Bill Maher shouldn't be where he is today. It's hard for me to fathom that the guy who I found so irritating as a stand up comic and lame supporting character in bad 80's comedies is now the same man I make a point to watch every single week on HBO. His standup, when focused on more generic topics, is still grating, but when he turns his attentions to politics and religion it's like he's speaking directly to me. Like me, Maher was raised in a religious household but eventually turned away from it for various reasons. Like me, he's not so much an atheist as an agnostic. He wants answers to some very important questions, and in his new documentary Religulous he attempts to get some.
One of the major criticisms levied against Bill Maher is that he pokes too much fun at people just for having faith. I never found this to be true, but I was worried that Religulous might validate some of those arguments. Afterall this is a comedy directed by Larry Charles of Borat fame, a film which had some of the same complaints made about it. However, I needn't have worried.
Maher doesn't go out of his way to criticize people who feel differently than he does. This point is illustrated in the very first interaction he has with a group of men meeting at a "truckstop church". Yes, a church for truckers. As soon as Maher begins speaking, one man complains and walks out without so much as hearing what Maher has to say. If he had stayed, like everyone else had, he would've seen that all Maher did was ask them questions and allow them to answer. It was a respectful airing of opinions, and it was fascinating. Maher shows that he genuinely wants to learn. It'd be easy for him to spend the entirety of the film telling the same jokes we've all heard before about some of the more fantastical elements of the Bible, but that's not what this is about.
That doesn't mean humor can't be found, as Maher takes every opportunity to slide in a comment or two about the many hypocrisies there are to be found. The fact that the Vatican is basically a glamorous palace which Jesus would have abhorred is deconstructed to death by Maher and....a Vatican priest. It's hilarious stuff. Maher also doesn't miss a beat when taking people to task who clearly don't know what they're talking about. These are the ones who deserve to be chastised, and they get the full treatment whether they realize it or not. A televangelist who claims to be the descendent of Jesus Christ, but also says he'd work just as hard for Satan doesn't seem to know he's the butt of a joke. A rapper who thinks it's okay for others to be targets for murder but not himself also comes off looking rather foolish. Maher pulls no punches with these people.
I do think they could've done with less of the cut scenes in order to provoke laughs from the crowd. The aforementioned televangeist, a Hispanic man, is paired with cutscenes of Al Pacino's Scarface. It's not really necessary in most circumstances. The fools are laughable enough already without help. I also could've done without the subtitles pointing out when some of these people are obviously telling lies. I'd have rather seen Maher confront them directly rather than basically refuting their statements behind their backs. It doesn't happen often, but enough to be slightly annoying. Also, the very brief segments on Scientology and Mormonism might as well have been left out. Maybe Maher's saving them for another film. He could've filled that time with more from his mother and sister, who are both interesting enough to spend much more time with. It's obvious which side of the family he gets his wit from.
Whether or not you like Bill Maher or agree with his opinions, I recommend checking this film out because it is very informative. It is fair, and it's also extremely funny in places. No need to worry about being talked down to or lambasted for 90 minutes. Everyone who sees this will leave with their dignity and their faith fully intact.
7/10
