Movie Review: Bill Maher is Religulous

November 17, 2008 by Alicia Roberts

Director Larry Charles and Bill Maher have mustered up the "number one sacrilegious comedy in America!"
 
Religulous is a linguistic blend of the words "religion" and "ridiculous," two terms that reverberate throughout the entire comedic documentary. Political comedian and self proclaimed agnostic, Maher is trying to understand the meaning of religion and why so many base their lives around such a thing.
 
Bill Maher travels to Jerusalem in Israel, Vatican City, The Netherlands, England, and all across America to interview religious folk of dissimilar denominations. His Socratic approach to questioning falls short for the sake of comedy.
 
Each conversation commences in a cordial manner but ends with anger after sarcastic quips and information leading to a direct opposition to the interviewee's belief.
 
Larry Charles has gained praise for his work of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakstan, Seinfeld, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. This documentary was released by the studio that also brought Farenheit 911.
 
Hilarity ensues as our anti-religious spokesman questions at a plethora of interesting places of worship. These spaces were less sanctum sanctorum and more publicly accessible. Convulsive laughter derives from a stoner Satanist with no memory and apparent indifference to his cause, a truck-stop chapel filled with burly Jesus-lovers , the overpriced knickknack shop of an ex-"Jew for Jesus" who believes in miracles, and the desk a US senator that implies it doesn't take much of an IQ to be a part of the United States government.
 
Aki Nawaz, a Muslim British rapper known as Propa-Ghandi, speaks of his controversial lyrics towards the morality issues of the west, suicide bombings, and Jihad. Bill Maher comments on his glorification of terrorism with less comedy at this point.
 
It is no matter that you're a Christian, Muslim, Mormon, or Jew: Religulous has something to entertain. You'll be offended but will soon forget for you'll be laughing at the ridiculousness of your neighbor's silly practices.