Say what you want to about Bill Maher, you can’t deny his ability to make you think. You also can’t deny his intelligence and razor sharp wit; two remarkable traits that go a long way in making this satire on organized religion such enjoyable farce.
Make no mistake about it, this is a biting and controversial satire sure to garner criticism from religious extremists and people who consider his ultra liberal views off putting. It’s impossible to agree with everything Maher says (he’s a comedian after all), but it’s hard for me to come up with anything but respect for the man after his bold stance in this film as the “religious doubter.”
He’s basically laying his reputation on the line in this movie by telling those with faith to prove why they are in the know and why he isn’t on this subject. There is no right or wrong answer to the question, of course, so that’s what makes this concept so fascinating.
It’s must-see viewing to see him butt heads with an evangelical Arkansas Senator, displaying his unrivaled, acerbic wit and getting the Senator to resign himself to the comment, “You don’t have to pass an IQ test to get into the U.S. Senate.” Now that’s a little bit more than too forthcoming. That’s downright scary.
But then, that’s Bill Maher, unflinchingly stubborn in getting his points made and proving that religion in the wrong minds makes for a dangerous mix. For every scary Evangelical, there’s one even more so who is a Jew or a Moslem or a Scientologist or a Mormon. Maher lays his controversial views on the table for all to discuss while remaining true to himself in the process. That’s something we need more of in this country, and something to which fans of Maher’s can attest.
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