Line #161 Film/Dogma


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3	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/36c78f0f_3e37_4401_9387_7af66b7cc60d.jpeg]]
4	[[caption-width-right:355:''[[{{Tagline}} Get 'touched' by an angel.]]'']]
5	->'''The Metatron:''' I'm to charge you with a holy crusade.\
6	'''Bethany Sloane:''' For the record, I work in an abortion clinic.\
7	'''The Metatron:''' Noah was a drunk, look what ''he'' accomplished. And no one's asking you to build an ark. All you got to do is go to New Jersey, and visit a small church on a very important day.
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9	In 1999, Creator/KevinSmith brought Film/TheViewAskewniverse into the realm of religion with ''Dogma''. May God have mercy on our souls.
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11	Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany (Creator/LindaFiorentino) receives a visit from The Metatron (Creator/AlanRickman), the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me"[[note]] Or they're talking to themselves[[/note]]). The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels Bartleby (Creator/BenAffleck) and Loki (Creator/MattDamon) from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
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13	The angels' potential absolution presents a big problem: God had specifically barred them from ''ever'' returning to Heaven, so their dogmatic absolution would disprove God's infallibility, and thereby ''bring an end to all existence''. Since God cannot directly interfere with the angels' plan, Bethany must do the job herself.
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15	Jay (Creator/JasonMewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) turn up as "prophets" sent to guide Bethany, and the trio later finds allies in disgruntled apostle Rufus (Creator/ChrisRock) and muse-turned-stripper Serendipity (Creator/SalmaHayek)--but even with God's blessing on their side, the group's mission grows more difficult thanks to someone working behind the scenes to ensure the absolution of Bartleby and Loki...
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17	Around the time of the film's release, Kevin Smith heard of a [[MoralGuardians group of people]] planning to picket ''Dogma'' at a theater near his hometown, so he decided to go and ''help picket his own film''. When he arrived, less than two dozen people had actually showed up for the "protest", including [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QepgKVOVfZ8 the reporter and camera crew for a local TV station]] ''who recognized him''.
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19	----
20	!!''Dogma'' gives holy blessings to the following tropes:
21	* AbortionFalloutDrama: Bethany got a back-alley abortion from another student when she got pregnant in college. The student botched the operation, resulting in a uterine infection which left Bethany unable to bear children; her husband left her when he found this out. This made her lose her faith.
22	* ActorAllusion:
23	** Creator/SalmaHayek plays Serendipity, a muse from Heaven who works as a stripper on Earth. In ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'', she plays a stripper from Hell.
24	** Loki and Bartleby are MistakenForGay on more than one occasion, which mirrored the then-prevalent rumors about Creator/MattDamon and Creator/BenAffleck.
25	** Another one was written into the script, but orphaned by a cast change. The original actress chosen to play God was Creator/HollyHunter. When she appears, Jay angrily asks "What the fuck is this, ''Film/ThePiano''? Why ain't this broad talking?" The actress for God was changed to Music/AlanisMorissette, but the line stayed in.
26	* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Just to show how [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} off]] [[TheDitz Jay]] is.
27	-->'''Jay:''' I get it! "Holey Bartender!" That's a ''great'' one!
28	* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: Loki and Bartleby's expulsion from Heaven resulted from them being dumb while drunk: while no longer taking vengeance out on mortals wasn't a bad idea, quitting by telling God off definitely was. This led to angels being forbidden from consuming alcohol, much to the frustration of The Metatron.
29	-->'''The Metatron:''' [[spoiler:...so Loki, very inebriated, throws down his flaming sword, tells God he quits, and then gives Him ... the ''finger''.]]
30	* TheAlcoholic: The Metatron. Unfortunately for him, [[NailedToTheWagon angels are forbidden from imbibing alcohol]] thanks to the Loki incident, which he has to get around by taking sips of alcohol into his mouth and then spitting it back out instead of swallowing.
31	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Invoked on behalf of numerous Biblical concepts; the characters in the film are quite different from how typical depictions go.
32	** {{God}} for example turns out to be JustForFun/OneOfUs; a big fan of skeeball.
33	*** [[spoiler:And God gives all his tickets and winnings to local children. What a deity!]]
34	** Literature/TheBible is interpreted in a decidedly un-Catholic way. (Specifically, no, indulgences do ''not'' work the way the movie says they do, but the Protestant interpretation of [[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A19-21&version=NIV Matthew 6:19-21]] explains how Dogma's indulgences work. This is {{lampshade\|Hanging}}d in the airport scene.)
35	** Of {{Hell}}, instead of being a place of damnation for horrible people, it is for people with huge {{Guilt Complex}}es who believe that {{God}} can never forgive them, so they [[SelfInflictedHell opted to take eternal suffering for their guilt]]. Azrael says it ''became'' a place of eternal damnation because humans thought they deserved it. Before that, it was just a place where God had no presence, which sucked, but it wasn't torture.
36	* AmbiguouslyGay: Jay, given that Rufus implies that he thinks about guys when he masturbates. The reason why he takes Silent Bob to the strip club is so he can convince him that he's ''not'' gay.
37	* AngelsInOvercoats: The movie's nogoodnik angels Bartleby and Loki (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) are decked out in wool overcoats, worn over hooded sweatshirts to symbolize their halos. Alan Rickman's creation-weary but non-evil Metatron also wears a hoodie, but under a shorter jacket (creator Kevin Smith identifies ''Wings of Desire'''s use of overcoat-as-angel-uniform as the inspiration for having his angels wear a unifying article -- in this case, the hoodie. The overcoat look for Bartleby and Loki undoubtedly originates from the same source).
38	* AngelicTransformation: The plot of the film centers around a pair of disgraced angels planning to reenter heaven by entering an arch that has been blessed by a clueless Cardinal to forgive all sins of any who walk through. In order for the blessing to work, they have to become human. Jay [[NiceJobBreakingItHero accidentally]] does this for them by shooting off their wings.
39	* ApocalypseHow: Metaphysical annihilation on ''at least'' a universal scale, depending on whether or not there's more than one universe, and if a God can be reborn.
40	* ArchangelAzrael: Azrael is portrayed as a FallenAngel (or Fallen [[TheMuse Muse]], to be specific) who [[NeutralityBacklash refused to take a side during the War in Heaven and was banished to Hell alongside Lucifer]]. He serves as TheManBehindTheMan who encourages two other fallen angels, Bartleby and Loki, to take a course of action that will destroy the universe through a RealityBreakingParadox, because he's so sick of life in Hell that he thinks non-existence is preferable and [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum he doesn't care what he has to do to achieve it]].
41	* ArmCannon: The Golgothan briefly makes one to shoot out a poop projectile that splatters the bar in excrement.
42	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
43	** Loki executes an entire boardroom full of executives for crimes of disowning and raping children, purposely giving elders improper care to save money but he saves the best for last.
44	--->'''Loki:''' But you didn't say "God bless you" when I sneezed...
45	** Rufus also has a list like this when it comes to his pal Jesus.
46	--->'''Rufus:''' What Jesus doesn't like is all the shit you people do in his name. Wars! Bigotry! Televangelism!
47	** Loki asserts that "mass genocide is the most exhausting physical activity one can undertake, next to soccer."
48	* TheArtifact: Ends with a SequelHook stating "Jay and Silent Bob will return in "Clerks 2: Hardly Clerkin'", which ended up being released after ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'', and was simply titled ''Film/ClerksII''.
49	* ArtisticLicense: Automotive. You couldn't even start a standard shift car, let alone get out of a parking lot and onto the highway, without stepping on the clutch, and thus realizing it wasn't an automatic transmission.
50	** An alternate explanation; automatic transmissions do have lower gears for taking steep hills or getting out of snowbanks. It's far from impossible to accidentally shift past "Drive" into "2" or even "1", and flooring the gas pedal if you are in low gear will eventually result in... pretty much what we see in the film.
51	* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Dogma could almost be called "Artistic License - Religion: the Movie"
52	** The Metatron describes a 20-year period, in which Jesus took to come to terms with who He was and what His role was to be. In scripture, the last event depicted of Christ's childhood is known as The Finding In The Temple, where Christ speaks in The Temple of Solomon, aware of who He is and in his words, "doing my Father's work".
53	** The concept of Plenary Indulgence is portrayed completely wrong. Multiple characters who ''should'' know better (angels and a cardinal) describe it as a clean slate, and the forgiveness and removal of all sins. It is not. Plenary Indulgence is the removal of the need for temporal punishments of sins that have ''already'' been forgiven. It does not remove nor wipe out a person's sins. One might argue that Bartleby and Loki failing to understand the concept properly [[FridgeBrilliance is part of the joke.]] Also, Metatron calls himself a "seraphim" and reveals two wings. The singular of "seraphim" is "seraph," and they have six wings.
