Written and directed by Kevin Smith, an abortion clinic worker with a special heritage is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loophole and re-enter Heaven. Starring: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek Pinault, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Bud Cort, Alanis Morissette and Janeane Garofalo.
If nothing else, watching Dogma as it arrives at twenty five years of age is a perfect reminder of how we need more cinema like this today. Films that don’t take themselves too seriously, that can be witty but also incredibly dumb, that can simply take a concept and have a ridiculous amount of fun with it. The humour of Dogma is genuinely relentless, it can barely take a breath without making another joke, it’s a barrage of comedy, in a hugely enjoyable way. The dialogue is fast and furious and while it’s throwing many, many characters at you, it never feels like it’s too much or muddled.
Kevin Smith manages to instil a sense of adventure into Dogma, especially bringing through that fantasy element, it has the vibe of an old-school tale while using gross humour. That in itself is relatively impressive and interestingly mixed with a low-key visual. There’s no true reliance on CGI although they do throw some effects in the mix, it exists very purposefully within the everyday. It’s a great contrast to the vastness of their story, taking a plot with biblical consequences and clothing it in the mundanity of human existence. There’s a charming nonchalance to it, always acknowledging the big picture but also purely tootling along, having entertaining, strange interactions along the way.
Then there’s the cast list, it’s absolutely stacked and filled with so many beloved actors in their youth. Watching a young Ben Affleck and Matt Damon is inexplicably satisfying, is it the Mass charm, is it the slightly questioning nature of their relationship (the characters, not the actors), the handsomeness, the hair? Maybe it’s a blend of all those things, but either way, they’re a joy to watch leave violence and chaos in their wake. Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are reliably great as their iconic Jay and Silent Bob, Chris Rock is as great as always and Salma Hayek Pinault is perfection.
Alan Rickman is an undeniable highlight, he always had a great talent for comedy, even if watching it now is tinged with sadness at his passing. Alanis Morissette is a fascinating inclusion, especially since she does not speak, which while a part of her character does feel like a cheeky way of getting around that acting maybe wasn’t for her. [If you can chat about Morissette without in fairly quick succession listening to Ironic or You Oughta Know, then you have strong will power.] You could spend a long time digging through the cast list but there isn’t a weak cameo in the bunch.
Dogma is packed with nostalgia now that it’s twenty-five years old and it’s a lot of fun to revisit. The cast are phenomenal, it has this brilliant sense of fun, and the writing is the best blend of smart and idiotic. That back and forth between having a conversation about religion and faith, and a mix of sexual and toilet humour somehow doesn’t instil a sense of whiplash, it all lives in harmony. This type of all-in, over the top, unapologetic, imaginative style of satire is something sorely missed in today’s cinematic landscape. It’s a cult classic for good reason.
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