Robert McElwaine 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.

RaspberryLucozade It is little surprising that a movie with such a controversial title has attracted so much criticism over the years. Peter Richardson and Pete Richens' 1991 film is a comedy drama which stars Robbie Coltrane as Dave Albinizi, a well meaning but unorthodox Catholic priest who seems to spend more time doing mechanical work than doing his sermons. It was originally intended to start life in the late '80's as an edition of 'The Comic Strip Presents' entitled 'Five Go To Hell' but the project was shelved following the poor box office performance of Richardson's 1987 film 'Eat The Rich'. Instead, Richardson and Richens conjured a film out of the project.Though building up a following at the time, 'The Pope Must Die' seems to have vanished into obscurity. With the P.C brigade cracking down on everything, it seems highly unlikely that we will ever see a DVD release or even a satellite repeat of this film in the near future. A pity as 'The Pope Must Die' is a superb little work of art, with wonderful one liners sprinkled more than generously throughout as well as a generous helping of dramatic moments.Following the death of Pope Pius, The Vatican are on the lookout for a new pontiff. Cardinal Rocco, who is in cahoots with Mafia boss Vitorio Corelli, suggests that silver-haired Father Albini ( who Corelli wants to use to embezzle money from the Vatican bank ) should be the new pope. However the deaf secretary of the College of Cardinals Fr. Rookie mishears the name and writes down in the official election results book that Albinizi ( who has been fired from his position at an Italian orphanage ) is to be the new holy father.One day, out of the blue, an attractive young woman appears in the papal apartment, disguised as a nun. This is Veronica Don Dante, Dave's ex-lover whose rock star son Joe Don Dante ( who turns out to be Dave's illegitimate son ) is in a relationship with Corelli's daughter Luccia. Angered at the thought of his daughter in the hands of a rock star, Corelli hires a pair of bumbling thugs to kill Joe, which they do. Unfortunately, they end up killing Luccia as well.Robbie Coltrane's performance as Albinizi is wonderful to say the least. Coltrane was no stranger to poking fun at religion - he played Orangeman Mason Boyne in the BBC Scotland sketch show 'Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee' and the year before this film played bank robber Charlie McManus who, along with his partner-in-crime Brian Hope ( played by Eric Idle ), disguised himself as a nun to avoid imprisonment in 'Nuns On The Run'. Also of good value is beautiful Berverly D'Angelo. This fine actress is a natural when it comes to comedy ( watch her in 'High Spirits' and 'Every Which Way But Loose' for proof of that ). John Sessions ( who also starred in 'Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee' with Coltrane ) and Steven O'Donnell were hilarious as Corelli's thugs who in terms of incompetence could give Harry and Marv from 'Home Alone' a run for their money. As Corelli, the late Herbert Lom sent shivers down the spine with his cold eyes and gruff voice. Impressive in their supporting roles also were Alex Rocco, Paul Bartel, Ade Edmondson, Salvatore Cascio, Janez Vajevec, Balthazar Getty and also the film's co-creator Peter Richardson. Appearing in lesser roles were Annette Crosbie, Ernest Clark, Niall Buggy and William Hootkins.The film was a hit all over the world, especially in America ( where it was titled 'The Pope Must Diet' ) and Yugoslavia ( where it was titled 'Sleeping With The Fishes' ). The film is also notable for Coltrane's hilarious rendition of Pat Boone's 'Speedy Gonzales', which was later released on LP along with the movie's theme music. If by some miracle you can get your hands on this film, I would highly recommend it. Never mind what those P.C bores say, just get stuck in and watch it!

Joe-290 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.

kellaway84 Contrary to the other reviewer's views this film was not made by bigots or those intent on stirring up religious hatred, but rather a light satire of the inner workings of the Vatican. It is a film that should not be taken too seriously.Coltrane is as lovable as ever as the lowly priest who becomes the pope due to a typing error, and starts to clamp down on the mafia's involvement, though his efforts are put to an end when it is revealed he fathered a love child in his earlier life, he is then forced to try and stop the mafia from planting their own pope.The stock British actors pull the film off with gentle gags, and where acting is cheesey is where the film blatantly doesnt take itself seriously....we're talking about a depiction of the vatican with a stock of Turin shrouds being sold in the crypt!!Not the greatest comedy ever but still worth a look.