‘Keeping the Faith’ isn’t in ‘Keeping the Faith,’ what gives?

• Tweet
• 

“Keeping the Faith”
*** out five

Imagine: “Two Guys and a
Girl,” except the two guys are a priest and
a rabbi and there’s no threesome scene.

Rated PG-13 for Edward Norton
playing a priest instead of a troubled altar
boy.

All love triangles have their
quirks.
“Keeping the Faith” is the latest in quirky
love triangle/ romantic comedies to hit the
sliver screen with the star power of Edward
Norton (director, producer and star) and Ben
Stiller (a funny Jew) who play a catholic
priest and rabbi who both share similar feelings
for their childhood friend played by Jenna
Elfman.
“Keeping the Faith,” tries to put a new spin
on romantic comedies by tossing a priest and
a rabbi who are life-long best friends into
the mix who both fall in love with the same
woman and pulls it off for the most part.
Jake, Brian and Anna were inseparable during
their eighth grade year, sadly in that summer
Anna had to move away never to speak to the
boys again. Until one fine day Brian (Norton)
now a catholic priest receives a call from
Anna (Elfman) who informs him that she is
moving back to New York.
All growed up and looking good, both Brian
and Jake (Stiller) head to the airport to
pick up their friend. Anna is of course, grown
up to be a beautiful independent business
woman. This is where things get a little hairy
and the bizarre love triangle ensues.
Speaking of bizarre love triangles, which
would be the most obvious choice for the soundtrack.
I mean come on, “Every time I see you falling,
I get down on my knees and pray” and I’m talking
about the New Order version not the Frente
ballad.
The soundtrack potential for “Keeping the
Faith,” alone is enough to make the film worthwhile.
Too bad there was no “Bizarre Love Triangle,”
“Keeping the Faith,” by Billy Joel, “Faith,”
by George Michael, “Like a Prayer,” by Madonna
or “Losing My Religion,” by R.E.M. Instead
the ad wizards decided to go with “Smooth,”
by Santana (ouch) and going the “Good Will
Hunting,” route by using Elliott Smith’s “Pitseleh.”
Soundtracks aside, the film is poses some
rather serious questions about faith and love.
And halfheartedly answers them. Instead it
relies on cheap jokes with doormen (don’t
get me wrong any film with a doorman named
T-Bone has some merit), Asian Karaoke singers
and other religious mishaps (“Sister Act”
style).
Overall “Keeping the Faith” ends up being
the same ol, same ol only this time you have
a Priest and a rabbi punch line to toss in
with it.
Sorry about that.