54	** Interestingly, a lot of the film's plot runs on the fact that Azrael, through Bartleby and Loki, is ''intentionally'' exploiting loopholes and using everyone's beliefs against them. The Cardinal is using the concept of Plenary Indulgences wrong, the whole "God is infallible" idea being proved incorrect has no basis in any official teachings, and half the stated rules and consequences happened (in-universe at least) centuries after the Bible began to be written. It's a humongous BatmanGambit running on nobody being 100% in the know about what was and wasn't possible, with the only omnipotent being in existence (God Him-/Herself) being [[ItMakesSenseInContext stuck in a coma]].
55	--->'''Rufus:''' Christ's only real beef with mankind is the shit that gets carried out in His name. Wars, bigotry, televangelism. The big one, though, is the fractioning of all of the religions. He said mankind got it all wrong by taking a good idea and building a belief structure on it.
56	** The rite of purification to make holy water is a little more involved than making the sign of the cross over some water. Granted, Bethany has that whole [[spoiler:divine descendant thing going for her,]] but still.
57	** In the Bible, it's OK for the humans to hear God's voice, but no human can see God the Father's face and stay alive. In the film, it's inverted.
58	* AskAStupidQuestion: On the train, Bartleby tells Loki that Bethany has just told him about being on a mission to stop a pair of angels.
59	-->'''Loki:''' Do you think she means us? \
60	'''Bartleby:''' [[SarcasmMode No, two other fucking angels]]. Of course she means us!
61	* AssholeVictim: Definitely the executives of the corporation, except for one woman. The adulterer on the bus also seemed to be a {{jerkass}}.
62	* ATeamFiring: Jay empties a clip from an Uzi at full auto at a target. [[spoiler:Granted, Jay actually did hit the target, but exclusively the parts of Bartleby's body that were detrimental to Jay's plan and beneficial to Bartleby.]]
63	-->'''Jay:''' COUNT THE SHELLS, SUCK-A-DUCK!
64	* AwardBaitSong: "Still," written and performed by [[spoiler:[[Music/AlanisMorissette God]]]] herself.
65	* AxCrazy: Loki against the board of executives, [[CrossesTheLineTwice Crossing the Line Twice]]. Also, Bartleby when he goes off the deep end.
66	* BabiesEverAfter: At the end, God [[spoiler:conceives a child within Bethany in order to continue the Scion's line.]]
67	* BadassLongcoat: Seems to be standard attire for angels and demons, with [[DarkIsNotEvil angels]] (Metatron, Bartleby and Loki) getting black and white for [[LightIsNotGood Azrael]].
68	* BadassNormal: Silent Bob holds his own against demons, renegade angels and poopmonsters.
69	* BarbieDollAnatomy: When Metatron first appears to Bethany she thinks he is a rapist that broke into her apartment. He responds by dropping his trousers and showing her that angels have no genitals. Rickman even lampshades it, saying "he's as anatomically impaired as a Ken doll." Unfortunately, this bit was censored in many versions of the film, cutting out the part with Rickman in a flesh-colored codpiece. Some of Loki and Bartleby's dialogue, as well as the fact that Serendipity flashed Bethany to prove that she's a muse, imply that it holds true for all angels.
70	* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler:Serendipity pretty much relies on Azrael being arrogant enough to give Silent Bob [[OneFreeHit a free shot]]. It turns out she judged both Azrael and Cardinal Glick perfectly for it to work.]]
71	* BatterUp: When Metatron enters Bethany's house, she brandishes a baseball bat while telling him "Get the fuck out of here! Now!" to which Metatron asks "Or you'll do what, exactly? Hit me with that fish?" revealing that the baseball bat is now replaced with a fish, which Bethany drops.
72	* BerserkButton: Better not hit Jay if Silent Bob is around.
73	* BigBad: The fallen muse Azrael is the one guiding Bartleby and Loki to disprove the infallibility of God, which threatens to destroy all existence, so he can escape hell.
74	* BigDamnHeroes: Jay and Silent Bob of all people get one of these when they save Bethany from the triplets.
75	* BigGood: John Doe Jersey, it was told that after his Skeeball game, he likes to give the prize tickets to the local kids.
76	* BigGuyRodeo: Bethany rides on Bartleby's back during the train fight since she can't match his strength.
77	* BlackComedy:
78	** The boardroom scene, ''especially'' the ending.
79	--->'''Loki:''' [[DisproportionateRetribution You didn't say "God bless you" when I sneezed]]. ''[raises gun as woman cowers]''\
80	'''Bartleby:''' Loki!\
81	'''Loki:''' ''[hesitates and lowers gun]'' ....you're getting off light!
82	** After the angels' massacre at the cathedral, the huge ''Catholicism Wow!'' banner has been torn so that it reads ''Catholicism- Ow!''
83	** Also, Azrael's "holy/holey bartender" joke.
84	* BlingOfWar: Angels have shiny silver breastplates hidden under their street clothes.
85	* BoardToDeath: The board of the Mooby corporation is killed by Loki because he felt God would appreciate it. And if he didn't, no harm no foul thanks to their plan.
86	* BondVillainStupidity: Averted and lampshaded by Azrael.
87	-->'''Azrael:''' I've seen way too many Bond movies to know that you never reveal all the details of your plan, no matter how close you think you are to winning.
88	* BrickJoke:
89	** When Bethany takes Jay and Silent Bob to a diner to ask their help, Jay propositions her in response. Bethany turns him down, but Jay persists: "What if there's a bomb about to go off or something and we're all gonna die? Would you fuck me then?" Mostly to shut him up, she agrees. Flash forward all the way to the end of the movie, when Bartleby is close to un-making reality, and Jay drags Bethany behind some overturned equipment to make good on the deal.
90	** Early in the movie, Rufus rants about the Bible being edited to say that Jesus was white, when he was, in fact, black. Then much later in the movie, Rufus reveals that [[spoiler:Bethany is the great-great-great-etc.-grand niece of Jesus. Then, stoned out of his mind, Jay responds "Wait, does that make Bethany part black?"]] And again at the end of the credits in the DVD. [[spoiler:Jay: "So, Bethany... part black?"]]
91	* BrokenAngel: Bartleby and Loki are fallen angels looking to get back into heaven. [[spoiler:They eventually lose their wings to become humans, thus making them literally broken.]]
92	* BrownNote: The true voice of God, which explodes the head of any mortal which hears it. They went through five Adams before figuring that one out.
93	-->'''Metatron:''' Anyone who isn't dead or from another plane of existence would do well to cover their ears... right about now.
94	* BrownNoteBeing: God, whose true voice caused [[YourHeadASplode deaths]] near end of the movie.
95	* ButICantBePregnant: Bethany is infertile due to an infection from a botched abortion that damaged her uterus. [[spoiler: When God resurrects her by the end of the movie, She not only restores Bethany's fertility, but also leaves her [[MysticalPregnancy a little something extra]] to keep the bloodline going.]] She is, after all, the Last Scion.
96	* CallBack: "No harm; no foul." First used by Loki to justify going after sinners in an attempt to resume his job - either God will be happy that he's fulfilling his purpose again, or the indulgence from passing through the arch will absolve him if God isn't. Used in a much darker sense later by [[spoiler:Bartleby, who cites it as justification as to why he and Loki should kill the Last Scion and continue on their plan.]]
97	* TheCanKickedHim: A gang member is killed by the Golgothan in a public restroom.
98	* CannotTellFictionFromReality: Jay and Silent Bob left New Jersey to relocate to Shermer in Illinois, where Creator/JohnHughes' films are set, only to find out that the place doesn't exist.
99	* CastingGag: Creator/GeorgeCarlin (who had several stand-up routines about being raised Catholic and subsequently lapsing) as a Cardinal.
100	* CelestialBureaucracy: The whole premise revolves around a loophole in Catholic Dogma.
101	* ChekhovsGun:
102	** The inability of humans to withstand hearing God's voice is revealed early on in the plot. It turns out to be [[spoiler:how God dispatches Bartleby at the film's climax]].
103	** In the ending, [[spoiler:Cardinal Glick's blessed golf clubs are used against Azrael]].
104	--->[[spoiler:'''Serendipity:''' You hit a demon with an instrument of God, the pure side's always going to do the most damage.]]
105	* TheChessmaster: Metatron and Azrael essentially play a game of chess against each other. [[spoiler:Azrael loses and ends up dead well before his plan is stopped.]]
106	* ChristianityIsCatholic: Catholic law is the main reason why the universe is in peril.
