Make no mistake, Kevin Smith's talky, farcical comedy of cosmic errors is clever. But it's clever in a deeply juvenile way, like the high-IQ wiseass you knew in parochial school who rehearsed for a career in law by confounding priests with
preposterous scenarios in which, technically speaking, it wasn't actually sinful to covet thy neighbor's wife or fail to honor the Sabbath. Cardinal Glick (George Carlin, a veteran Catholic teaser) is preparing to kick off his trendy "Catholicism — Wow!" campaign, featuring a friendlier image
of our Lord and the restoration of indulgences, the spiritual get-out-of-jail-free cards that helped disgrace the mediaeval church. Banished angels Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck), who've been languishing in Wisconsin, like that last bit; they figure on picking up their indulgences at
Glick's Red Bank, NJ, church and soaring back into God's good graces. Unfortunately, the Almighty (Alanis Morissette) can't afford to be trumped on a technicality; if the angels return to Heaven, the world will cease to exist. So Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) is recruited to stop Bartleby and Loki,
aided by Serendipity the muse (Salma Hayek); Rufus the 13th Apostle (Chris Rock), who was left out of scripture because he's black; and unlikely prophets Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Smith himself). Arrayed against them are spiffy demon Azrael (Jason Lee), the roller blading Stygian
Triplets and a really disgusting excrement monster. Smith's sensibility owes plenty to comic books; grossness, grandiosity and easy irony are constantly elbowing each other for position. But he pulls off one hell of a trick, slipping more than a little preaching in between the sight gags and
profane disquisitions on matters sexual. Say what you will about his sense of humor, genuine faith is rare enough in popular culture to make any sighting worthy of note. --Maitland McDonagh
