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Movies / Upcoming / Religulous
Religulous

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Religulous (2008)

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Reviews Counted:144

Fresh:100

Rotten:44

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: Religulous is funny and offensive in equal measure, and aims less to change hearts and minds than to inspire conversation.

Australian Rating: M [See Full Rating] Sexual references, coarse language, drug use and themes

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Comedies

Australian Theatrical Release:
Dec 10, 2009 Wide

US Box Office: $12,995,673

Synopsis: Bill Maher travels to Israel, England, the Netherlands, Vatican City, and across America, speaking to people about faith and religion in the very funny documentary RELIGULOUS. Maher, a stand-up... Bill Maher travels to Israel, England, the Netherlands, Vatican City, and across America, speaking to people about faith and religion in the very funny documentary RELIGULOUS. Maher, a stand-up comedian who has hosted the talk shows POLITICALLY INCORRECT on ABC and REAL TIME on HBO and has written such bestsellers as DOES ANYBODY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? and WHEN YOU RIDE ALONE, YOU RIDE WITH BIN LADEN, reaches out to religious leaders as well as regular folk on the street, discussing the existence of God and the importance of organized religion. Maher makes it clear from the start that he is not a fan of religion and does not believe in God, and he has fun skewering people who do--including Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Mormons, rabbis, priests, politicians, scientists, evangelical ministers, and even a preacher whose church is a converted truck. He also visits such places as the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida, where he interviews the actor who plays Jesus in a live show there, and the Red Light District in Amsterdam, notorious for its legalized drugs and prostitution. As he has done on his television programs and in his books, Maher questions literal interpretations of the Bible, seeing it more as a collection of fairy tales. Director Larry Charles (BORAT, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM) intersperses clips from Hollywood films about religion to punctuate Maher's points, often to hilarious effect. The soundtrack is also used effectively, including such songs as the Doobie Brothers' "Jesus Is Just Alright," Ben Folds's "Jesusland," and Billy Bragg and Wilco's "Christ for President." Like such Michael Moore documentaries as FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, Maher's RELIGULOUS uses humor--and lots of cynicism and sarcasm--to examine controversial theories and topics that people feel very strongly about, no matter what side of the fence they are on. In addition to making audiences laugh, RELIGULOUS will make them think. [More]

Starring: Bill Maher, Kathy Maher, Julie Maher, Mark Pryor

Starring: Bill Maher, Kathy Maher, Julie Maher, Mark Pryor, Andrew Newberg, Ray Suarez, Francis Collins, Brian Weiss, Aki Nawaz

Director: Larry Charles

Director: Larry Charles
Producer: Bill Maher, Jonah Smith, Palmer West
Studio: Lions Gate Films

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Reviews for Religulous

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
3/5

Philippa Hawker

Rather disconcertingly, the film builds towards a vision of the apocalypse, the destructive fate that religious conflicts have in store for us -- a version of the future any hellfire preacher would be proud of.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 09 2009 03:15 PM

The Age (Australia)

tomato

Dov Kornits

Borat/Bruno meets Michael Moore in this funny and thought provoking attack on religion.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 09 2009 03:03 PM

FILMINK (Australia)

splat
2.5/5

Leigh Paatsch

So if you are not already on-side with [Maher's] particular leanings, the pickings in Religulous are very slim indeed.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 09 2009 03:01 PM

Herald Sun (Australia)

tomato

Rob Nelson

The Passion of the Maher

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 01 2009 10:37 AM

minnpost.com

splat
1.5/4

Sonny Bunch

Instead of confronting real problems radiating from the world's major religions Mr. Maher and Mr. Charles opt for Borat redux, making fun of silly little yokels.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 30 2009 08:15 PM

Washington Times

tomato
3.5/5

Jennifer Merin

Ever the clever quipper, Bill Maher tackles religious dogma and ritual%u2013and Bibles tales%u2013in this documentary of irreverence. The film is witty and pointedly critical%u2013but it's no revelation.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 27 2009 02:25 PM

About.com

splat
2/5

Rob Gonsalves

Ultimately, the movie is an impotent howl into the wind.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 07 2009 07:45 AM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato
3/5

Joseph Proimakis

Click for full review

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 10 2009 03:34 AM

Movies for the Masses

N/R

Gerald Peary

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 23 2009 03:16 AM

Boston Phoenix

tomato
8/10

Jeffrey Chen

Wants to be a wakeup call in a room where the people are willing to sleep just a little too deeply.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 17 2009 02:07 PM

Window to the Movies

splat
2/5

Tim Robey

I'm all for a documentary about the mass hysteria of our warring creeds, but stand-up satirist Bill Maher turns out to be the wrong man to make it.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 09 2009 01:56 AM

Daily Telegraph

splat
2/5

Cosmo Landesman

Maher has gone for easy targets. He comes up with the odd funny gag, but you get the feeling that he is as dogmatic about his doubt as the believers are about their faith.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Apr., 09 2009 01:51 AM

Sunday Times (UK)

splat

Philip French

Often funny, frequently unfair, mostly simplistic, at times offensively unethical and ultimately limited.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 09 2009 01:38 AM

Observer [UK]

tomato
3/5

It was much more thought-provoking than I was expecting, but his blatant bias made me feel that he was no less a fundamentalist than the religious people he was criticising.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 03 2009 06:43 AM

Little White Lies

tomato
3/6

David Jenkins

Over-extended but nonetheless thought provoking and humorous documentary.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 03 2009 06:25 AM

Time Out

tomato
4/5

Richard Luck

Fortunately for filmgoers, the sight of Bill Maher laying the smacketh down on God is, to quote Homer Simpson, truly "sacrilicious".

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 03 2009 06:12 AM

Channel 4 Film

tomato
3/5

James Christopher

Maher crucifies the kooks. What he singularly fails to do, though, is engage with anyone sensible. By mocking the loonies he squanders the precious high ground. A real pity.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Apr., 03 2009 06:00 AM

Times [UK]

splat
2/5

Peter Bradshaw

Shooting fish in a barrel is the order of the day in comedian Bill Maher's faintly tiresome attack on religion.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Apr., 03 2009 05:47 AM

Guardian [UK]

tomato
4/5

Chris Prince

A refreshingly courageous and long overdue lecture that is equally enlightening, entertaining and provocative.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 03 2009 04:31 AM

Sky Movies

tomato
4/5

Charles Gant

Smart, hilarious and thoroughly entertaining.

comment Comment | Apr., 03 2009 04:19 AM

Heat Magazine

 
 
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Latest News for Religulous

February 16, 2009: RT on DVD: High School Musical 3 or Midnight Meat Train?
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October 02, 2008: Box Office Guru Preview: Chihuahua to Overtake Multiplexes
Hollywood kicks off the fourth quarter with a stampede of new releases that will test the elasticity of the marketplace. Ambulances are already on standby to rush the high... More...

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