims, Jews and Christians of many kinds pass before his jaundiced eye. Maher goes to a Creationist Museum in Kentucky, which shows that dinosaurs and people lived at the same time 5000 years ago. He talks to truckers at a Truckers' Chapel. He goes to a theme park called Holy Land in Florida. He speaks to a rabbi in league with Holocaust deniers. He talks to a Muslim musician who preaches hatred of Jews. Maher finds the unlikeliest of believers and, in a certain Vatican priest, he even finds an unlikely skeptic.

My Rating: 8/10

Would I watch it again? I'm ready right now

Overly-Religious people are a silly, and often stupid lot. And Bill Maher just knocks it home for us.

So how was it? It was better than Cats. I will see it again, and again, and again...

I doubt this is the kind of film that is going to change anyone's mind whether you believe in god(s) or not. As an atheist watching this with a room full of atheists, I found it hysterical and definitely worthy of repeat viewings. He and the director Larry Charles (BORAT) pull out all the stops using old silent religious-themed movies, clips from religious short films from the 50s and 60s (the kind of short films you were shown in school (if you're old enough, that is)), and stock footage from newsreels, religious nutjobs et al. It's corny but it gets funny reactions when it's used. Unlike the last film I talked about (EXPELLED) this type of film making works because IT'S A FUCKING COMEDY DOCUMENTARY! EXPELLED failed miserably at this because it wanted to be taken very silly. Whenever you show video of some type of previously filmed (for something else) footage EVERY time you mention said person/place/thing it comes across as very amateurish and stupid. It's on par with jump-scares in horror movies. It's cheap and shameless. But, like I said, it works great when you're soliciting laughs because it's such a ridiculous way to evoke an emotion.

The funniest person in the movie is this guy:


He's a fucking riot. I can't remember his name but he's a priest that holds some position in The Vatican and his views on religion are riotous and completely against the beliefs and teachings of many in the Catholic Church. This guy needs his own show/movie. He's priceless.

The ONLY thing about this movie I thought was too much was the ending. Maher culminates the entire film into a heavy-handed, gloom and doom finale that is meant to frighten everyone. I understand where he's coming from and, to a point, I agree but it's just that after 95 minutes of riotous laughter he throws this at us. It comes on too strong. I get it but I would have rather it ended as it began...fucking hysterically.


Oh, and before you start praising Maher for his beliefs or, better yet, non-beliefs, he's not exactly what you'd call a good skeptic. Sure he's an atheist or an agnostic but even they can believe in stupid things, too, that are just as idiotic as a magical invisible man that gets credit for EVERYTHING. If only Maher would turn that skeptic focus he has on religion and onto everything else in life he would soon discover that his beliefs in holistic medicine, detoxification, anti vaccination, HIV/AIDS denial and the big pharma conspiracy are all a steaming pile of horseshit and have no more basis in reality than Luke Skywalker.

But then RELIGULOUS is a fucking outrageously funny movie that I will watch again, and again, and again, and again...