La Bible ne fait pas le moine

Religious types hate this movie and have tried to bury it with poor ratings. (Unfortunately, they've largely succeeded.) An example is the Blockbuster 1996 Movie Guide, which gives it one star (out of five) while, for example, giving the over-the-top, outrageously homo-erotic religious pic Ben Hur four-and-a-half stars.

Despite all the religious disinformation, this is a very well written, funny film. Marty Feldman is very good as Brother Ambrose, a painfully innocent monk cast into the devil's playground of L.A.; Peter Boyle is likewise good as Rev. Melmouth, a low-budget Jerry Falwell who takes advantage of Ambrose; and Louise Lasser does her best work since "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" as the heart-of-gold hooker who saves Ambrose from his religiously induced misery (to Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus").

In the end, the film does wuss out somewhat (no details -- I don't want to spoil it) -- it is a Hollywood film after all -- but it's still a stinging indictment of religious arrogance and hypocrisy.

If you're smart enough to resent the intrusive, authoritarian religious nuts who want to control your life (and everyone else's), you'll probably enjoy this film.

This flick (one of the least-seen comedies EVER, I believe) tries to be, at once, a slapstick chase comedy, an offensive religious comedy, a leering sex comedy and an expose of evangelists who exploit the faith of their naive audiences! The results are uneven, but not horrible. Apart from the much-mentioned already Andy Kaufman, there is a standout performance by Louise Lasser, as a warm-hearted hooker. Richard Pryor, as God, is underused, though. (**)

The late Marty Feldman's most notable directorial effort. The movie features an exceptional portrayal by Andy Kauffman of the Reverend Armageddon...who sports his blond pompador with great authority.

Most notable thing about the movie is the VERY clever writing. Much of the plot action is over the top slapstick, but sometimes the movie gets very sly and smart...especially when Andy is in the spotlight.

Fine funny performances from Peter Boyle and Louise Lasser.

"The meek shall inherit the earth" "Yeah, but only when the strong are through with it."

While I didn't quite know how to take the film the first time I saw it, after viewing it three different times, and letting a lot of time pass, my ripening sense of humor absolutely adored the hilarious jabs at religion - primarily Christianity - in all its contemporary marketing in the U.S. The bumbling monk from the monastery who just isn't in touch with the real world but must learn how to deal with it; the itinerant preacher in a modified flivver with a steeple and amplified speaker driving around "enticing" money from the crowds he can gather on the street; and the glowing puffery of the TV evangelist - who has more evil behind him than the good he portrays to his public. GREAT HUMOR. Well acted by Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle and Andy Kaufman. Contains a very interesting twist.

Marty Feldman plays a meek monk who emerges from the monastery he's lived in all his life to get the money needed to save it. He travels to the big city and meets a number of characters who are obsessed with religion, money, or both. This movie manages to show devotion, delusion and hypocrisy with clarity and, yes, grace, while providing plenty of laughs. Blessed are the meek, for they get off easy in this one; the greedy and vicious are not so lucky. Andy Kaufman's performance as Armageddon T. Thunderbird is brilliant, chilling, and not to be missed.