Dogma (1999)

Reviewed By: Bret Walker

Kevin Smith rubbed a lot of religions the wrong way in this "sequel" to his first three films. The premise is that two fallen angels attempt to reenter Heaven by using a loophole-the Catholic Church in Red Bank, NJ. It is said that all who pass through the arches will have their sins forgiven, and thus can enter the gates of Heaven. If this happens, however, God will be proven wrong and all of existence will cease to be. So God enlists the help of the last Scion, a distant descendant of Jesus himself (you have to see the movie to find out how this person is related) to stop the angels from entering the church. The Scion is given the help of the Voice of God, a muse, an apostle with issues, and two prophets: Jay and Silent Bob.

If you have seen any or all of Kevin Smith's previous films (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy), then you know what to expect. This film is irreverent, deeply philosophical, rampantly funny and thought provoking all at once. It is, without a doubt, the best produced film that Smith has released to date, and is also the most star studded: In addition to the aforementioned cavalcade of stars, this film even features a cameo from Bud Cort (Harold and Maude).

I highly recommend this film, but offer a word of warning: if you are offended easily, take care. Its best to suspend any religious beliefs you have for 2 hours and view this film for what it is: a funny film that pokes light-hearted fun at organized religions in a successful attempt to make the audience laugh.

Rating:

Trivia:

This is the fourth film in the series by Kevin Smith, and although the stories have nothing to do with each other, there are several running threads and gags throughout:

1. Jay and Silent Bob are characters in all four of Kevin Smith’s films, as well as appearing in Scream 3.


2. Brian O’Halloran has portrayed different characters in all four films, three as members of the Hicks family (Dante in Clerks, Gill in Mallrats, and Grant in Dogma).


3. This film marks the first Kevin Smith film that doesn’t feature a member of the Jones family. Clerks had Heather Jones, Mallrats featured her sister Tricia, and one of the main characters in Chasing Amy was their sister Alyssa, played by Joey Lauren Adams.


4. This is Ben Affleck’s third Smith film. He also appeared in Mallrats and Chasing Amy, the latter as the main character.

This is also the fifth film that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon appeared in together. The others are: School Ties (1992), Glory Daze (1996), Good Will Hunting (1997), and Chasing Amy (1997). They will also appear together in The Third Wheel (2000).

Links

The View Askewniverse, Kevin Smith’s Website
The Official Dogma Website

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