107	* ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve: Cardinal Glick is "the kind of asshole who would bless his own clubs for a better golf game." [[spoiler:Azrael found that out [[HolyHandGrenade the hard way]].]]
108	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: God, played by Music/AlanisMorissette, is revealed to be a young and very quirky female.
109	* ClusterFBomb: Jay is a master of this specific art; one standout example is his Daffy-Duck-working-blue rant at the end, delivered in front of God Herself no less.
110	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When Serependity explains how [[spoiler:the cardinal's golf clubs]] were responsible for [[spoiler:killing Azrael]], Jay's response is, "Holy shit! Silent Bob's an instrument of God?!?"
111	* ContinuityNod:
112	** ''Film/{{Clerks}}'': In the end, Jay says they should go to the Quick Stop.
113	** ''Film/{{Mallrats}}'':
114	*** When talking to "Larry" and "Barry", Jay talks about trying to wreck the Truth or Date stage.
115	*** When Rufus wakes up on the train, he utters "Poopy trip!", the same thing Willam utters in his first scene, when Brodie and TS surprised him.
116	*** One of the news vans at the church has "KREL 6 News" on it; they were the station that broadcasted Truth or Date.
117	** ''Film/ChasingAmy'':
118	*** Jay & Silent Bob mention having tickets to Illinois in their pocket during their only scene in ''Chasing Amy''. In Dogma we find out their visit didn't go so well.
119	*** When Rufus explains who he is, Bethany and Silent Bob laugh while Jay stares, confused. As mentioned in ''Chasing Amy'', Silent Bob was raised Catholic and Jay wasn't.
120	* CorruptCorporateExecutive:
121	** The whole Mooby boardroom, minus the woman, are involved in various disturbing activities. Surprisingly, only a few are actually indicated to be corrupt in the actual corporate sense. The others are just perverts, pedophiles, or generally terrible people.
122	** While the CEO has done something so terrible, the audience never even learns what it was, all that is said:
123	--->'''Loki:''' You're his father, you sick ''fuck''!
124	* CorruptChurch: Cardinal Glick isn't seen doing much that is corrupt but is certainly more interested in branding the Catholic church in New Jersey to raise revenues and his own golf game than he is about the consequences of his actions. [[spoiler:His blessed golf clubs become important later.]]
125	* CosmicFlaw: Reality as we know it hinges on the principle that God is infallible. In short, you can't prove God wrong because doing so would end all of creation. This becomes a driving force in the plot when fallen angels plan to use a loophole in Catholic dogma to overturn their banishment.
126	-->'''Metatron''': If they get in, they will have reversed God's decree. Now, listen closely, because this bit's very important. Existence, in all its form and splendor, functions solely on one principle: God is infallible. To prove Him wrong would undo reality and everything that is. Up would become down, black would become white, existence would become nothingness. In essence, if they're allowed to enter that church, they'll unmake the world.
127	%%* CrapsackWorld: Quite a few of the characters believe this to be the case.
128	* CreatorCameo: Besides the obvious (Kevin Smith is once again Silent Bob), producer Scott Mosier is the adulterer on the bus.
129	* CreepyChild: The Stygian triplets, particularly the long haired one. All three of them are demons who work for Azrael by murdering people for air conditioning, beating old men into comas, and attempted assassination of [[spoiler:Bethany, the last Scion.]]
130	* CrisisOfFaith: One interpretation of Bethany's CulturallyReligious status. She goes to church and prays and otherwise mechanically goes through the motions of her faith without any actual faith behind it, with her jadedness helped not at all by her working in an abortion clinic. So naturally, she is rather surprised when an angel appears before her with a MissionFromGod [[spoiler:well, not quite.]]
131	* CrossoverCosmology: Loki is the name of the Norse god of mischief and muses come from Greek mythology.
132	* CrowdPanic: The driver and passengers flee the bus Loki and Bartleby are on after Loki shoots the adulterer. Later, the watching crowd at the church panics and bolts after Bartleby breaks Officer [=McGee=]'s neck.
133	* CulturallyReligious: At the beginning of the film, Bethany doesn't believe in God anymore and works at an abortion clinic but still goes to Mass on every Sunday. In a deleted scene she's the only one who pays attention to the clergy while everyone in Mass are either uninterested, indifferent, or apathetic (and apparently keep taking the clergy's parking space despite asking them politely to stop). This relates to Serendipity's problem with people treating religion as a burden.
134	* DeadpanSnarker: Pretty much the entire cast, but most notably the [[Creator/AlanRickman Metatron]] and [[Creator/JaneaneGarofalo Liz]]. Type-casting anyone?
135	* DealWithTheDevil: ConversedTrope – Serendipity tells Bethany someone did this to get the grosses up on ''Film/HomeAlone''.
136	* DeathGlare: Silent Bob deploys this frequently, usually on Jay. Given Jay's cluelessness, it has no effect on him most of the time.
137	* DeathTakesAHoliday:
138	** God frequently takes human form to play skeeball.
139	** Also, Bartleby says that no one has taken over Loki's job as Angel of Death. While this doesn't mean no one can die, it does mean God will no longer smite those who anger Him.
140	* DeusExMachina: When the heroes need a break, [[spoiler:God literally comes back, fixes everything and cleans up all of the messes.]]
141	* DictionaryOpening: The film opens with "Disclaimer: 1) a renunciation of any claim to or connection with; 2) disavowal; 3) a statement made to save one's own ass."
142	* DidntSeeThatComing: Among Azrael's shortcomings is that he never predicted that [[spoiler:Jay and Silent Bob would have stolen a golf club that was blessed by Glick, which would make it a perfect weapon to use against Azrael.]] The OhCrap face that he has [[spoiler:after Bob's blow with it blows a hole right through his chest]] shows that he still can't grasp it.
143	* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Jay and Bob make their entrance by beating up three ''demons'', for crying out loud. BadassNormal indeed.
144	* DimensionalCutter: The Stygian Triplets do this after Rufus arrives on Earth.
145	* DirtyCoward: Azrael is considered this for not taking part in the conflict between God and Lucifer because he was a Muse, despite other Muses fighting, causing him to be cast from Heaven along with the actual traitors. Even Jay is disgusted by the reveal.
146	* DissonantSerenity: Bartleby's response to Loki slaughtering the Mooby the Golden Calf executives is to sit in the corner and read a comic.
147	* DivineRaceLift: God as a woman, Jesus (and Rufus) being black. [[spoiler:Since it's God in disguise, that's pretty much adding more to the niceness.]]
148	* DopeSlap: Rufus and Serendipity both give Jay one for shooting Bartleby's wings off.
149	* DramaticIrony:
150	** The scene on the train where our heroes and the angels meet, yet don't realize who the other group is until well into the scene.
151	** Another example is the (presumably) Christian folk protesting pulling the plug on the John Doe [[spoiler:who turns out to be ''God'' ''Herself''. If only someone had told them that pulling that particular plug would save reality as we know it...]]
152	* DrivesLikeCrazy: Jay burns out the transmission on the heroes' car going around 100mph.
153	-->'''Bethany:''' What gear are you in?\
154	'''Jay:''' GEAR?!?!\
155	''[cut to hood open, smoke pouring out]''\
156	'''Jay:''' Well, what do I know about shifting?
157	* DumbassHasAPoint: It's Jay who recommends the idea of trying to get Glick to close the church. Even the Metatron is surprised. No one seems to notice that it's Silent Bob's idea. Since Jay and Silent Bob are along for the ride specifically as "prophets", this was probably intentional.
158	-->'''Metatron:''' Good lord, the little stoner has a point.
159	* DynamicEntry: [[spoiler:Jay and Silent Bob]] jump in out of nowhere during their BigDamnHeroes moment.
160	* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: The total cessation of existence that would occur if Bartelby and Loki complete their plan.
161	* EnfantTerrible: The Stygian Triplets. In the original script, Rufus explained that they're three teenagers who, while alive, beat a toddler to death. The actors who played them were only fifteen or sixteen at the time the film was made.
162	* EurekaMoment: While Silent Bob, Rufus and Serendipity tackle Bartleby, Jay drags Bethany away, wanting to have sex with her before all reality is undone. Bethany is disgusted at this and Jay complains that "either we can lay comatose like that 'John Doe Jersey' guy over there or we can get making with the ''love''." [[spoiler:Thanks to Jay, she realizes that 'John Doe Jersey' is God once he confirms that the nearby boardwalk has skeeball.]]
163	* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: In-universe example--Loki explains to a nun at the beginning that the Walrus and the Carpenter scene from ''[[Literature/AliceInWonderland Through the Looking Glass]]'' is a scathing attack on Christianity, which she finds so compelling that she abandons her faith. Subverted, though, when it turns out that Loki doesn't really believe his little explanation. [[ForTheEvulz He's just screwing with her for kicks]]. He also says it's a scathing attack on Buddhism and Hinduism, and by relation, the very concept of religion.
