I found this DVD at the 2 for $30 section of a CD shop. Knowing that it was directed by Edward Norton and acted by the man himself, I couldn't resist the urge to purchase it.

Edward Norton a director? Yes, he was, and only for this time, though according to sources he will be directing another movie in 2007. That's a really long lapse in time if you ask me. So is he as good as an actor as he is as a director? Read on.



Keeping the Faith features the odd combination of Ben Stiller and Edward Norton, alongside Jenna Elfman from Dharma & Greg fame. As the story goes, Norton, Stiller and Elfman were best buddies from young. However, after hanging together for a year or so, Elfman's character, Anna, had to move with her family to California, leaving the 2 boys in New York. Years past and one fine day, Anna returned to New York as a high-flying tomboyish career woman. The boys knew that they liked Anna a lot but it was this homecoming that made them realize that they did love Anna. However, the twist? Norton's character, Brian, is a celibate Catholic priest, while Stiller's Jake is a rabbi.

Not that Jake had any problems falling in love and getting married as his religion did not forbid that. And besides, as the movie went on, Anna did love him too so they quickly began a relationship. However, problem was that Anna was non-Jewish, and his staunch Jewish mother had a falling out with his own brother all because he had married a non-Jewish. It also didn't help that the community frowned upon a union between a rabbi and a non-Jewish woman.

Meanwhile, while everyone was convinced that Brain treated Anna with nothing more than sisterly love, he had in fact grown increasing sexually attracted towards Anna. How will their friendship withstand the test of these religious complications?

Norton is a competent director, but I feel that he still has much to learn about keeping a movie concise and not too tiring. This movie is really a romantic comedy, but Norton's long-winded approach with many, I dare say, unneccessary parts, may have dulled the comedic effect. The other flaw of this movie was the script itself, with many good one-liners but also just as many bad jokes which failed to elicit any reaction from me except breaking into cold sweat. I do have the sneaking suspicion, however, that this problem was perhaps caused in a large part by my lack of understanding in the 2 religions, especially Judaism. Many jokes, I suppose, were just too religion-specific for me, for example, the part where Brian gets drunk in an Irish bar and hears a story by an Indian bartender, after which he made the conclusion, "You're a Sikh, Catholic Muslim with Jewish in-laws? " "Yes. Yes. It gets very complicated. I'm reading Dianetics.", the bartender replies, to which Norton comments, "Don't blame you". I say, it's no fun if you have to search the dictionary to find out the meaning of these words to find out where the humour was.

The weirdest thing is that, despite being director, Norton as Jake seem to have gotten most of the bad lines. I've always admired Edward Norton as one of the best actors of his time, but this movie does not do much justice to that ability. That said, I believe that Norton did as well as he could with what was available, and this one movie does not shake my admiration for Norton as a fine actor.

In contrast, Stiller got some of the best scenes and whose story I would admit was more interesting than Norton's. Ben Stiller is one actor whom I have grown to admire over the years, after sampling his talents as an actor in movies from The Royal Tenabaums to Meet the Parents to Zoolander. They were all comedies, of course, but each featured completely different characters which has demonstrated his ability to tackle roles that are serious to plain slapstick. In fact, watch the gag reel of this movie and you'll be in awe of his ease at improvisation without the need to deviate from the character. He's that natural. And I just realized that for a comedian, he has actually a very nice smile.

Jenna Elfman looked a little unusual to me at first glance, with her sharp features coupled with beady eyes which made it look not ugly but rather special. Her character may be tomboyish but she is also generous, free-spirited and articulate. This paired with Elfman's portrayal succeeded creating a charm that made it easy to overlook her unusual features. The appearance of Elfman really brigthens the screen, and it's easy to know why these 2 men fell head over heels for her.

In conclusion, this movie may not be the best directorial effort around, with some odd moments and a somewhat cheesy ending. However it does have its share of magical moments, and it also helps that it is being supported by a strong cast (I hear even the supporting actors are huge personalities in the field). If only Norton did a better job with editing and story planning.

Worth watching? For Ben Stiller and Jenna Elfman? Yes. For Edward Norton? You'd be more inspired by his performace in Fight Club or Red Dragon or Primal Fear or 25th Hour or American History X or any other Edward Norton movie for that matter. But for Norton as a director? Yup, do check it out. For a better understanding of Catholicism and Judaism? Eh... I wouldn't think so. However, I think Norton did a competent job in taking a light-hearted approach to the 2 religions so in that aspect it is worth watching.