The movie is at its most interesting when the attitudes of the faithful prove more sophisticated than Maher’s own.
Religulous (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:141
Fresh:98
Rotten:43
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.
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Genre: Comedies
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
Reviews for Religulous
Be prepared for truths, distortions, unfair juxtapositions (especially with the film clips) and just plain goofiness in this too-long but often very entertaining film.
About half of the movie works in its snide, hit-and-run way. The other half throws more and more darts at the same balloon, long after it pops.
Much of what they’ve gotten on film is so entertaining, you almost want to pray for a sequel.
Maher sets out not after answers but cheap laughs that preach, so to speak, to the converted.
there can be few greater threats to religious zealotry than the power of laughter or the quest for knowledge - which is what makes comedian Bill Maher such an effective champion for the cause of scepticism in an age of rising fundamentalism.
To religious conservatives of all denominations, it's a punch in the nose. (Except when Maher's bashing the other zealots, those wackjobs.) To atheists and agnostics, it's catharsis
Maher, the exasperated, agnostic prankster, makes the point that organized religion has caused more harm than good.
This is either going to offend you or make you laugh out loud. At times, it may do both.
At his best, he has the bewildered incredulousness of George Carlin. At his worst, he's as self-righteous as his targets.
Doubt, Maher says, is his product, and you have to hand it to him for staying on message.
...simultaneously the most entertaining and least informative documentary I've seen in years
It is [funny], although much of the humor is extraordinarily cheap and obvious.
Maher may see demented dogma all around him, but what's the basis of his own moral compass? We're not religulous, just curious.
A cleverly constructed piece of work that by turns amused me, made me think, alarmed me and occasionally offended me.
Is it mean? Gratuitously prankish? On the surface, sure, but it serves to remind the viewer that Maher is very well aware of his own presence and purpose.
Was Maher afraid he might muddy his clownish jape if he actually brought into the mix a learned theologian?
Latest News for Religulous
February 16, 2009:
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January 03, 2009:
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October 02, 2008:
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September 23, 2008:
Trailer Tuesday: Religulous ![]()
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