164	* EveryoneKnewAlready: Rufus knows a lot about the main characters due to being able to watch them from Heaven. One of the things he knows is that Jay masturbates more than anyone else on the planet ... which everyone knows, according to Jay.
165	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Implied by Azrael that Lucifer doesn't like the loophole plan, because it makes him look bad.
166	* ExpositionOfImmortality: Various conversations between characters evoke this. Bartleby and Loki idly discussing the tiring nature of raining fire and brimstone at Sodom and Gomorrah whilst purchasing handguns and their later argument about Bartleby reminding Loki of Lucifer.
167	* FacePalm: Bethany's reaction to Rufus trying and completely failing to terrify Cardinal Glick into acquiescing to his request to close the church.
168	* {{Fanservice}}: Serendipity has a very compelling striptease scene. Compelling in-universe, too, as she uses this to bilk all of the viewers to give her huge tips.
169	* FateWorseThanDeath: Bartleby and Loki were forced to stay on Earth (Wisconsin, to be more precise) until the Rapture--and then, they have to stay outside Heaven for all eternity. This was fully explained in a deleted scene where it was revealed that Hell was originally "just" the absence of God; because humans believe that God would never forgive them for their sins and (subconsciously) beg to be punished, Hell gradually transformed into a "suffering pit" where horrible things happen--things so horrible, even the fallen angels can't stand the howling of the damned.
170	-->'''Azrael:''' Human, have you ever been to Hell? I think not. I'd rather '''not exist''' than go back to that.
171	* FauxSymbolism: Invoked and PlayedForLaughs, the angels' see religious parallels throughout popular culture, but it's at least partially them just screwing with humanity. Take Loki's "interpretation" of "The Walrus and the Carpenter" from ''[[Literature/AlicesAdventuresInWonderland Through the Looking-Glass]]'':
172	-->'''Nun:''' Let me get this straight: you don't believe in God because of ''Alice in Wonderland''?\
173	'''Loki:''' No, "Through the Looking-Glass". That poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter," that's an indictment of organized religion. The walrus, with his girth and his good nature, he obviously represents either Buddha, or, or with his tusks, the Hindu elephant god, Lord Ganesha. That takes care of your Eastern religions. Now the carpenter, which is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ, who was raised a carpenter's son, he represents the Western religions. Now in the poem, what do they do? What do they do? They, they dupe all these oysters into following them and then proceed to shuck and devour the helpless creatures en masse. I don't know what that says to you, but to me it says that following these faiths based on mythological figures ensures the destruction of one's inner being. Organized religion destroys who we are by inhibiting our actions, by inhibiting our decisions out of, out of fear of some, some intangible parent figure who, who shakes a finger at us from thousands of years ago and says, and says, "Do it... do it and I'll fuckin' spank you."
174	* FlatEarthAtheist: Parodied.
175	-->'''Bartleby:''' Y'know, here's what I don't get about you. You know for a ''fact'' that there is a God. You've been in His presence, He's spoken to you ''personally''-- yet I just heard you claim to be an atheist.\
176	'''Loki:''' I just like to fuck with the clergy, man. I just love it, I love to keep those guys on their toes.
177	* FliesEqualsEvil: The buzzing of flies accompanies the EnfantTerrible Stygian Triplets wherever they go. Heck, even some of their movements are accompanied by buzzing fly sounds, as shown when one of them pokes Jay in the back after he proclaims the "holy bartender" a good joke.
178	%%* FlippingTheBird: The [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jaywalking]] bit of Loki's resignation as the Angel of Death.
179	* {{Foreshadowing}}: In the airport at the beginning of the film, Loki and Bartleby are introduced with their subtitled names on screen; later on, the demon Azrael gets the same intro. [[spoiler:The only other character who gets a subtitle intro is Bethany, who seems to be an ordinary human, but turns out to be the Last Scion; another supernatural being]].
180	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: While Loki and Bartleby are on the moving sidewalk in the airport, the nun from Loki's earlier conversation is apparently drunk and running away with a big mug of beer.
181	%%* GangstaStyle: One of the Stygian Triplets (the one with a [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver black shirt with red sleeves]] and a beanie) holds Azrael's [=MAC-11=] machine pistol sideways as Azrael explains half his plot to the heroes while holding them until Bartleby and Loki can cross the church's threshold, then get killed, and cause existence to be wiped.
182	* GenreSavvy: Azrael -- as a muse, he'd know his tropes. He turns out just smart enough to not tell the heroes his plan before it completes, but [[DownplayedTrope not quite savvy enough]] to realize that he shouldn't [[EvilGloating brag about this before killing them all]] or allow someone to take a [[HitMeDammit free swing at him]].
183	-->'''Serendipity:''' How? That's the only thing I couldn't figure out.\
184	'''Azrael:''' Oh no, I've seen way too many [[Film/JamesBond Bond movies]] to know that you never reveal all the details of your plan, no matter how close you may think you are to winning.
185	* TheGhost: Although mentioned several times, Lucifer is never seen onscreen (marking one of the few cases in religious fantasy that he doesn't show up to oppose God). Azrael tells the fallen angels that Lucifer is after them too, but since he and the Stygian Trio have apparently gone renegade (and want Hell destroyed with the rest of the universe), he likely was lying to spur them on.
186	* GoKartingWithBowser: Bethany and Bartleby have a heart to heart talk on religion, while Loki and Jay bond over smoking joints on the train; each unaware that the other is one of the people they're trying to track down.
187	* GodIsGood: God loves their creation and comes in to [[spoiler:save existence at the last second.]]
188	%%* {{God}}: Played by two people: an old man who loves to play Skee-Ball, and later by a woman ''who has no understanding of {{irony}}'', Music/AlanisMorissette.
189	* GodInHumanForm: Early on, Rufus and Metatron explain that God sometimes takes human form... to play ''skeeball''. [[spoiler:He's the old man the Triplets beat into a coma at the start of the film, and taking him off life support so he can regain his divinity is the crux of the climax.]]
190	* GodIsInept: PlayedWith. The plot is based on a contradiction between God's actual laws of Creation and what the Catholic Church say the laws are.
191	-->[[spoiler:'''Bethany:''' What the FUCK kind of deity gets kidnapped?!]]
192	* GodlySidestep: After the heroes save God, the day, and the universe, the main character asks to be told the meaning of life. But since God can't speak without somebody's head exploding, She simply giggles, honks Bethany's nose and runs away.
193	* GodsNeedPrayerBadly: While God, Angels, and Demons apparently exist independently of humans, they're definitely affected by the way humans believe in them.
194	* GoryDiscretionShot: When Loki slaughters the Mooby executives, there's a shot of some blood spatter on the door handle.
195	* GratuitousGerman: When Bob is throwing Loki from the train, he yells "I'll get you, Schüler[[note]]"student"[[/note]] Bob!".
196	* GreaterScopeVillain: Lucifer is busy ruling Hell during the events of the film, and is of course mentioned as having led a rebellion in Heaven; but he isn't behind this plot, as Bartleby and Loki's plan would wipe him out of existence too, so when Rufus brings him up Metatron dismisses him as a candidate. Azrael was actually the BigBad, and even after he's defeated Lucifer's still down there.
197	* GunsDoNotWorkThatWay: Loki's single-action Desert Eagle somehow manages to fire without having the hammer cocked. The behind-the-scenes reason for this is that the gun is a non-functioning prop, meaning the hammer ''cannot'' be cocked because the whole thing is one solid piece. Also, all the shooting happens offscreen, so it never has to actually work.
198	* HandCannon: Loki uses a nickel-plated Desert Eagle pistol for the first half of the film.
199	* HaveYouSeenMyGod: The main plot driver (aside from the [[IncrediblyLamePun cardinal's driver]]).
200	* HeelFaceDoorSlam: At the climax of the film, [[spoiler:Loki]] has a change of heart and tries to stop [[spoiler:Bartleby. Bartleby promptly and unrepentantly murders him. Before this, Bartleby lampshades Loki's change of heart by explaining since his wings were cut off and he became human, he now has a conscience.]]
201	* HeelRealization:
202	** Loki has this with the simultaneous realizations that [[spoiler:what they're trying to do would cause a RealityBreakingParadox if successful and Bartleby's acting like Lucifer did right before he rebelled against God. Bartleby responds by JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope and bullying Loki into staying the course.]]
203	** Bartleby breaks down in tears when he comes face to face with God for the first time in thousands of years, apologizing for what he's done and thanking God for [[spoiler:killing him, putting him out of his misery.]]
