The Odd Couple - Vatican Style

Well, here's another one of those Oscar hopefuls that you can pretty much save your money on and watch in the comfort of your Netflix home.   In reality, "The Two Popes" is less of a movie than it is a two-person play.   I could clearly see how this would translate to the stage.   In fact, that might be the optimum forum for this production, which is interesting to say the least.

You've got the now-traditional opening title card for this movie.

"Inspired by True Events."

Yeah, isn't everything?  But when you portray two still living folks and Popes, for Pete's sake, you are really taking a chance on distorting history.  Who knows if the two Popes in this movie are really as down-to-earth and genuine as they are depicted here?  And funny, to boot.   Some of the dialogue seems to come straight from Neil Simon.   Pope Felix and Pope Oscar.   I was half expecting a scene where some of the other cardinals show up for a night of poker.

The story is pretty simple and rooted in headlines from the past two decades.  We have Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) from Germany and he's a bit old school.   We have the future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) from South American and he's quite progressive.   Over the years, the two get together to discuss the future of the Catholic church and they do so while sending out for pizza and watching the World Cup on TV.  When all of the priestly improprieties start to hit the Vatican and Benedict figures he best get out of Dodge, you know where this is going.

Well, if you have also read the newspaper at all since 2003, you already know what happens.   In the meantime, we are privy to supposed conversations between the two men who are humanized almost to being your next door neighbor.  Director Fernando Meirelles is from South America himself and clearly is best buds with Francis, so that Pope comes off notably well.   That's another reason for my skepticism on the "true events" inspiration here.  As the witty and sometimes comical dialogue plays out between the two Popes, I started to wonder who was starting to craft the inevitable sitcom for these guys.

"The Two Popes" is interesting and, as I said, might be better served as a play.

With or without dialogue supplied by Neil Simon.

LEN'S REVIEW:  Three stars.

Dinner last night:  Leftover mushroom ravioli.