Lovesusti
The Worst Film Ever
Exoticalot
People are voting emotionally.
Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Sarita Rafferty
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Brad Kruse
This silly story of an ethical priest (Coltrane) with more good heart than religious scholarship overflows with cartoon-like characters. The Reverend Mother over the orphanage hates fun and children. The Bishop is intent on church business to the exclusion of expressions of faith. The Monsigneur assisting the pope and Cardinal Rocko are working for the local gun-runner/mafia boss. The hit men claim work they didn't do, and deny work they did. And on and on.Understand that the point of the picture is not to make fun of the Vatican, but to show an unstoppable presence that restores, time after time, sanctity and service to the Roman Catholic Church. Yes, certain figures are shown to be unscrupulous and doing wrong. Yes, we can laugh about the crucifix flip-phone and a Cardinal confessing 'If you can think of a sin, I did it!' The bad guys don't win this one, though. The good guys generally end up supported and blessed (except poor Joe Don Dante and Carreli's daughter).I have to admit thinking about the opening scenes during the final days of Pope John Paul II. And I cringe at the moments before the announced 'Pope's Dead!'. I imagine the story is a blend of farce and speculation on rituals at the Vatican, and not to be used in religious instruction. Irreverent small story, a bit of electric rock guitar. I wonder if it is on the hidden video collection/en suite bar for Pope Benedict XVI... I keep coming back to 'The Pope Must Diet' (USA title) for a little fun.
Joe-290
Putting aside the fact that this film is meant to be a comedy, the whole concept is truly superb. Finally somebody in the film making world had the backbone to make a a joke out of the methods of Catholicism - something not done enough now. The film is hilarious and those who can't laugh at it, obviously just can't get the jokes. Robbie Coltrane did a great job and Alex Rocco gave a fine performance with Herbert Lom wonderful as usual.It must have caused uproar in the Catholic church but no longer do film makers have to make comedy fiction in order to take a shot at this organisation because the scandals have created enough ideas to make hundereds of original movies (e.g. "A Love Divided", "The Magdalene Sisters". A fine, fine, fine movie but not to please devout Catholics which makes it even more amusing and fantastic.
Paul Shrimpton
.... was the tagline for this movie, and if you want something to take seriously, this ain't it.Some of the voters and commenters for this movie appear to belong to those particular group of planet-dwellers for whom everything needs a reason, and to whom every joke needs to be explained in detail, so that they can see why they should find it funny.Coltrane, Edmondson, Lom, Rocco, and Sessions all give creditable if unchallenging performances using a script that is light-hearted without being offensive and a plot that is interesting without being stretching. The movie has a laugh at itself, it's subject, the actors, and also the viewers, some of whom obviously take life and movies far too seriously. IT'S ENTERTAINMENT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!Oh, by the way I really enjoyed the movie - helped me to take my life off the hook for 90 minutes.
kellaway84
Contrary to the other reviewer's views this film was not made by bigots or those intent on stirring up religious hatred, but rather a light satire of the inner workings of the Vatican. It is a film that should not be taken too seriously.Coltrane is as lovable as ever as the lowly priest who becomes the pope due to a typing error, and starts to clamp down on the mafia's involvement, though his efforts are put to an end when it is revealed he fathered a love child in his earlier life, he is then forced to try and stop the mafia from planting their own pope.The stock British actors pull the film off with gentle gags, and where acting is cheesey is where the film blatantly doesnt take itself seriously....we're talking about a depiction of the vatican with a stock of Turin shrouds being sold in the crypt!!Not the greatest comedy ever but still worth a look.