204	* HeroicBSOD: Bethany eventually cracks under the sheer burden she's been put under, though is persuaded to resume her mission.
205	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Invoked and lampshaded: "I'm Jay, and this is my hetero lifemate, Silent Bob." Bartleby and Loki would count, except that neither of them have dicks, making them ''a''sexual life partners.
206	* HolidayPardon: The plot revolves around a special absolution ceremony happening in a Catholic (at least [[ArtisticLicenseReligion the film's version of it]]) cathedral in Redbank, New Jersey. Two {{Fallen Angel}}s set off on a journey to exploit this because the ceremony would grant forgiveness to anyone for any sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven. However, the angels' potential absolution presents a big problem: God had specifically barred them from ever returning to Heaven, so their dogmatic absolution would disprove God's infallibility -- and bring an end to all existence. The protagonist is given the {{Call\|ToAdventure}} to prevent this from happening.
207	* HollywoodAtheist: Bethany, but she slowly regains her faith during the movie. Also Liz, her friend from the abortion clinic.
208	* HolyBurnsEvil: The triplets are killed when Bethany blesses the sink at the bar and their heads are dunked in, while Glick's blessed golf club [[spoiler:does in Azrael]].
209	* HolyWater: Bethany has the power to consecrate things, and during the fight with Azrael and his minions blesses some nearby sinks, causing them to give out holy water.
210	* HomoeroticSubtext: Bartleby and Loki; so very much subtext, which is mentioned and played with throughout the movie.
211	%%-->'''Bartleby:''' And quit leering at me. People are gonna think I just broke up with you.
212	* HourglassPlot: In the beginning, Loki is portrayed as the more ruthless and reckless, wanting to go on one more divinely righteous killing spree before re-entering heaven, while Bartleby is the one who feels compassion for the humans and is more reserved. However, halfway through Bartleby snaps and becomes an OmnicidalManiac bent on killing everyone, and it's Loki who is attempting to hold him back.
213	* HypercompetentSidekick: Silent Bob is highly capable and right most of the time in comparison to frontman Jay who makes a lot of big mistakes but still has the occasional insight.
214	* IAmSong: The end credits song "Still" by [[GodInHumanForm Alanis Morrisette]] is about God seeing Herself manifest in all human virtues and vices.
215	* IHaveNoSon: Bartleby mentions that one of the Mooby the Golden Calf executives disowned his son for being gay.
216	* IKnowMaddenKombat: The Hockey Demons - their style of attack appears more or less to be that of a hockey goon.
217	* IResembleThatRemark: When Loki accuses Bartleby of being anal-retentive (i.e, pedantic), Bartleby's response is "you can't be anal-retentive if you don't have an anus".
218	* IronicEcho: After SilentBob [[spoiler:offs Azrael with Cardinal Glick's stolen (blessed) driver]]:
219	-->'''Serendipity:''' He said it himself; ''[in Azrael's voice]'' "I'm a fucking demon."
220	* InsistentTerminology: Rufus corrects Jay's characterization of him as "undead" by saying "not the undead, the dead."
221	* InTheBack: The long-haired Stygian triplet kills a woman by stabbing her in the back with a hockey stick.
222	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Metatron. When he first talks to Bethany, he's [[{{Jerkass}} rather rude and snarky, and refuses to give her questions any straightforward answers]]. Later, though, it's revealed that he has nothing but sympathy for her.
223	* JerkassHasAPoint: Bartleby and Loki's quest is ultimately using a loophole to take advantage of the very same forgiveness and patience God already bestows openly on humans that is denied to angels. Bethany even commends the two on finding the work-around to spit in God's eye ... only to be forced to stop them since said loophole would end the universe.
224	** Although Cardinal Glick's "Catholicism WOW!" campaign is a cynical move to increase church attendance (and therefore revenue), his reasoning behind it is sound.
225	-->'''Glick:''' Christ didn't come here to give us the willies! He came to help us out!
226	* JesusTheEarlyYears: The Metatron told Jesus who He was at the age of 12; the gap is the result of one enormous HeroicBSOD as He tries to come to terms with that fact.
227	* JesusWasWayCool: Of all the divine figures who get messed with over the course of the story, Jesus is given the cleanest pass. None of the characters who actually ''knew'' Him refer to Him with anything other than respect. Even if He does owe Rufus twelve bucks.
228	** Cardinal Glick thinks that Jesus should be (re)branded this way with the "Buddy Christ" imagery. Which provides the image at the top of that trope's page.
229	* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Bartleby absolutely ''flips'' after he finds out about what will happen if his quest for absolution is complete.
230	-->'''Bartleby:''' The humans have besmirched everything bestowed on them. They were given Paradise, they threw it away. They were given this planet, they destroyed it. They were favored best among all His endeavors, and some of them don't even believe He ''exists''. And in spite of it all, He's shown them infinite fucking patience at every turn. What about us? I asked you, once, to lay down the sword because I felt ''sorry'' for them. What was the result? Our expulsion from Paradise. ''Where was His infinite fucking patience then? It's not right! It's not fair''! We've paid our debt! Don't you think it's time? Don't you think it's time we went home? And to do that, I think we have to dispatch our would-be dispatchers. (...) Don't let your sympathies get the best of you. They did me, once. Scion or not, she's still just a human, and by passing through that arch, our sins are forgiven. No harm, no foul.
231	* JustBetweenYouAndMe: {{Defied\|Trope}} and lampshaded, when the BigBad begins talking about his plan, he only reveals the details of what they already know about, he pointedly doesn't give them any hints about [[spoiler:what he did to incapacitate God]].
232	-->[[spoiler:'''Azrael:''']] Oh no. I've seen way too many Bond movies to know that you never reveal all the details of your plan, no matter how close you may think you are to winning.
233	* KickedOutOfHeaven: Rufus is frequently tossed out of Heaven for being loud and annoying. He's also allowed back in after he's had a chance to cool off. His aid to Bethany in the film allows him back in a little earlier than usual.
234	* KickTheDog: [[spoiler:Bartleby massacring dozens of innocents at the church to draw the police]], followed by telling Bethany that, unlike him, she doesn't know the man that abandoned her is perfectly happy without her--and by the way, he is. Plus, when he ran out of people to kill from the congregation, he started picking up random folk off the road and dropping them to their deaths.
235	* KingOfAllCosmos: God is best expressed as a wide-eyed, giggling, beautiful young woman, played by Music/AlanisMorissette. Alternately, as a cheerful, fat old man who likes playing skeeball.
236	%%* KnightTemplar: Bartleby and Loki's original plan, which has GoneHorriblyWrong.
237	%%* KubrickStare: This seems to be the default expression for the long-haired Stygian triplet.
238	%%* LargeHam:
239	%%** Glick, Azrael and special mention to Metatron, whose entrance is the very epitome of this trope, but the rest of Rickman's performance is surprisingly un-hamlike.
240	%%** Loki is an in-universe example during the Mooby boardroom, Bartleby tries to dial him back.
241	* LateToThePunchline: Jay's reaction to Azrael's "Holey Bartender" routine, a good minute or two after the fact (combined with DudeNotFunny looks from his companions, as said joke was a BondOneLiner towards an innocent victim).
242	* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple:
243	** Very clear between Bartleby and Loki in the boardroom scene, in which the former is visibly both annoyed and confounded by the latter's tendency to drop slightly ridiculous one-liners.
244	-->'''Loki''': All lines... are currently down.\
245	'''Bartleby''': Okay, I'm gonna have to--\
246	'''Loki''': Would you just knock it off!\
247	'''Bartleby''': Hey, you're doing it again, now stop--\
248	'''Loki''': Fuck!\
249	'''Bartleby''': --what did we talk about?
250	** There is a bizarre subtext between God and Metatron that implies this, despite Her being TheVoiceless. Particularly the look that crosses God's face when Metatron complains about Her voice causing him to be covered in LudicrousGibs ''again'', making him spit-polish it off with Her dress for a moment, before realising what he's done.
251	* LiteralMinded: Silent Bob knocking out the Golgothan with a spray. "Knocks strong odors out!" Could also be interpreted as ExactWords.
252	* LudicrousGibs: Turns out that hearing God's voice leaves very little of your cranium behind. Just ask what's left of [[spoiler:Bartleby]].
253	-->'''Jay:''' What the fuck happened to that guy's head?
254	* ManipulativeBastard: Azrael leaks hints to Bartleby to give him the inspiration he needs to seek the indulgence. He also aids the two of them along the way. [[spoiler:He does this without telling them that this will end existence if they succeed.]]
