Product: Keeping the Faith (2000)
Rating: 2.0
Huh?
Maybe it's just me, but, aren't rabbis and priests "men of the cloth?" Never mind that it is frowned upon when rabbis date non-Jewish women, but sleep with them??? And is a priest so faithless that all his religious training and the sacred vows he took are tossed aside when some pretty girl who floats into town flirts with him? Well, folks, that's what happens. Now, the girl in question is one who neither the rabbi nor the priest have seen or talked to in 15 years, since their parting as children. And when she comes into town on business they suddenly both fall head over heels for her ... solely on her looks. And Jenna Elfman is attractive, but it's a little unbelievable that a rabbi and a priest would so shamelessly gawk at her like two boys ogling a centerfold. Aren't religious leaders supposed to embody self-restraint?I couldn't think of a single reason why either one of these supposedly very dedicated religious men would be so dreamily attracted to this high-powered businesswoman, who they really don't know anymore, since they haven't seen her in a decade and a half. Jenna Elfman doesn't give them a reason, either. She's work-obsessed, bossy, and she has nothing in common with either of them except that they were friends in junior high school. Are they supposed to see through that to the real her? Ben Stiller (the rabbi) and Edward Norton (the priest) claim that she's special. But they really haven't gotten a chance to know her. They're actually more in lust, which seems somewhat far-fetched, given their religious background. Eventually, Stiller and Elfman begin sleeping together, and claim to have fallen in love. This is hard to buy as most of their scenes together are of them having sex. In the meantime, Norton starts dreaming of Elfman, and misinteprets her flirtations as gestures of true love, at which point he's ready to call the whole priest thing quits. And this is after he's told Elfman how he's at peace with his vow of chastity.Nobody would believe either male character has had an ounce of religious training. They drink, swear, take the Lord's name in vain, and conduct religious services like stand-up comedians. The rationale for this last behavior is that it brings people to church. Obviously it's a comedy, but the actions and faithlessness of Stiller and Norton render them completely unconvincing as spiritual leaders. The attempts to paint the religious men as still just human beings fails because they never seemed convinced themselves of their own faith to begin with. I'm not sure what message this film is trying to send. Modern religious leaders are weak, faithless people, generally prone to sinful acts? True love grows out of flirting, erotic dreams, and pre-marital sex? You should only go to church if it's entertaining? There are lines throughout the film that try to justify the "unbelievability" of the events which occur. This in itself seems to indicate that those who made the film knew it was too far-fetched, and had to in some way rationalize it. Of course, this only makes things worse.Eli Wallach, Anne Bancroft, and Milos Forman all add nice touches of acting clout in supporting roles. And there are a couple of funny scenes here and there. But they can't save this film. Comedy or not, two-dimensional characters and a ridiculous storyline do not a good film make.