Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Romantic Triangle Comedy That WORKS!, October 18, 2000
'Keeping the Faith' is one of the funniest, smartest, warmest comedies of the last several years, and marks a wonderful directorial debut for costar Edward Norton. It works on many levels; as a loving look at relationships, on the common ground Judaism and Catholicism shares in compassion towards people, in embracing love, no matter what obstacles might arise...and it does all this while respecting different religions, which makes this a very unique and special film! Norton and Ben Stiller play lifelong friends, who, as children, meet a fabulous, funny girl who they bond with. After she moves away, the two grow up, becoming a priest and a rabbi...then the girl returns, as a successful businesswoman, and the friendship is renewed...until romance enters the picture! Each character is unique and likeable; Norton is a sweet, funny klutz, endearing in his awkwardness; Stiller is compassionate and quick-witted, dealing with his Temple's matchmaking efforts with wry humor; Jenna Elfman (who has NEVER been lovelier onscreen) is both wise and vulnerable, and totally believable as a person both guys would fall in love with. Major issues are addressed in the film (a Priest's vow of celibacy, interfaith marriages, religious discrimination), and are dealt with and resolved in such a positive, loving manner that you wonder why these issues ever BECOME problems! All this reflects well on Edward Norton, who shows remarkable sensitivity as both a cowriter and director! The supporting cast is marvelous; Anne Bancroft is fabulous as Stiller's mother, Eli Wallach and Ron Rifkin, as a rabbi and synagogue leader, respectively, are equally good; director Milos Forman is terrific as Father Havel, Norton's mentor. Two other supporting players should be singled out, as well; Lisa Edelstein has a GREAT slapstick scene with Stiller, as the Jewish 'Date from Hell', and Brian George is hilarious as a "Sikh/Christian with Jewish inlaws" bartender that Norton confides in. There are a LOT of great one-liners, inspired scenes, and a resolution that is both believable and satisfying. The DVD edition offers even MORE to love; Norton's very funny and wise commentary about the making of the film, deleted scenes, and a VERY funny gag reel are special features you CAN'T find anywhere else! This film is a MUST for your collection, a 'feel-good' movie that you can enjoy, again and again! I HIGHLY recommend it!
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40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Magic By Norton, Stiller and Elfman, August 9, 2000
Edward Norton stars along with Ben Stiller and Jenna Elfman in "Keeping the Faith," a comedy which also marks Norton's directorial debut. This is a funny, sometimes hilarious film, that succeeds in maintaining the humor even while dealing in a straightforward and very serious manner with the subject of faith and, ultimately, its effect on the relationship of three people. Brian (Norton), Jake (Stiller) and Anna (Elfman) are an inseparable trio in childhood, until the eighth grade when Anna's family moves from New York City to California. The boys continue on as best friends but lose contact with Anna until sixteen years later, when she unexpectedly shows up back in New York and calls Brian. Anna is now a successful businesswoman; Brian is a priest, Jake a rabbi. They manage to pick up right where they had left off all those years ago, but of course things have changed for all of them. Soon Brian and Jake find themselves falling in love with Anna. Brian's vocation, however, prevents him from pursuing a relationship, and Jake, though single and able to marry, encounters an obstacle in the fact that Anna is not Jewish. All of which is a moot point, of course, until Anna also falls in love with one of them; and we suddenly find ourselves in the realm of Ingmar Bergman. At this point, many comedies sink into that nether world of genre identity-crises: Is this really a comedy, or drama? Happily, Norton keeps things moving right along with a steady hand. Instead of turning dark, the story goes on to explore what a real commitment to faith means in terms of the sacrifice and choices that go along with it, and Norton manages to pull off a magician's trick of keeping it light and thought-provoking at the same time, no easy accomplishment when dealing with such sensitive issues as love and faith within the framework of comedy. The charismatic Norton and the likable Stiller put real life into the characters of Brian and Jake, and Elfman brings a quirky, accessibility to Anna that makes you want to root for all of them. These are good people you quickly come to care about; you laugh along with them and at their situation, while at the same time you're hoping they all make the right decisions so we can all live happily ever after. The fine supporting cast includes Anne Bancroft, Eli Wallach and Milos Forman. "Keeping the Faith" is a movie that will make you laugh and smile, but it will also give you much to think about for a long time afterwards.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Magic By Norton, Stiller and Elfman, May 7, 2000
Edward Norton stars along with Ben Stiller and Jenna Elfman in "Keeping the Faith," a comedy which also marks Norton's directorial debut. This is a funny, sometimes hilarious film, that succeeds in maintaining the humor even while dealing in a straightforward and very serious manner with the subject of faith and, ultimately, its effect on the relationship of three people. Brian (Norton), Jake (Stiller) and Anna (Elfman) are an inseparable trio in childhood, until the eighth grade when Anna's family moves from New York City to California. The boys continue on as best friends but lose contact with Anna until sixteen years later, when she unexpectedly shows up back in New York and calls Brian. Anna is now a successful businesswoman; Brian is a priest, Jake a rabbi. They manage to pick up right where they had left off all those years ago, but of course things have changed for all of them. Soon Brian and Jake find themselves falling in love with Anna. Brian's vocation, however, prevents him from pursuing a relationship, and Jake, though single and able to marry, encounters an obstacle in the fact that Anna is not Jewish. All of which is a moot point, of course, until Anna also falls in love with one of them; and we suddenly find ourselves in the realm of Ingmar Bergman. At this point, many comedies sink into that nether world of genre identity-crises: Is this really a comedy, or drama? Happily, Norton keeps things moving right along with a steady hand. Instead of turning dark, the story goes on to explore what a real commitment to faith means in terms of the sacrifice and choices that go along with it, and Norton manages to pull off a magician's trick of keeping it light and thought-provoking at the same time, no easy accomplishment when dealing with such sensitive issues as love and faith within the framework of comedy. The charismatic Norton and the likable Stiller put real life into the characters of Brian and Jake, and Elfman brings a quirky, accessibility to Anna that makes you want to root for all of them. These are good people you quickly come to care about; you laugh along with them and at their situation, while at the same time you're hoping they all make the right decisions so we can all live happily ever after. The fine supporting cast includes Anne Bancroft, Eli Wallach and Milos Forman. "Keeping the Faith" is a movie that will make you laugh and smile, but it will also give you much to think about for a long time afterwards.
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