Introduction"Wholly Moses!" is a 1980 American funny film directed by Gary Weis and stars Dudley Moore and Laraine Newman. The film is a satire of scriptural legendaries, combining several stories from the Bible into a comical narrative focused around a character named Herschel. In spite of its star-studded cast, which includes the similarity James Coco, Dom DeLuise, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn, David Lander, Richard Pryor, and John Ritter, the film was not particularly favored by critics or audiences upon its release.
Plot OverviewThe film tells the story of a man called Herschel (played by Dudley Moore), who thinks he is the selected one sent out by God, when in reality, it is a case of mistaken identity. Herschel's journey of self-delusion begins when he is wrongly provided the task of leading the Hebrews to the Promised Land by God's angels, who have puzzled him with the actual chosen leader, Moses.
Throughout the movie, Herschel goes on a series of misadventures in scriptural times, finding himself in different popular stories from the Old Testament. The comedic twist, however, is that Herschel is more of a bumbling fool than a skilled hero. Despite his great intentions, his absence of leadership abilities and understanding of the bibles leads to a series of amusing incidents. From an altercation with the Philistines to an encounter with Jezebel, each event parodies familiar biblical tales.
Among the primary subplots includes Herschel's love for Zoey/Zerelda (played by Laraine Newman), who winds up being wed off to a Philistine at one point. Herschel, encouraged by love and an incorrect sense of magnificent purpose, attempts to rescue her, causing more comic absurdities.
Supporting characters consist of a range of biblical figures, typically depicted with anachronistic humor and slapstick funny. Significant among these is a Pharaoh (played by John Houseman) who Herschel should face and a blind man (played by Richard Pryor) who is inadvertently made to see, but is ultimately dissatisfied with the sight.
Each episode in Herschel's mission satirizes different aspects of religious stories and the impressive film category, playing upon the expectations of the audience knowledgeable about the timeless stories. The characters are often revealed to be minor, foolish, and self-serving, supplying a stark contrast to their normally dignified depictions in scriptural adjustments.
Reception and Legacy"Wholly Moses!" gotten lukewarm to unfavorable evaluations from critics and was not an industrial success. Detractors slammed the film for its uneven pacing, low-brow humor, and failure to totally use its talented cast. In spite of its objective to work as a parody, it was typically viewed as too profane or clumsy in its comedic execution.
Nevertheless, the film has actually because acquired some cult following due to its special take on spiritual satire and the fond memories for its ensemble cast of notable comics and actors from the late 1970s and early 1980s.
ConclusionIn summary, "Wholly Moses!" is a distinct comedy that takes the viewer on a farcical journey through the Old Testament. Its star-studded cast and ambitious idea are noteworthy, though its ability to deliver a cohesive and universally enticing comedy was brought into concern by the film's bad reception. It is kept in mind more for its audacity and the efficiencies of its cast members than for being a traditional in the genre. Nevertheless, it uses a special picture of a specific moment in comedic filmmaking and represents one of the period's attempts at spiritual satire.
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