So “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” the Ben Stein creationist-propaganda film that stole a John Lennon song from Yoko Ono was the highest grossing documentary this year, with a $7.7 million gross, right?
Well, Bill Maher and Larry Charles’ “Religulous” documentary looks like it will supersede that number shortly, as they’re not far behind with $7,049,342 cume so far according to Box-Office Mojo (via the L.A. Times).
And thank, ahem, God, for that. We might not have totally enjoyed, Maher and Charles’ fairly insulting and manipulative screed on religious beliefs, but at least it wasn’t trying to hide the fact that it was satire and obviously mocking and poking fun.
“Expelled,” basically tricked a ton of musicians (including The Killers) and talking-heads into appearing in the film (though Charles and co. did similar interview subterfuge tactics) and by all accounts is nothing, but blatant and wanton propaganda. “Expelled” is also one of the worst reviewed films of the year and has a pathetic 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“This film is an appallingly unscrupulous example of hack propaganda and it sucketh mightily. What’s more, I didn’t laugh once,” wrote The Globe & Mail in June. The paper gave it a “0” rating. Now if only the election can swing in a similar manner, as let’s face it, each sides pretty much represents each half.