"Keeping the Faith" is Edward Norton's directorial debut and he never disappoints. Just like his acting, his directorship is astonishing.
Though hilarious, the movie is definitely not original. When did best friends fall in love before? In "My Best Friend's Wedding", when Julia Roberts found out she had been forever in love with Dermot Mulroney. In "Keeping the Faith" it is Ed Norton and Ben Stiller who fall in love with Jenna Elfman. But the movie has an irresistible charm of its own. Actually the movie is so enjoyable that one forgets about everything else.
While the script is a bit of a let-down, yet cleverly written, the performances are pure gold. Jenna Elfman is remarkable as workoholic business woman, Anna "Banana" Reilly. She shines and she's full of energy. Ben Stiller is great as modern rabbi Jacob Schram, who is terrorized by the women in his congregation. His scene with the aerobics-obsessed woman is his funniest, followed very closely by the scene when he tries to get past a security guard. Best of all is Edward Norton, who is playing his character so low-key, that he is downright adorable. This man was capable of playing a cold-blooded killer with a fake split personality in "Primal Fear", a desperate man who gets a real split personality in "Fight Club", and a Neo-Nazi in "American History X". Now he turns towards comedy. And he is magnificent.
There are some really good jokes: (Edward referring to the the fact that he is drunk and to the bottle in his hand) "I am not drunk. I'm Irish and this is like milk to me." Now this is original. I've never heard it before.
I'm not a fan of romantic comedies where the guy tries to get the girl. But this a comedy when the girl is already impressed by the guy and jumps completely and mindlessly (they did not think at the consequences) at the opportunity.
"Keeping the Faith" is phenomenal movie that is bound to please everyone. 8/10.
Though hilarious, the movie is definitely not original. When did best friends fall in love before? In "My Best Friend's Wedding", when Julia Roberts found out she had been forever in love with Dermot Mulroney. In "Keeping the Faith" it is Ed Norton and Ben Stiller who fall in love with Jenna Elfman. But the movie has an irresistible charm of its own. Actually the movie is so enjoyable that one forgets about everything else.
While the script is a bit of a let-down, yet cleverly written, the performances are pure gold. Jenna Elfman is remarkable as workoholic business woman, Anna "Banana" Reilly. She shines and she's full of energy. Ben Stiller is great as modern rabbi Jacob Schram, who is terrorized by the women in his congregation. His scene with the aerobics-obsessed woman is his funniest, followed very closely by the scene when he tries to get past a security guard. Best of all is Edward Norton, who is playing his character so low-key, that he is downright adorable. This man was capable of playing a cold-blooded killer with a fake split personality in "Primal Fear", a desperate man who gets a real split personality in "Fight Club", and a Neo-Nazi in "American History X". Now he turns towards comedy. And he is magnificent.
There are some really good jokes: (Edward referring to the the fact that he is drunk and to the bottle in his hand) "I am not drunk. I'm Irish and this is like milk to me." Now this is original. I've never heard it before.
I'm not a fan of romantic comedies where the guy tries to get the girl. But this a comedy when the girl is already impressed by the guy and jumps completely and mindlessly (they did not think at the consequences) at the opportunity.
"Keeping the Faith" is phenomenal movie that is bound to please everyone. 8/10.