‘KEEPING THE FAITH’ MOVIE ANNIVERSARY: REASONS TO LOVE THE FILM

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Despite an a-list cast, Keeping the Faith is one of those underrated films no one talks about. It’s also one of those films that casts an unconventional cast, but it’s all good and I quite enjoy everyone playing these roles. The film is coming up on its twenty-fifth anniversary this year, and so we have to celebrate this little gem with the usual reasons to love Keeping the Faith anniversary list!

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‘KEEPING THE FAITH’ MOVIE ANNIVERSARY: REASONS TO LOVE THE FILM. Jenna Elfman and Ben Stiller stars in this 2000 drama. #MovieAnniversary #Movies #Romance Share on X

In case you aren’t sure what this film is about, it follows Ben Stiller’s Jake Schram, a rabbi with a traditional family and Edward Norton’s Brian Finn, a priest. The pair grew up together and remain the best of friends. The third member of their trio includes Anna Riley, played by the always hilarious Jenna Elfman. As adults, Anna returns, now a successful business woman, the two best friends both fall head over heels for their childhood friend, which challenges their friendship and possibly their respective faith. Before there was Adam Brody’s rabbi in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, there was this Keeping the Faith dramedy.

Let’s discover some of the reasons to love Keeping the Faith.

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REASONS to love KEEPING the FAITH

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THE DEBUT

This is a very “niche” thing to mention as a reason to love this film, but if you like costume drama, well, it may be fun to know that Dagmara Dominczyk makes her debut in this film. Of course, Dominczyk plays Mercedes in the adventure adaptation The Count of Monte Cristo. Her role is minor, but it’s fun nonetheless.

THE LOVE STORY

I enjoy the love story in this, despite it playing with the love triangle trope. There are still some impactful and interesting moments. I think this is a film that also does this trope better than most. According to film trivia film did make the American Film Institute’s, back in 2002, “list of 400 movies nominated for the top 100 top 100 America’s Greatest Love Stories movies.”

It’s also a love story (and film in general) that isn’t much talked of, so it’s fun because while it doesn’t reinvent much, it feels unique and different just because it’s not consumed in the way While You Were Sleeping is.

THE RELIGIOUS ARC

I know it’s for the film to make sense (religion causing challenges for the love stories), but the religious angle is interesting to me. I think it’s perhaps the more prominent reason to love Keeping the Faith.

I don’t think it always plays out well and it’s kind of still done in a sort of silly way, but it still has merit, and long before Adam Brody stepped into a religious leading man role (we speak of the hit Nobody Wants This, of course), there were Edward Norton and Ben Stiller, and I am sure there were romantic heroes before them as well.

Seeing Stiller in this role is also going against his normal kind of “ridiculous” comedy character. There is still some aspect of that in this role, but I think he plays the role less silly.

THE TRIO

I really like this trio together. I don’t think I did at “first blush” when I watched the film, but the more times I watch this film, the more they grow on me. Jenna Elfman is known for her comedy roles and of course, Ben Stiller too is known as a comedic actor. Edward Norton doesn’t fall in the same category, but he’s good in the role and he also serves as director for this dramedy.

Photos: Alamy

At publication, you can digitally rent or purchase Keeping the Faith on places like Prime Video

Have you seen this drama? What are your reasons to love Keeping the Faith? Have you seen it? Did you enjoy the film? Are you, like me, someone who has seen this more than one? Comment all of your thoughts below.

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