Product: Keeping the Faith (2000)
Rating: 2.0
You can keep it.
Edward Norton is to be commended, perhaps, for not attempting to make *Apocalypse Now* on his first try out. Still, one can't help but be puzzled that he (Mr. American-History-X) would latch onto such a non-threatening, non-interesting, mainstream romantic comedy as *Keeping the Faith* for his directorial debut. The two main characters are based on real-life men: a media-savvy rabbi-and-priest team -- I forget their names -- who call themselves the "God Squad". Unlike the real God Squad, Ben Stiller and Edward Norton (rabbi and priest, respectively) are young, hip, wear leather jackets, display jovial impertinence to their elders, blah blah. Suddenly, a female childhood chum (Jenna Elfman) turns up and wreaks havoc on these smug twits. Elfman, by the way, is miscast here: she's supposed to be some sort of high-powered corporate exec, the type that keeps her cell phone tucked into her stocking-garter while dining at fancy restaurants. (Jenna ELFMAN?) This actress is a very funny lady, radiating genuine charm and wholesome sexiness, and saves *Keeping the Faith* from being irremediable. Before she shows up, we have to put up with hoary slapstick -- priest-and-rabbi shtick -- such as Stiller passing out at a briss and Norton setting his own vestment afire with a wildly swinging censer. Once she arrives, Norton calms down and attempts to make a comedy of character. Albeit ineptly, but he tries. In any case, one comes away from the movie feeling that Elfman deserves a better love-triangle than one involving such skinny twerps as Ben Stiller and Edward Norton.