Dogma: Buddy Christ, the New Jesus

DOGMA

DIRECTOR: Kevin Smith

STARRING:  Ben Affleck, George Carlin, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock

GENRE: Comedy

YEAR: 1999

COUNTRY: United States

Alright Dogma lets do this! Hehehehehe Dogma has to be one of my favorite Kevin Smith films, next to Chasing Amy and Red State. Kevin Smith took his chance with Dogma, despite bad press and death threats, and I am glad that he did. Dogma has to be one of the single best religious satires ever put to film. Whether it is the film’s ensemble cast, hilarious dialogue, or ridiculous plot, there is definitely something to like about Dogma.

Dogma is a story that completely mocks Catholicism in every way shape or form. The film follows two renegade angels Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon) as they try to get back into heaven. This would prove god wrong, thus proving God (Alanis Morissete) wrong. In order to prevent this, the “Voice of God” (Alan Rickman) enlists the help of one of Jesus’s descendants Bethany Sloane (Fiorentino) to track down and kill the angels before they reach a church that is celebrating their bicentennial.  In order to help her with her quest, Bethany recruits: two prophets Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith), the 13th apostle Rufus (Chris Rock), and muse Serendipity (Salma Hayek). Not just God wants the angels dead though, Lucifer isn’t happy. Banished muse Azrael (Jason Lee) works on hell’s side but for his own scheme.

Alan Rickman with Mother fucking wings!!!!

 In Dogma, Kevin Smith does everything every individual that has ever had to deal with the church wants to do, and this film is a giant middle finger to Catholicism and most religious ideals. For example in the opening scene Loki (Damon) convinces a catholic nun that essentially all religion is explained by Lewis Carol’s Through the Looking Glass. It is funny because the first conversation between Bartleby (Affleck) and Loki is how Loki knows that God exists and that he has stood in his presence. Damon’s response is “I just love to fuck with the clergy man”. Dogma also pokes fun at how the Catholic church changes its principles and practices for newer generations by replacing the Crucifixion of Jesus with a newer version “Buddy Christ”. *As Seen Above*

Dogma is one of those films that is easy to hate. William Donahue, the then current president of the Catholic League openly protested the film for several months and was one of the more vocal opponents against the film. Well guess what? Donahue had never even seen the film. After six months Donahue’s representatives contacted Smith and asked for a special screening. Smith’s response? “So what the hell has he been doing the past six months?” While Donahue wasn’t the only protester, this was to be expected since any film touching on religious sensibilities or doctrine is doomed for criticism.

PROS:

• Satire of all religions.
• Ensemble cast.
• Terrific comedy.
• Awesome acting performances.

CONS:

• Jay and Silent Bob.
• Cheap effects.
• Drawn out story line.

SCORE: 9.0 / 10

If you have any suggestions for films/TV/Games/Music for me to review, drop me a comment! Remember: Like Media In Review @ https://www.facebook.com/MediaInReview?ref=hl Follow Media in Review @ https://twitter.com/Media_In_Review Stay tuned for the new you tube channel!

Brandon Stuhr

Who am I? Just some guy who decided to start writing on the Internet years ago and now operates his own brand and site. Owner/Operator of Modern Neon Media, I make all kinds of niche content to suit my interests at the time. DIY Enthusiast, Brewmaster extraordinaire, and avid freak for geek culture. Follow on my socials for a more “on” version of me.