Religion has always been a contentious subject, and yet one ripe for satirical comedy which has been the subject in more recent years with, Kevin Smith's Dogma and Four Lions springing readily to mind. It was one however, that writers Peter Richardson and Pete Richens had failed to tackle on the small screen with their anarchic and predominantly satirical, The Comic Strip Presents...series of short films. Choosing to satirize Catholicism with their third full length feature film after, The Supergrass and Eat the Rich, and having frequently collaborated on together with the results being decidedly hit and miss, but when they really hit at times they really could hit. It's with some semblance of good will that I approached, The Pope Must Die with some semblance of good will, hoping that it might be rewarded. With Robbie Coltrane, in the title role as the eponymous now pope, C. David "Dave" Albinizi, a dedicated priest who before his appointment to pontiff works in a Italian orphanage run by Nuns, and who's unconventional methods raise the ire of the Mother Superior (veteran actress Annette Crosbie of, One Foot in the Grave and Dr. Finlay fame). A clerical error upon the death of the last Pope, finds the small time priest in the hallowed position, which proves timely as he was given his marching orders by his boss. Meanwhile, head Italian mafioso, Vitorrio Corelli (Herbet Lom) who has insinuated his influence in to the Catholic Church, which has become rife with corruption and wants to see the new Pope, "taken care of", is enraged that the wrong man has been given the role, having his eyes set on another to fill the vacancy. There is at the heart of the film, the potential for some great satire and with Coltrane who as he invariably does, making for a likeable leading man who brings considerable warmth and conviction to Albinizi. It does indeed get off to a promising start, with the early scenes being fairly engaging and the absurdest nature of it's humour, which was a often a mainstay of, Richardson and Richens work with, The Comic Strip team (which Richardson was the founding member) working well, and it does raise a few chuckles. As a biting satire on the inner workings of the Vatican, and allegations of corruption which have dogged the institution for decades, and which ranks as only just one of it's misdemeanors over the years, it feels like something of a wasted opportunity. While there are early hints at the biting edge that we've come to expect, it proves to later be decidedly unfocused, and rather shallow as if they're holding back which gets in the way of the political and social commentary. Comically over the top characters that permeate the films narrative although initially raising a smile do begin to wear pretty thin, as does the plot which just goes from absurd to plain ridiculous with it's plot developing in to a bit of a contrived shambles in it's final act, by which point it feels like it has descended in to a one joke concept that has ran out steam. Not even the scene's involving John Sessions and Steven O' Donnell as two bungling hitmen, sent to carry out Corelli's dirty work, despite the efforts of both actors do much if anything to raise laughs, with any attempts at doing so feeling forced. All the while, Adrian Edmondson, who a Comic Strip regular and writer along with Richardson and Richens feels underused and wasted as a hardd of hearing Vatican Priest who delivers some of the movies few laughs. With Paul Bartel and yes, Peter Richardson (who makes more of an effort on screen than he clearly has on the paper) doing the best they can to strain laughs from the flimsy script but it's ultimately a losing battle. The Pope Must Die, although not the worst of the movies that both Richardson and Richens cinematic collaborations with, their later attempts at satire proving even less successful with, Churchhill: The Hollywood Years which bombed at the box office thirteen years later proving to be arguably the nadir of their respective careers. It does after all benefit from the reliable presence of Coltrane as it does the rest of it's strong cast, but even they cannot prevent it from being something that could have been so much more than it is and lacks the innovative, searing wit that was better served on the small screen than it was on the big.

I heard the story of them changing the title of this movie and without even seeing it, I was very upset that they would give into pressure from a church and change the name. After seeing the movie, it's clear that if you have a problem with the title, you are a humorless turd.It's funny that the church never complained about the mob picking the Pope. Starring Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid from Harry Potter) and Beverly D'Angelo and written by Peter Richardson(the man behind The Comic Strip Presents), this movie is hilarious and action packed. The mob is picking the new Pope and a hard of hearing clerk(Adrian Edmondson,Vyvyan from The Young Ones)hears the name wrong and a guitar playing priest from an orphanage becomes the new Pope. The only way to get rid of him is to kill him. Wackiness ensues. This is a must see.

This film is truly hilarious. Some people mightn't like it, but if you're Catholic and fairly broadminded, it's a scream. Annette Crosbie as the nun, and Ade Edmundson as the deaf Priest are the best performers- save for Herbert Lom and Robbie Coltrane who really make this movie come alive.

Putting aside the fact that this film is meant to be a comedy, the whole concept is truly superb. Finally somebody in the film making world had the backbone to make a a joke out of the methods of Catholicism - something not done enough now. The film is hilarious and those who can't laugh at it, obviously just can't get the jokes. Robbie Coltrane did a great job and Alex Rocco gave a fine performance with Herbert Lom wonderful as usual.It must have caused uproar in the Catholic church but no longer do film makers have to make comedy fiction in order to take a shot at this organisation because the scandals have created enough ideas to make hundereds of original movies (e.g. "A Love Divided", "The Magdalene Sisters". A fine, fine, fine movie but not to please devout Catholics which makes it even more amusing and fantastic.