Review: Religulous

Bill Maher is more Bruno and Borat than Michael Moore in this comedy-documentary that focuses more on laughs than an investigation into the matter at hand.

Counter arguments are shot down by Maher's vast array of one-liners and put-downs, cuts to archive footage and the odd fake subtitle thrown into the mix.

Therefore those expecting a more reasoned discussion of the impact of religion on modern society will be left disappointed. The only time dissenting views are allowed to express themselves is when Maher and director Larry Charles sense the chance to give them enough rope to hang themselves. This polemic, humorous style make Religulous for the most part seem like one of Maher's stand up routines brought to screen in documentary format.

What we are left with is a film that like the work of Sasha Baron-Cohen, played for laughs with a serious point tagged on a the end. In summary Religulous is frequently funny film, if not altogether a factual one.