Dogma 1999

Roger Ebert, At the Movies: Smith has made a movie that reflects the spirit in which many Catholics regard their church. He has positioned his comedy on the balance line between theological rigidity and secular reality, which is where so many Catholics find themselves. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: Dogma may very well be the best bad movie of the year. Read more

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune: The result is a mish-mash of tones in which such absurdities as singer Alanis Morissette's appearance as God undercut any emotional responses you might have to the climaxes involving Bartleby and Bethany. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: Mercilessly funny! Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: I couldn't care less whether Smith's metaphysical conceits about the war between Good and Evil are those of a devout believer or an atheist. The bottom line is that they're puerile. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: Supremely moving! Read more

Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Like the worst seasons of Saturday Night Live, most of the film's setups go nowhere or just fall flat. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Dogma is a raucous, profane but surprisingly endearing piece of work, a funny and lively film of ideas. Read more

Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle: When Smith's not practicing the humor of outrage, he's preaching to a choir highly likely to be perplexed. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Deliriously audacious, one-of-a-kind. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: A fresh premise gradually turns stale, and jokes that start out lively end up pooped. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: Smith is a spirited jester, and parts of Dogma are bright, icon-busting fun, but most of it is a god-awful mess. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: Dogma is more strained than funny. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The problems with Dogma are that it's uneven, overlong, and occasionally uninteresting. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: The thrill of the movie -- and the reason you don't have to be religious to be caught up in it -- is the thrill of watching a director wrestle with his obsessions. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: It's smart and funny all the way. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Too talky, too fond of in-jokes, too caught up (especially during the dismally weak climax) in its crass comic-strip ethos, and not, finally, as funny, subversive or thought-provoking as it would like to be. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: A very vulgar pro-faith comedy rather than a sacrilegious goof, Dogma is an extraordinarily uneven film that significant cutting might be able to transform into a playable one. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: Once the ball is put in play, the viewer must endure a flat second half, indulging torturously static explanations delivered by characters so garrulous they make those of Eric Rohmer seem as tight-lipped as Silent Bob. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: The movie simply demonstrates the limitations of Smith's vision and humorous abilities, rather than any satirical prowess. Read more