Still 'Keeping the Faith'

With a movie like Keeping the Faith, it’s difficult to … keep the faith.  In what?  In Edward Norton, for one.  In the history of what we produce, for another.

The corny chick flick.

Too, it’s a disappointment to resort to descriptions such as “corny” and “chick flick,” especially when it’s Edward Norton’s directorial debut (and only directing endeavor since 2000).

In the past, I’ve watched this light comedy a number of times for kicks. Chick-flick kicks, if you will.  (“If you will”?)  Yes, if you will.  If you’ll take the time to embrace a good-feel movie.  That is, a heartwarming comedy.  If you will take the time to do so.  If you dare.

The terminology here is getting worse, but that’s kind of the point.  How do I categorize Keeping the Faith today?  What has happened in the 12 years since its release?  Have you seen the trouble studios have had with promoting movies “This Means War,” (or was the title “Make War Not Love” or “It’s Spy Vs. Spy”?), “The Lucky One” (replacing Channing Tatum with Zac Efron upon an identical movie poster for “The Vow”), and “People Like Us” (comparing it to “The Help” to assure you of a fluttery feeling)?

Have we lost faith in having guilty pleasures?  The dorky comedy?  The fluffy wedding movies and love triangles and all that?  Are we sooooo embarrassed nowadays, all the time, that we can’t enjoy getting away?  That we have to quietly hiss at Kristen Stewart (“Twilight”) in the entertaining “Snow White and the Huntsman” and yet feel free to exhale a lusty sigh at Chris Hemsworth’s arms, which are bigger (and more defined) than his acting?

I’ve touched on some of these issues in previous articles, so I’ll stop there and link you to them:“21 Jump Street” – Late and Lazy / “That’s Funny.”

Common and lazy terminology aside, the script of “Keeping the Faith” is like The Holy Bible.  Rich.  Complicated.  Relatable.  Life-teaching.  Humorous in parts, exaggerated in others.  (Or humorous because of the exaggerated parts, like The Bible.)  Except Stuart Blumberg’s screenplay is even better than The Bible, because there’s a payoff in the end.  (Did I just say Blumberg’s work is better than The Bible?)  Borderline offensive lines like this, but there’s never a feeling of sacrilege or contempt for either the Jewish or Catholic communities.  (Apart from his writing talents, he also played the disgruntled Car Salesman in “Fight Club” and apparently roomed with Norton at Yale University.)

A few years before her role as the best friend/girlfriend in “Keeping the Faith,” Jenna Elfman had already become a household name, starring in the TV series “Dharma & Greg.”  It wasn’t long before her nose crinkling, spontaneous spurts and bubbles of emotions, and tiny-mouthed accent put her on the “haters” radar (before we had termed the bitter and jealous as “haters”).  Today, Elfman may not be recognizable to those under the drinking age.  (Elfman may even be confused with Lauren Graham who stars in the current TV series “Parenthood.”  No relation.)  There was a gleam in Jenna’s eye, though.  Wasn’t there?  (“Edtv” anyone?)

Ben Stiller, on the other hand, wasn’t quite the name that he is today.  Remember, this was the year 2-0-0-0.  This would be the year “Meet the Parents” would give him a boost.  Academy Award nonsense, “Zoolander,” and Stiller’s directing Robert Downey Jr. as a racist black man would follow.  (Whatever you think of the stumbling comedic actor, check out his acting chops in “Greenberg” and his only properly directed film “Reality Bites.”)  In my opinion, Stiller is much better giving monologues in a synagogue than wavering as an animated lion (“Madagascar”).

Edward Norton proved his Woody Allen-esque acting talents without a director (besides himself and probably Stiller giving a few directorial pointers).  His role as a young priest, however, was our first glimpse of Norton playing the screen version of himself, a minor disappointment which he would continue (“The Score,” “Red Dragon,” and “Pride and Glory”).  Not that he’s ever been a bad actor, a priest, or a boring person; but compare his role in “The Italian Job” (2003) with his most recent – Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom.”

Most of the cheesy and odd moments will be found in the first act.  After that, relax.  Nobody’s out to make fun of you or your beliefs.  And most importantly, don’t be afraid to laugh at your giant ego and the rabbi trading-card scene.  (Yes, rabbi trading cards exist.  Go to:http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/22643/orthodox-move-in-on-trading-card-frenzy)

The Frame Rate: 3 Frames out of 5