ill Maher just loves his share of controversy and shit disturbing, doesn’t he? The man who was kicked off network television for a single statement after 9/11 has decided to bring his distinct brand of caustic humor to the big screen. The topic of his feature film-making debut is one that’s sure to rally up plenty of protesters and death threats: he’s talkin’ bout religion. Bill Maher is vocal atheist who has spent years attacking religion through standup, talk show appearances, his TV shows and to pretty well anyone who will listen to him for longer than 30 seconds. He has some good points and is an undeniably funny man, but he also backs his humor with an unyielding confidence and gleeful schoolboy desire to offend that upsets as many as it entertains. That’s just the Maher style and fans will be pleased to know that it appears in full force in Religulous.

Bill Maher’s partner in crime for this hellbound cinematic venture is director Larry Charles, a man who has proven himself to be adept at mocking middle American values through his work on Borat and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Together they make a satirically fearless pair and Religulous is nothing if not uncompromising in the way it brings down sacred cows.

Maher and Charles hit the road with a small documentary crew to visit major religious centers and interview any figures in the religious community who would talk to them. Maher conducts debates with these figures similar to the ones that he did on Pollitically Incorrect. He allows his subjects to say their piece, but always takes the last word. Some will call this technique imbalanced, but if Religulous was a researched essay, there would be no complaints. Maher is trying to make a point with this film, not present every view on the subject. It’s an essay documentary like Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 and while it is sure to have just as many naysayers as that film, there is no denying that Maher does succeed in making religion seem ridiculous.

The movie is an attempt to say and show the things that mainstream audiences haven’t been allowed to see before

During his merry journey, Maher speaks to a senator who says “you don’t have to pass an IQ test to be in the senate,” pops by a Christian theme park, has conversations with gay converters, visits the Vatican, and hits up other absurd centers of religion. He succeeds admirably in painting a portrait of religion that looks incredibly and has made quite a memorable film.

Unfortunately, this has been a subject of attack by many critics who feel that Maher is unfairly going after easy targets rather than giving voices to major religious figures. To me, that criticism is merely a misunderstanding of the movie. There are many venues for serious practitioners of religion to make their opinions heard and what they have to say is general knowledge. Maher is going after the fringe figures. The people who no one talks about, but are a key part of the religious community. The movie is an attempt to say and show the things that mainstream audiences haven’t been allowed to see before and on that level it succeeds admirably. Maher is a talented speaker with a razor-sharp wit who brilliantly explores the topic in a way that only he can.

That’s not to say that the movie is perfect. Maher presents no concrete solutions the problems he explores nor does he present any positive sides of religion. Neither of these issues felt relevant in this particular film for me, but it will undeniably annoy some viewers. The film also ends with an extended rant from Maher pleading with the audience to leave the theater and abolish religion that is a little a much. I understand Maher’s point, but it is a gratingly serious rant in a very funny movie that feels out of place. Still, these are minor quibbles about what is ultimately a very entertaining and fascinating film.

Comedy is too often viewed as the bastard son of drama. It’s thought of as an adolescent genre that’s only use is to remind humanity how funny a fart can be. This is a absurdly reductive view of comedy that is sadly the dominant opinion. Comedy is a weapon that can explore issues and ideas in a way that is far more palatable and entertaining than a more serious portrayal. If Religulous was a dry and somber documentary about religion it would be unwatchable. In Maher and Charles’ capable hands it is one of the most hysterical and important films of year. If only more people took comedy seriously. Sigh…