Dogma

Poor Kevin Smith had a hard time in the late 90s. Best friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damonslandered him in pubs all along the West Coast, saying he didn't pay them and how he would explain that charity to the taxman. Kevin Smith decided to respond to this undeserved criticism by making a hit with the support of a major studio, resulting in a movie that had an impressive set design and cast. This unjust accusation dates back to then, claiming that Smith could be bought and Dogma is a mainstream studio comedy that lacks the typical Smith traits and provocative nature. None of this is true because making a film in America with a religious theme that so disrespectfully deals with all religious dogmas, from portraying God as a woman to a secret black apostle, and simultaneously being so disrespectful to official religious authorities, is an extremely daring thing, so it's probably Smith's most daring endeavor in his career. The film is full of ideas, comedic situations, and elements of absurdity, but at the same time, it is, like most of Smith's films, somewhat uneven and unpolished. To fully appreciate all the nuances, it is really good to know a little more about Christian beliefs and the social situation in the United States. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Affleck and Damon try to moralize the board of directors of a company and use hellish methods to do so. The casting was unconventional, but it paid off, including Alanis as the boss of the heavens. Overall impression: 80%. (15/01/2008)

Just slightly above average entertainment that isn't afraid to poke fun at God himself (He's a woman!!) or Jesus (a black man with siblings). Some of the ideas were really great and I laughed a lot, but the conclusion of the story was bland and quite boring at best. I was going to give it 3*, but for "Silent" Bob and especially for Alan Rickman..... still 3* :-D (27/01/2012)

A hilarious Kevin Smith religious romp that abounds with excellent casting and occasional (un)expected outbursts of violence. If it's satire, it's really only a little bit, more likely just another Kevin Smith comedy with lots of unexpected revelations and life wisdom. Any allusions to religious beliefs here are merely used by Kevin Smith for his purpose, and it has to be said that he does so rather humorously most of the time. "No ticket." [75%] (20/08/2022)

"Dogma" is not one of my favorite Kevin Smith movies, but thanks to the good characters - Jay is great here and fits perfectly with Silent Bob - it is bearable. I like how Smith tackles religion, focuses on certain aspects, and above all, he is right. The story itself didn't really captivate me, but the dialogues are simply good. Again. (20/03/2015)

Do you know what a celestial angel and a Ken doll from Mattel's collection have in common? Ask Kevin Smith. The outcry from the leaders of the Catholic Church in the US shortly after the film's premiere did not wait long. Kevin Smith not only made a funny film, but also a controversial and smart one. Sure, the presence of Jay and Silent Bob may not make it seem so to some, but a lot of the dialogue is really intelligent, hitting on church statements and doctrine, not in an offensive way, but in a clever and witty way. Moreover, I definitely don't think it's a mainstream film. Kevin Smith remained his own and the cast is already "tribal": Matt and Ben as the bastard angels have a lot of charm, and there is also the well-known duo of the director himself, aka Silent Bob, and his skinny partner Jay, who once again spouts one sexually tinged line after another and is again comically incomprehensible. Azrael's killer sidekicks with hockey sticks are cool, and even for the first time in my life, I didn't mind Chris Rock as the 13th Apostle. That's my stuff... Smart Kevin, good movie. (14/03/2004)