Leap of Faith Reviews

Steve Martin as a snake-oil salesman evangelist is an inspired bit of casting, and for much of Leap of Faith Martin makes the film vastly engaging and interesting. Martin and his cohorts don’t feel bad about grifting poor folks out of their hard-earned money because they put on one hell of a show. And it’s hard to argue with that kind of logic when you watch Martin make the sweat and brimstone sermonizing seem so convincing. It’s only when Leap of Faith decides it wants to transition from cynical look at a con-artist into a sweet film that buys into its own con that it falters.

I’ll admit movie endings are hard. Creating a sense of closure that is satisfying and logical to everything that has preceded it isn’t a neat or easy trick to pull off. But Leap of Faith sees its main character do a major turn-around that feels disingenuous. A happy ending hasn’t been earned by any of these characters. Debra Winger, who should really work more often, starts off as Martin’s second-in-command to being a lovey-dovey woman who grows a conscience because of a handsome sheriff (Liam Neeson). And the inclusion of actual miracles goes against the more biting satire of the first two-thirds.

But Leap of Faith is still enjoyable thanks to Martin’s central performance. His brand of comedy frequently seemed like a confidence game – do you believe that this man is selling you this character? This bit of self-invention and crazed lying is utilized effectively in the scenes where everyone just stands back and lets Martin riff on his role as a man of God, his wandering and misspent youth, where he works up a sweat and tries to sell you the possibility that this isn’t a mountain of bullshit. Leap of Faith might not use its fantastical elements effectively, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t have energy and nerve to burn when it pulls back the current and gives us a jaded look at those who sell religion with bedazzled clothing and a large tent.