[3.7/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] There’s plenty of sins in “Pray Anything”. It has such a loose tether to any semblance of reality that it may as well be an episode of Family Guy. Homer is a jerk and never really grows or learns anything. The premise itself is pretty dumb, and doesn’t manage to have much in the way of commentary or insight about the concept of prayer or religion more generally, like earlier, better episodes did.
But the biggest issue with it is that it’s just a deeply unfunny half hour of television. It’s not like there’s zero decent gags here. (I’m partial to wordplay like “He thinks he’s papal” and “Let there be light beer.”) But so much of the comedy here is downright dumb. Even minorly decent bits like a desperate Moe telling the sultry mascot revealed to be Gil to “put the head back on” completely crater when drawn out or overextended, like when Moe proposes marriage to Gil in a later scene. Carl worships an old hunting trophy and his only explanation is “I’m wasted.” It’s just lazy, totally unfunny humor across the board.
Some of the other crap might be tolerable if so many of the jokes didn’t make you roll your eyes or wince at the sheer badness of them. But this is a weak premise, wonky storyline, filled in with some of the most misaimed humor that’s not even offensive, just bad. Rough outing.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2022-01-25T02:05:21Z
[3.7/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] There’s plenty of sins in “Pray Anything”. It has such a loose tether to any semblance of reality that it may as well be an episode of Family Guy. Homer is a jerk and never really grows or learns anything. The premise itself is pretty dumb, and doesn’t manage to have much in the way of commentary or insight about the concept of prayer or religion more generally, like earlier, better episodes did.
But the biggest issue with it is that it’s just a deeply unfunny half hour of television. It’s not like there’s zero decent gags here. (I’m partial to wordplay like “He thinks he’s papal” and “Let there be light beer.”) But so much of the comedy here is downright dumb. Even minorly decent bits like a desperate Moe telling the sultry mascot revealed to be Gil to “put the head back on” completely crater when drawn out or overextended, like when Moe proposes marriage to Gil in a later scene. Carl worships an old hunting trophy and his only explanation is “I’m wasted.” It’s just lazy, totally unfunny humor across the board.
Some of the other crap might be tolerable if so many of the jokes didn’t make you roll your eyes or wince at the sheer badness of them. But this is a weak premise, wonky storyline, filled in with some of the most misaimed humor that’s not even offensive, just bad. Rough outing.