255	* MarijuanaIsLSD: After being teleported from the woods to a ritzy hotel, Jay tells Silent Bob that the weed has kicked in. Strangely enough, this trope is also subverted from an earlier scene where Loki gets high with Jay and Silent Bob but he exhibits normal symptoms, that being confusion and slow thinking.
256	* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Bartleby says all Loki did at Sodom and Gomorrah was light a few fires. Loki's defense of his work at the famous disaster is decidedly more supernatural in response.
257	-->'''Loki:''' I rained down sulfur, man. There's a subtle difference.
258	* TheMeaningOfLife: Bethany asks the question when she meets God at the end. God responds by tweaking her nose. This can be interpreted as either a polite snub or an answer to the effect that the point of life is to be silly and enjoy yourself. Bear in mind that God's voice would cause any mortal's head to explode, so there's a limited range of responses in this case.
259	* MissedHimByThatMuch: When her car breaks down, Bethany unsuccessfuly tries to flag to flag down a passing bus, which just happens to have Bartleby and Loki on it.
260	* MistakenForGay: Bartleby and Loki, who appear to be a random gay couple who met in the military to Bethany when they first run into each other.
261	* MolotovCocktail: Serendipity starts to make one when they are being attacked by the Golgothan.
262	* MustMakeAmends: [[spoiler:Loki leading to his RedemptionEqualsDeath moment.]]
263	* NailedToTheWagon: As a consequence of Loki mouthing off to God when the former was blind stinking drunk, angels are not allowed to drink alcohol (even if in exile, like Loki and Bartleby). Metatron [[ExactWords gets around it by spitting it out after tasting it]], and Bartleby fakes drinking it when with Bethany on the train. The rule seems to apply to ''any'' substances that impair judgment; watch Loki closely during the scene where he shares a joint with Jay and Silent Bob, and it's clear that he isn't actually smoking it ''at all'', simply making a show of doing so by copying Jay's actions.
264	* NakedOnArrival: Rufus' entrance based on Jay's jab of "[[TemptingFate guys like us just don't fall out of the fucking sky, you know.]]"
265	-->'''Jay:''' ''[to the sky]'' Beautiful, naked, big-titted women just don't fall out of the sky, you know! ''[beat]'' ''[ShrugTake]''
266	* NakedPeopleAreFunny: According to Metatron, Heaven gets a good laugh out of how humans look during intercourse.
267	* NayTheist: Bethany, who by now has seen the Metatron and thus is pretty sure God exists:
268	-->'''Bethany:''' When some quiet little infection destroyed my uterus - where was God? When my husband decided he couldn't be with a wife that couldn't bear his children - where was God? ... To Hell with Him.
269	* NeckSnap: The unlucky security guard who gets his head torqued 180 degrees by Bartleby. With one hand.
270	* NeutralityBacklash: Azrael stayed neutral during the war in Heaven, but was lumped in along Lucifer's side afterwards.
271	* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
272	** Bethany has a drunken conversation with a stranger on a train, [[spoiler:via which said stranger, Bartleby, learns that she is the Last Scion and is on a mission to stop him from completing his quest- potentially by killing him. The revelation that Bethany has been set to oppose him pushes Bartleby over the edge, and he eventually stages a violent rampage.]]
273	** When Jay [[spoiler:shoots off Bartleby's wings; by destroying them, he had become human, and by crossing the arch as a human, he can be absolved from his sins, thereby bypassing God's judgment. He doesn't get to actually do it, though.]]
274	* NoBiologicalSex: God. Most characters say "He" (including Bartleby and Loki's JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope argument), but Serendipity insists on "She", and Bethany follows suit. [[spoiler:At the climax, God chooses to look like Alanis Morissette.]] Also applies to all divine beings, as Metatron explictly shows with BarbieDollAnatomy (Bartleby, Loki, and Serendipity all imply that they too qualify).
275	* NoDeadBodyPoops: The aversion of this trope is the reason why the Golgothan exists, as he's made up of the accumulated excrement of any criminal who was crucified on Golgotha[[note]]the rock that The Crucifixion took place on[[/note]].
276	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: The Stygian Triplets are introduced ambushing and beating an old man with their hockey sticks.
277	* NotMeThisTime: While Lucifer himself doesn't make an appearance, he's ruled out as a suspect for God's disappearance. The reason is twofold; if it ''had'' been Lucifer, he'd be making his move to try and conquer Heaven, and he stands to be erased from existence along with everything else should Bartleby and Loki succeed.
278	-->'''Rufus''': Could it be Lucifer?
279	-->'''Metatron''': No, not Lucifer. If he was, he'd have made his move by now to conquer Heaven, and I know he's not responsible for Bartleby and Loki because he'd have just as much to lose from their return as anybody.
280	* NoMoreForMe: Toyed with. The characters, including Jay and Silent Bob get teleported by an angel from the middle of the woods to a fancy restaurant. Jay looks at the joint he had been smoking and says, "Damn, I think this shit just kicked in!" and continues puffing away.
281	* NonSequiturThud: Jay's rather disturbing line when he wakes up on the train. This is the drug-induced version of the trope.
282	-->'''Jay:''' I swear I didn't come on you, Pete...
283	* NoodleIncident: Whatever deeds the CEO of the corporation did; Bartleby claims "[[TakeOurWordForIt I cannot even mention them aloud]]".
284	-->'''Loki:''' You're his ''father'', you sick fuck!
285	* NotAfraidOfHell: Azrael inverts this trope--he is ''very'' afraid of Hell, despite being a demon, and blames humans [[HumansAreFlawed for making it that way]] with their demands to be punished for sin. In fact, he's so desperate to get away from it that he's willing to destroy ''all of existence'':
286	--> I've spent eons privy to the flames, inhaling the decay, hearing the wail of the damned! I know what effect such horrors have on the delicate psyche of an angelic being! [[CessationOfExistence I'd rather not exist than go back to that]]... and if everyone has to go down with me, [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum so be it]].
287	* NotSoDifferentRemark:
288	** Loki directly compares Bartleby to [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]] (alluded to via his former title the "Morning Star") when he starts ranting about how God treats angels.
289	-->"You sound like the Morning Star!"
290	** When Bethany begs Metatron to take her fate as [[spoiler:a descendent of Jesus]] away from her, Metatron replies that Jesus acted the same exact way when he told him his fate.
291	* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll: [[spoiler:Azrael's talk of being "a fucking demon" meant nothing when Silent Bob smashed his chest (literally) with a blessed golf club.]]
292	* TheNothingAfterDeath: Hell was cold and solitude before humanity started showing up, their collective corruption turning it into FireAndBrimstoneHell.
293	* OddballInTheSeries: The only movie in the Film/TheViewAskewniverse to not feature two men as protagonists (Dante and Randal in the ''Clerks'' trilogy, TS and Brodie in ''Mallrats'', Holden and Banky in ''Chasing Amy'' and Jay and Silent Bob in their own movies), featuring one woman instead: Bethany (while there is indeed a pair of male characters in Bartleby and Loki, they are antagonists).
294	* OfficeGolf: Cardinal Glick does this which foreshadows that he [[spoiler:blesses his golf clubs]].
295	* OhCrap:
296	** Azrael absolutely cannot believe that [[spoiler:Silent Bob was actually able to kill him when given a free shot.]]
297	** Loki has the biggest one in the movie when he realizes that [[spoiler:Bartleby hasn't just decided to say ScrewDestiny, but has actually become a FallenAngel and is planning to declare war on God.]]
298	** God himself does one when he is attacked on the boardwalk and finds himself face to face with the Stygian Triplets, who proceed to beat him into a coma.
299	%%* OminousPipeOrgan: As Bartley and Loki arrive at the church and Bartleby condemns the crowd.
300	* OmnicidalManiac:
301	** Azrael. He'd rather see all of existence snuffed out then have to return to Hell.
302	** Bartleby by the end. His original goal of returning home becomes secondary to making all of humanity suffer.
303	* OneFreeHit / OpenShirtTaunt: Azrael, spotting Serendipity signaling Silent Bob towards Glick's golf club, tears his shirt open and ''dares'' Bob to hit him, taunting him that he's "a fucking demon" and thus immune to mortal weapons. [[spoiler:But not ''blessed'' ones; as Serendipity correctly suspected, Glick is the kind of asshole who'd bless his own clubs in hopes of a better golf game, making them a HolyHandGrenade that caves Azrael's chest in [[MadeOfPlasticine like plasticine]].]]
304	* OurAngelsAreDifferent: They have no genitals, though they appear both male and female (they ''do'' seem to have nipples; Serendipity certainly wouldn't last long as an exotic dancer without them). They aren't allowed to drink alcohol or indulge in other mind-altering substances, and they can become human if they shed their wings.
305	%%* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: Pretty much the opening minute of the film is this as it's a dictionary definition of the word "disclaimer".
