Initially promising start with an interesting premise and a bit of inspired casting, DOGMA wanes immensely after the first thirty minutes. DOGMA commits the Hollywood version of mortal sin by taking itself way too seriously. Once the screenplay takes to this convoluted path, the humor screeches to an abrupt stop. For a motion picture that is supposed to take a farcical approach towards organized religion (namely Catholicism), it surely revels in its own inflated sermonizing. For a look at humorous takes on religion that's been done better, check out THE LOVED ONE (1965) or LIFE OF BRIAN (1979).
