$$$1/4
A rabbi and a priest... maybe you think you've heard this one -- well, you haven't. Edward Norton's clever directorial debut Keeping the Faith, is more original than it sounds and avoids cliches.
Norton plays the priest, Ben Stiller plays the rabbi. They're childhood friends who've both decided to make faith their profession. The pair view themselves as young turks, capable of rattling the dust off their religions. They're hip guys who's sermons feel more like stand-up comedy routines. They walk through their congregations with microphones like daytime talkshow hosts -- in short, they make religion fun. (Rabbi Stiller's solution for livening-up one lackluster prayer will have Jews and gentiles alike rolling in the aisles.)
All is well until the pair's mutual crush from junior high comes back into town. She's all grown-up and, in the form of Jenna Elfman, she's a knockout. Her arrival brings about a crisis of faith for both men. They both want her but neither can have her -- the rabbi can't have her because she's not Jewish -- the priest can't have her because, well, he's a priest. Many interesting complications ensue.
Norton and writing partner Stuart Blumberg take a classic love triangle concept and add all the trimmings of a screwball comedy -- but end-up making a movie that at its heart is intelligent and real. The movie respects religion without being preachy.
Anne Bancroft is perfect as Stiller's mother and director Milos Forman has a nice cameo as an older priest who advises Norton. Have faith in knowing you'll enjoy this one.
(c) Copyright 2000