306	%%* OutsideTheBoxTactic: "Air freshener defeats Golgothan" fits the pattern quite nicely. It knocks out strong odors.
307	* OvertOperative: The Golgothan is supposed to be Hell's top assassin. Since he's a giant walking pile of excrement that inevitably carries a horrible smell wherever he goes, he's not exactly inconspicuous.
308	%%* PalsWithJesus:
309	%%** Rufus, in the most literal sense, as he was Jesus's 13th Apostle.
310	%%** All of the other deuteragonists to a lesser degree, due to Bethany's divine heritage.
311	* PassThePopcorn: When Loki talks a nun into becoming an Atheist (using an analysis of Alice in Wonderland, of all things) Bartleby watches with box of popcorn in hand, very obviously amused.
312	* PetTheDog:
313	** Metatron comforts Bethany when she breaks down over what's being asked of her and her relations, that Christ reacted the very same way when Metatron told him of His own destiny and that He'd one day have to die to save the world. Metatron then softly tells her that he's never told anyone, but even ''he'' questioned God's decision, feeling it wasn't fair to deliver this cruel news to a poor, scared child, and admitting that he regrets not being able to take away Christ's destiny and give him a normal life.
314	** Bartleby's sole non-{{jerkass}} moment in the film is stopping Loki from gunning down the woman in the boardroom whose only fault was not saying "God bless you" after Loki sneezed.
315	* PlaceWorseThanDeath: Loki and Bartleby were banished to the one place worse than Hell: Wisconsin.
316	* PhysicalGod: God shows up in person in a couple of different forms.
317	* PostKissCatatonia: In the middle of a rant over what's just happened, Jay receives a kiss on the cheek from [[spoiler:God]] and passes out.
318	* PreAsskickingOneLiner: Loki gives a ham fisted one before blowing away a lobby full of evil corporate executives.
319	-->'''Loki:''' I don't believe in voodoo! Voodoo...''(walks out chuckling, then returns with gun drawn)'' But I do believe in this.\
320	'''Bartleby:''' ''[incredulous while sitting outside the room]'' "I do believe in this"? What does that mean?
321	* ProductionForeshadowing: In his monologue about Creator/JohnHughes films, Jay feels that all the guys in them are whiny pussies, "Except for Creator/JuddNelson, he was fuckin' harsh". Guess who appeared in Creator/KevinSmith's next film, ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack''?
322	* PsychopathicManchild: [[spoiler:Azrael]], whose plan is one big SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum because of a "disagreement" with God. Serendipity even calls him a child.
323	-->'''Azrael:''' I'd rather not exist than go back to that. And if I have to drag everyone else down with me, SO BE IT!\
324	'''Serendipity:''' Still thinking only about yourself, you ''fucking'' child!
325	* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Bartleby does this during his dressing down of the Mooby director's board.
326	-->'''Bartleby:''' ...flew to Thailand on the company account to have sex with an eleven. Year. Old. BOY!
327	* PuzzlingPlatypus: The opening disclaimer tries establishing that {{God}} has a sense of humor by citing the existence of the platypus. They then go on to place a disclaimer that they in no way possess any ill-intentions or harsh opinions towards platypuses ([[BackhandedApology even though they call them "stupid creatures" in the apology]]) and platypus enthusiasts.
328	%%* QuitYourWhining: When Bethany gives her story (Barren, husband left her, etc.) Metatron is less than impressed.
329	* RageAgainstTheHeavens:
330	** Bartleby finally loses it close to the end.
331	--->'''Bartleby:''' The humans have besmirched everything bestowed on them. They were given Paradise, they threw it away. They were given this planet, they destroyed it. They were favored best among all His endeavors, and some of them don't even believe He exists. And in spite of it all, He's shown them infinite fucking patience at every turn. What about us? I asked you, once, to lay down the sword because I felt sorry for them. What was the result? Our expulsion from Paradise. Where was His infinite fucking patience then? It's not right! It's not fair! We've paid our debt! Don't you think it's time? Don't you think it's time we went home?
332	** Bethany has a much quieter and more subdued one that borders on TearJerker territory:
333	--->'''Bethany:''' When some quiet little infection destroyed my uterus - where was God? When my husband decided he couldn't be with a wife that couldn't bear his children – where was God? ... To Hell with Him.
334	* RealityBreakingParadox: [[spoiler:Azrael's]] whole plan hinges on this occurring if Loki and Bartleby manage to receive plenary indulgence (which would, in theory, prove God wrong; since one of the underpinnings of reality is that God is supposed to be infallible, reality would collapse).
335	* RealityIsUnrealistic: InUniverse - Jay is disappointed that the town of Shermer, Illinois only exists in John Hughes movies.
336	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
337	-->'''Serendipity:''' [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] was an artist. But that didn't stop him from joining the service in time of war. And that's why he's The King, and you're a schmuck.
338	* RedemptionEqualsDeath:
339	** [[spoiler:Loki]] finally stands up to [[spoiler:Bartleby]] and gets stabbed for his trouble.
340	** Hinted at for [[spoiler:Bartleby, who breaks down in tears and tells God he's sorry before he dies.]]
341	* RedOniBlueOni: Well, that's a bit of a stretch using the term, but while Loki starts off as Red and Bartleby as Blue, their roles end up being reversed once they realize the implications of their quest.
342	* RefusalOfTheCall: Bethany initially refuses to do what the Metatron asks of her, but TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive and attacks her with demonic hockey players. Thankfully [[NameAndName Jay and Silent Bob]] act as the BigDamnHeroes.
343	* ResurrectionTeleportation: Because God was in a human body, she was able to [[spoiler: be knocked into a coma]]. Because she was [[spoiler: in a coma]], she had to be killed to return to Heaven and come back to Earth to stop Bartleby and Loki.
344	* RetroactiveWish: Jay gets a little too hopeful when Rufus falls from the sky after saying that men don't just fall from the sky.
345	-->'''Jay:''' Beautiful, naked, big titted women don't just fall outta the sky, y'know!
346	* RuleOfSymbolism:
347	** Mooby's mascot is a mix between the Golden Calf and Mickey Mouse.
348	** The hoodies the angels wear under their suit jackets represent their halos.
349	* RunningGag: Metatron getting his suit ruined.
350	* SanitySlippage: For most of the movie, Bartleby is Loki's reasonable, levelheaded straight man, often shaking his head in exasperation at his more impulsive and violent partner's detrimental antics. Once Bartleby snaps, his change in attitude terrifies Loki into quiet submission.
351	* ScreamingWarrior: Jay enters a fight with his usual subtlety.
352	-->'''Jay:''' SNOOTCH TO THE MOTHERFUCKIN' NOOOOOOOTCH!
353	* SelfInflictedHell: A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9qAqwIW704 deleted scene]] had Azrael describe that Hell was originally just [[TheNothingAfterDeath "Nothingness"]], with its inhabitants completely removed from God's gaze – "punishment enough" for anyone who'd actually been in His presence. Humans made it ''worse'' by believing that they ''deserved to be punished'' for the smallest sins, which then turned Hell into [[FireAndBrimstoneHell an infernal suffering pit filled with the screams of the damned]].
354	-->'''Azrael:''' I'd rather not exist than go back to ''that''.
355	* ShoutOut:
356	** The common View Askewniverse shout outs to John Hughes films, here made simple and explicit by just talking about a Creator/JohnHughes film.
357	** The origins of the Mooby franchise, as related by Loki, include allusions to WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse (the bi-coastal theme parks), UsefulNotes/McDonalds (the fast food restaurants), Franchise/BarneyAndFriends (created by a school teacher) and various doll lines for little girls like {{Franchise/Barbie}} and Franchise/MyLittlePony (whose creators are mostly known only to fans of the respective franchises).
358	** A fairly obscure one: The Golgothan's first line -- "Not born, ''shit'' into existence." -- is taken verbatim from Creator/GrantMorrison's ''Comicbook/ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth''. It pertains to a very disgusting-looking Clayface in that, if you're wondering. The next line -- "No man of woman born" -- is an odd shout out to ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''.
359	** Silent Bob throws the angels off the train and explains his actions to a concerned man who witnessed the event.
360	--->'''Silent Bob:''' ''(points)'' [[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade No ticket.]]
361	** Bartleby gives a shout out to ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk before he kills a police officer.
362	--->'''Bartleby:''' Mister [=McGee=], don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
363	** Immediately after Rufus falls to Earth, Jay speaks up standing over the body.
364	--->'''Jay:''' You think someone threw him out of a plane with a message written on him like in ''Film/ConAir''? Did you ever see that flick?
