By Christopher Brandon

Kevin Smith
DOGMA
(Lions Gate Films) R

it's worth $6.00

Who would have ever thought that the guy who coined "snowballing" and "finger-cuffs" was a religious man? Kevin Smith, the too cool indie director known for crisp dialogue and pop-culture references in such movies as Clerks and Chasing Amy, has made a bold religious farce that challenges organized religion yet offers a slacker-friendly interpretation of religious doctrine. Call it the Gospel According to Kevin Smith. An abortion clinic worker (Linda Fiorentino) with doubts about her Catholic faith forms a team of shady characters that includes hetero-lifemates Jay and Silent Bob, a fabled 13th Apostle (Chris Rock) cut from scripture because he's black, and a Muse (Salma Hayek) who moonlights as a topless dancer. Together, they journey to New Jersey to stop two fallen angels (hetero-lifemates Matt Damon and Ben Affleck) from exploiting a loophole in Catholic doctrine that will allow them to re-enter Heaven, thus disproving God's omnipotence and unraveling all of existence. Despite lacking performances from almost everyone involved, every colorful character is imbued with rich personality (Alanis Morissette's God is a lonely goofball with a great sense of humor), and Smith's reworking of Biblical principles constantly fascinates. The story is frequently hilarious (Rock declares, "A black man can steal your stereo but he can't be your savior!"), often profound (Damon cleverly talks a nun out of her calling), and occasionally stupid (they're attacked by a poop demon). So, it leaves the viewer struggling whether to take it all seriously or not -- at the very least, it gets the Gen-X set thinking about God and religion. And isn't that the point of dogma?