MOVIE REVIEW : ‘. . . And God Spoke’ Sends Up Film Biz

A hilarious “mockumentary” in the tradition of “This Is Spinal Tap,” “. . . And God Spoke” follows a pair of Hollywood schlockmeisters every trouble-plagued step of the way in their attempt to film the Bible, no less, on a low budget. Don’t they remember when John Huston tried to do it?

Anyway, Michael Riley’s director Clive Walton and Stephen Rappaport’s producer Marvin Handleman have managed, as a team, to turn out 11 pictures in 15 years, including such unforgettable gems as “Dial S for Sex” and “Nude Ninjas,” all of which are glimpsed in delicious clips. Somehow they’ve gotten a studio to give them enough money to spark their delusions of grandeur, and now, basking in the constant attention of a documentarian’s camera, they’ve become a pair of comically pretentious auteurs, explaining how they managed to insert social significance even into “Nude Ninjas.”

Not surprisingly, Brando turns down the role of God, but Clive and Marvin take every setback with the determined optimism of an Ed Wood. The only trouble is that there seems to be nothing but setbacks--a Noah’s Ark too wide to go through a sound stage door, an Eve who never let on about that tattoo until the cameras roll and, finally, in the name of product placement, a Moses who carries a six-pack of Coke along with the Ten Commandments.

A prize-winning UCLA cinema alumnus and a production assistant on several major studio films, Borman, making his feature debut, clearly knows the ins and outs of how movies are made, which makes all the more convincing his depiction of all the wrong ways of going about it. This aura of authenticity serves only to fuel the laughter: Satire this film may be, but its exaggerations, as outrageous as they may seem, are really not that far from reality. After all, the late screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky insisted that everything in “Network” was inspired by actual incidents; surely, everything that happens in “. . . And God Spoke” has occurred at one time or another.

In the large and marvelous cast up pops three good-humored guest stars: Lou Ferrigno as Cain (to skinny Andy Dick’s kvetching Abel), Eve Plumb as Mrs. Noah and, best of all, Soupy Sales as Moses. Sales’ moments on screen have got to be among the funniest of the year. As dumb and foolish as Clive and Marvin seem to be, Riley and Rappaport make you root for them as the odds keep escalating against their chances for success. Indeed, you start wondering just how Borman and his co-writers are going to wrap up “. . . And God Spoke,” only to discover they’ve saved their best joke for last.

* MPAA rating: R, for language. Times guidelines: It includes plenty of four-letter words but otherwise nothing else unsuitable for children.

’. . . And God Spoke’

Michael Riley: Clive Walton

Stephen Rappaport: Marvin Handleman

Lou Ferrigno: As himself

Eve Plumb: As herself

Soupy Sales: As himself

A Live Entertainment presentation of a Brookwood Entertainment production. Director Arthur Borman. Producers Mark Borman. Richard Raddon. Screenplay by Gregory S. Malins & Michael Curtis; from a story by Arthur Borman & Mark Borman. Cinematographer Lee Daniel. Editor Wendey Stanzler. Costumes Zelda Hacker. Music John Massari. Production designer Joseph B. Tintfass. Art director Jamie Foley. Running time: 1 hour, 20 minutes.

* In limited release in Southern California.