365	** After God revives Bethany at the end:
366	--->'''Metatron:''' [[Series/TheSixMillionDollarMan She can rebuild you. She has the technology. She can make you better... stronger... faster.]]
367	** A poster for ''[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Darkstalkers 3]]'' can be seen.
368	* ShownTheirWork: That throwaway line about the five Adams is a legitimate piece of Kabbalistic lore.
369	** Some translations of the Bible actually ''do'' mention [[spoiler:Jesus having siblings]]. The debates over what those lines actually ''mean'' are ''legendary''.
370	* ShutUpKiss: [[spoiler:God]] gives Jay one on his cheek to calm him down after he gets fed up with the proceedings and goes ballistic.
371	* SiblingRivalry: Azrael and Serendipity, technically. Serendipity berates him for refusing to pick a side in the war between God and Lucifer, believes Azrael deserved his banishment to Hell, and hates his "life isn't fair" speech.
372	* TheSilentBob: The TropeNamer shows up once again, as to be expected. [[spoiler:God]] is also an example, as any mortal who hears [[spoiler:God's]] voice dies on the spot.
373	%%* SmiteMeOMightySmiter:
374	%%** Bethany, when she finds out [[spoiler:she's a descendant of Jesus.]]
375	%%** The Metatron mentioned [[SoWasX Jesus himself did the same]] at age 12 when He learned He was the son of God.
376	* SmugSnake:
377	** Azrael is completely convinced of his invincibility.
378	** Glick is very dismissive of the heroes when they plead to interfere in the villain's plan and is more concerned with his golf game.
379	* SoWasX: Metatron tells Bethany she doesn't have to be perfect to perform her quest. The same went for Noah.
380	* SophisticatedAsHell: Jay, discussing women's rights.
381	-->'''Jay:''' What a woman does with her body is her own fuckin' business!
382	* SoundtrackDissonance: The cheery "Mooby the Golden Calf" theme plays while Loki slaughters the executives.
383	%%* SpitTake: The woman on the elevator has this reaction to the Loki admitting out loud that he's ready to start killing people.
384	* StatingTheSimpleSolution: When brainstorming on how to stop Loki's plan, Silent Bob's (as relayed by Jay) is to just convince Cardinal Glick to not go through the ceremony that would grant plenary indulgence to whoever passes through the church doors. Metatron even notes that [[DumbassHasAPoint "the little stoner's got a point"]] and they go with the plan. It doesn't work, but it at least was sensible.
385	* StealthPun: The Stygian Triplets first appear on roller blades, carrying hockey sticks, in New Jersey. They're the New Jersey Devils.
386	* TheStoner: Jay and Silent Bob smoke during the movie and are implied to be stoned on several occasions.
387	* StoppedReadingTooSoon: Loki demonstrates his impatience when Bartleby is introducing his plan.
388	-->'''Loki:''' "Cardinal Glick cuts ribbon on Catholicism, Wow! campaign." And?\
389	'''Bartleby:''' ''[sighing]'' You have to keep reading.
390	* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum:
391	** [[spoiler:Azrael]] is willing to condemn the entire universe to non-existence in order to escape Hell. Serendipity lampshades that this is incredibly selfish and childish of him.
392	** [[spoiler:Bartleby]] decides to declare war on God in hopes of ensuring his return to Heaven.
393	* SuicideByCop: [[spoiler:Bartleby's plan once he passes through the arches, since actual suicide is a sin and he knows he has to die with a pure soul.]]
394	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: In-universe. Bethany is not the direct descendant of Jesus, but one of his siblings, because, as she is asked, what's more unlikely? That there is a God and a virgin birth? Or that a married couple never slept together and had a kid themselves?
395	* SymbolicBaptism: Bethany, upon learning [[spoiler:that she is the descendant of Jesus Christ,]] takes off in a blind panic, falling into a creek and flailing helplessly in the water as she [[SmiteMeOhMightySmiter screams impotently at the heavens for putting this burden on her]]. Cue the Metatron to talk her through it.
396	* TakeThat:
397	** Serendipity the Muse is adamant that she had nothing to do with ''Film/HomeAlone''. She claims that someone involved with that film made a DealWithTheDevil in order to get the grosses up (and who wrote it? Creator/JohnHughes again!).
398	** Wisconsin: Worse than Hell. Metatron, at film's climax, asks Bartleby if it was really ''that bad''.
399	** In a deleted scene, Bartleby asks Azrael how bad Hell is. Azrael answers "They have been showing ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'' continuously for five years." Kevin Smith sure has it in for Creator/ChrisColumbus.
400	* TemptingFate: Officer [=McGee=] when he tries to stand up to Bartleby.
401	-->'''Bartleby:''' Mr. [=McGee=], don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.\
402	'''[=McGee=]:''' Is that so?\
403	'''Bartleby:''' ''[grabs [=McGee=]'s forehead and performs a one-handed NeckSnap]''
404	* ThatWasNotADream: Bethany wakes up as if from a dream after her first conversation with the Metatron in the Mexican restaurant... then finds the maracas the Metatron had under her pillow.
405	* ThisIsNotADrill: During the climax, among other scenes of panic, we get this announcement:
406	-->This is not a drill. This ''is'' actually the Apocalypse. Please exit the hospital in an orderly fashion!
407	* ThoseTwoGuys: Jay and Silent Bob in spite of their conflicting personalities are still peas in a pod and chum about throughout the movie.
408	* ThrivingExCrush: Bethany's husband left her after finding out she'd lost her ability to have children. Afterwards he got remarried and had children with his second wife. Later, the angel Bartleby [[KickTheDog tells her]] that her ex husband is perfectly happy without her.
409	* ToxicFriendInfluence: At first Loki is looking forward to killing with Bartleby along for the ride. Bartleby eventually turns the tables and drags Loki toward the dark side.
410	* TranslatorBuddy:
411	** The Metatron translates for God since mortal beings can't withstand the power of God's voice.
412	** Jay will often speak for the mostly silent Silent Bob.
413	* UncomfortableElevatorMoment: Loki is pretty cavalier about revealing his plans in public.
414	-->'''Loki:''' Last four days on Earth? Mmm! If I had a dick, I'd go get laid. We can do the next best thing.\
415	'''Bartleby:''' What's that?\
416	'''Loki:''' Let's kill people.\
417	''[cue SpitTake from the lady in between them]''\
418	'''Loki:''' No, not ''you''.
419	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: The clerk in a gun shop is utterly unfazed at Loki and Bartleby arguing about who had the toughest job when destroying Sodom and Gommorah.
420	* VisualPun: Since he’s constructed from the human excrement from Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified, the Golgothan is the closest anyone can get to “holy shit”.
421	* VitriolicBestBuds:
422	** Bartleby and Loki constantly bicker like an old married couple. Makes sense considering the millennia they spend together.
423	** Jay and Silent Bob are as vitriolic as they can get when one doesn't say anything.
424	* TheVoiceless: Silent Bob (subverted, of course) and God (who speaks through the Metatron because her own voice is fatal to humans).
425	* WalkingSpoiler: Just the mere mention of [[spoiler:Alanis Morisette being God in the movie can give away that God does something crucial to the plot.]]
426	* WalkOnWater: When Bethany has a breakdown at the idea of [[spoiler:being a blood relative of Jesus himself]], Metatron walks across the water of a lake to sit beside her and give what comfort he can.
427	* WeCanRebuildHim: the speech was paraphrased to the context by The Metatron as God resurrects Bethany.
428	* WhyWeCantHaveNiceThings: The Metatron laments how Bartlby and Loki's antics ruined things for everyone else because after that, God forbade angels from imbibing alcohol (they spit it back out as soon as they take a sip).
429	* WingedHumanoid: The angels have the traditional white, feathered wings... which they have to rip off in order to become human.
430	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler:Azrael]], who would rather not exist (and take the universe down with him) than stay in Hell any longer. Later, [[spoiler:Bartleby becomes one as well, because of the unfairness of God loving humans more than angels.]]
431	* YouCanLeaveYourHatOn: Serependity is working as a stripper, and her routine has her in a Catholic schoolgirl outfit (presumably for the irony). She uses her power of inspiration to make the audience give her more tips. (It's all she ''can'' do with it-- despite being a muse, she's not allowed to keep any of the ideas for herself.)
432	* YouNeedToGetLaid: People on both sides say this to each other. When Bartleby goes really nuts at the end, Loki notes that it's just '''eons''' of repression being purged.
433	-->'''Loki:''' If only they'd let us jerk off...
434	* YourHeadASplode: This occurs if a living human hears God's true voice. [[spoiler:Finally shown in the climax.]]
435	-->'''Metatron:''' Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the ''awesome'' power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode inside your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.

Context Film / Dogma