Controversial `Dogma' Is A Talky Religious Satire

Movie review XX "Dogma," with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee. Directed and written by Kevin Smith. 125 minutes. Several theaters. "R" - Restricted because of strong language including sex-related dialogue, violence, crude humor and some drug content.

Kevin Smith's most heavily promoted movie to date, "Dogma" may also be his most incorrigibly sophomoric. The writer-director, who proved himself so adept at Generation X dialogue in "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy," seems out of his depth in this talky, rambling religious satire.

For all the controversy that has made it difficult for Miramax to find distribution for the film in the United States, "Dogma" seems a minor work, the kind of half-baked sendup that isn't worth the rage it's engendered in some quarters.

It never attains the level of subversive wit in Monty Python's biblical parody, "Life of Brian" (1979), or Hal Hartley's "The Book of Life" (1999), which starred Martin Donovan as a computer-age Jesus. Although the latter got little press, apparently slipping below the radar of the religious groups protesting "Dogma," it was the Grand Illusion's biggest box-office hit last summer, selling out several shows.

"Dogma," to put it mildly, will play to a larger audience. But what will multiplex crowds make of it?

The distributor, Lions Gate Films, has chosen a wide release this weekend, which suggests either a take-the-money-and-run attitude (will there be an audience left after the opening?) or complete confidence that its stars, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, will carry the day. (Lions Gate took over distribution from Miramax, which produced the $14 million film, because Miramax is tied to Disney, which was embarrassed about being associated with Miramax's similar hot potato, "Priest.") Damon and Affleck are, in fact, among the movie's pluses. They play a couple of renegade Wisconsin angels, Loki and Bartleby, with a plan to re-enter heaven that involves the re-dedication of a New Jersey church. George Carlin plays a hippy-dippy cardinal who uses the church for his appalling schemes to gain new converts.

Also drawn into the plot are Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), an abortion-clinic worker and lapsed Catholic; Metatron (Alan Rickman), an angel with a sadistic side; Serendipity (Salma Hayek), a stripper with unusual powers; Azrael (Jason Lee), another angel with scores to settle; and Rufus (Chris Rock), who claims to be the 13th Apostle.

Did he know Jesus? Was one of the Apostles really black? Yes, and the son of God still owes Rufus $12.

Most of Smith's one-liners are on that level. If someone says "I think God is dead," this confession will inevitably be seen as "the sign of a true Catholic." Do you have to be Catholic to find this funny?

There are also dopey in-jokes about Damon and Affleck's hopeful gay following, the all-time top-grossing movies ("Home Alone" is singled out for special torture), and Jay and Silent Bob, the sardonic duo previously played in Smith's films by Jason Mewes and Smith. Here they are again, but why?

The casting helps to put some of this over. Rock is consistently funnier than his lines, Fiorentino's dry delivery is just right, Rickman can always be counted on to enliven his scenes, and Affleck really comes through at the end.

Best of all is a surprise appearance by Alanis Morissette, in what is, in a sense, the film's biggest role.

At its best, "Dogma" is at least trying for something completely different.

At its worst, it's "Stigmata" played for intentional laughs.