Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Irreverent comedy has violence, crude sexual references.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Dogma
What's the Story?
In DOGMA, Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) is a Planned Parenthood employee who goes to church every Sunday but is struggling with her faith. She's visited by a heavenly creature (Alan Rickman) and commanded to stop the renegade angels Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck) from entering a particular Catholic church in New Jersey. If the angels succeed, they will undo existence. Thirteenth apostle Rufus (Chris Rock), two earthly "prophets"—Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith)—and the heavenly muse Serendipity (Salma Hayek) all help Bethany on her divine mission. While she tries to make it to Jersey with her merry band of holy and very unholy characters, she slowly learns more and more hidden truths about God (he's a she) and Jesus (he hates it when hypocrites and televangelists pretend to do his bidding). As Bethany reaches enlightenment, Loki and Bartleby go on an Old Testament-style killing spree, murdering the unfaithful, ungrateful unbelievers. Can she stop them before they wipe out all of humanity?
Is It Any Good?
Kevin Smith isn't a subtle filmmaker, and this crude comedy is signature stuff from him. Dogma, his most controversial film (and he's had plenty), is exactly what a viewer should expect from a Smith fantasy, except with a higher-minded theme and a few more A-listers (Rock, Hayek, and Alanis Morissette—as God—all join his regular crew). His films, with the exception of the watered-down romantic comedy Jersey Girl, rival Quentin Tarantino's and David Mamet's for their talky, explicit dialogue.
There's lots of sex talk here (Jay and Silent Bob rarely discuss anything but sex, unless it's drugs) and Catholic jokes. But the movie also pokes fun from every angle—no institution or group is safe, from Catholics and atheists to Skee-Ball. Call it equal-opportunity mockery (think South Park), but it's not blasphemous, as the Catholic League contended when the film was released. Without spoiling the ending, it's safe to say that Smith lets good triumph over evil. Women—in the form of an incarnate God and her chosen one, Bethany—are the ones with the power to save humanity, and Smith allows for a message that's downright inspirational. That Dogma was directed by a former altar boy (Smith) adds yet another level to its provocative stance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Kevin Smith's lampooning of Christianity and the Catholic Church in Dogma. Is there a redeeming message about faith at the end? Or is it offensive from start to finish? Do you think this fantasy comedy merited all of the controversy it stirred up?
How are women portrayed in the movie? What positive traits do they have and share?
Have you seen other films that star Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as a duo? How do those compare? What do you think it is about their pairing that filmmakers and audiences like so much? Can you think of other actors who often appear together in films?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 6, 1999
- On DVD or streaming : June 26, 2001
- Cast : Ben Affleck , Linda Fiorentino , Matt Damon
- Director : Kevin Smith
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Faith ( Christianity )
- Run time : 128 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong language including sex-related dialogue, violence, crude humor and some drug content
- Last updated : November 11, 2025
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