This movie, "Religion, Inc.", was made before any of us knew who Sandra Bullock was. Here she has a relatively minor role, but is prominently featured on the DVD cover, wearing a nice red dress which doesn't appear anywhere in the movie. Plus, they are marketing it as "A Fool And His Money". We fell for it! We bought a copy at $5, and it is barely worth $1, for the quality of the DVD but even less for the movie. Seriously, there are better DVDs available for $1. You may wonder "What is wrong with it?" Fair question. First, the sound is inferior, kind of fuzzy, listed as stereo but sounds closer to mono. Second, the picture is not even as good as good VHS quality. Third, there are chapters and nothing else, as basic a DVD as you can find. Still, all that would not be terrible, had it contained a good movie.
The movie is a very cheesy "B" grade movie at best. "The Lord" tells the protagonist to start a business, so he starts a company called "religion, Inc", to establish a new religion. It works for a while, but then trouble strikes. So far, such a premise has promise for a different kind of comedy. Unfortunately the writer had no vision and everything falls flat in the second half. The only redeeming quality is that it runs a short 80 minutes.
SPOILERS FOLLOW, for my recollection. Trying to think of a name for the new religion, they pick the opposite of "Protestant", the "Preferant" church, which preaches it is OK to look out for yourself and accumulate wealth and advancement. It is OK to have extramarital affairs and to take advantage of the less fortunate. A janitor with a PHD in Philosophy becomes the "spiritual leader." Even though the new religion, which plays on followers' dark desires, flourishes, the founders have chest pains which can only be relieved when they go straight. Cheesy, hokey, choose your adjective, but we found it a total waste of 80 minutes. Except to see a young Sandra Bullock with acting promise.
The movie is a very cheesy "B" grade movie at best. "The Lord" tells the protagonist to start a business, so he starts a company called "religion, Inc", to establish a new religion. It works for a while, but then trouble strikes. So far, such a premise has promise for a different kind of comedy. Unfortunately the writer had no vision and everything falls flat in the second half. The only redeeming quality is that it runs a short 80 minutes.
SPOILERS FOLLOW, for my recollection. Trying to think of a name for the new religion, they pick the opposite of "Protestant", the "Preferant" church, which preaches it is OK to look out for yourself and accumulate wealth and advancement. It is OK to have extramarital affairs and to take advantage of the less fortunate. A janitor with a PHD in Philosophy becomes the "spiritual leader." Even though the new religion, which plays on followers' dark desires, flourishes, the founders have chest pains which can only be relieved when they go straight. Cheesy, hokey, choose your adjective, but we found it a total waste of 80 minutes. Except to see a young Sandra Bullock with acting promise.