God Said, Ha! (1998)

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Directed by Julia Sweeney.

Starring Julia Sweeney, Quentin Tarantino.

In this film of her one-woman show, former Saturday Night Live cast member Julia Sweeney recounts the worst year of her life. Something more than a stand-up routine, the comedienne performs on a stage set with only a couch, a chair, a table, and a lamp. With her run on Saturday Night Live and a marriage both behind her, she moved into the cozy house of her dreams in Los Angeles. But then, "God said 'HA!'". Her beloved brother Mike was diagnosed with lymph cancer, and he moved in with Sweeney so she could care for him. Their parents, worried, moved in as well, treating Julia like a teenager in her own house. Her house became crowded, and she slept on the couch in her backyard office. Then it really got personal; Julia was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Sweeney recounts her brother's struggles with chemotherapy, spinal taps, and a shunt in his forehead until Julia witnesses the performance of the Last Rites. She counterpoints the dark material with much humor, including an examination of her parents' many eccentricities. They force meatloaf upon her vegetarian diet, her mother communicates by stringing together several thoughts to make a single idea, and her father is addicted to National Public Radio and speaks of announcer Cokie Roberts as a life long friend. Julia Sweeney developed the material that would eventually become God Said, "Ha!" in comedy workshops in order to find the humor in her experience. It eventually became a 45 minute piece and then premiered in its final form in San Francisco in 1996. After an extended run, she moved the show to Los Angeles, and finally to Broadway. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

Re:Recasting smaller productions
by mercurial in Filmgaming

hasn't rated it.

"[quote user="Risselada"] Huh, I've never heard of Anatomy of Hell. The description doesn't sound like an endorsement, but I wonder what did you think of it? I would hardly say the The Seventh Seal is only two character for about half the film. Unless you are saying it's constantly switching between two different sets of characters. There's a pretty huge cast and most shots have several people in them including many huge crowd scenes. I would have actually asked about recasting the amazing Sleuth, but it looks like that's already happened. I also almost wanted to say that I just remembered that already WAS a Molly Shannon one woman show, but then I realized I got her mixed up with Julia Sweeney who did God Said, 'Ha!' [/quote] Hmmm, let's see. I did like it but remained significantly repulsed throughout the entire film. It was extremely different from anything I had seen before and certain scenes still resonate quite a bit (despite my trying to forget them). It did seem to rely a ... " [More]

Re:Recasting smaller productions
by Risselada in Filmgaming

hasn't rated it.

"[quote user="mercurial"]I thought of some, but most only count for about 90% of the film. There is Pi, which is mostly the main character throughout the film. Anatomy of Hell, a French film featuring only two actors fornicating for most of the film. The Dreamers, which is about 3 actors hauled up in an apartment doing all sorts of sordid things. The 24th Day which has two guys, one tied up, locked in an apartment. And I was thinking The Seventh Seal, but that is only two characters for about half of the film. As for a one man show, I would definitely love to see Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Molly Shannon, Peter O'Toole, and Maggie Smith. The only one man show I can actually recall is Paul Reubens doing Pee-Wee Herman at the Groundlings Theater (I think it was there) which is probably one of the funniest performances ever. I'd love to see him do something new.[/quote] Huh, I've never heard of Anatomy of Hell. The description doesn't sound like an endorsement, but I wonde ... " [More]

Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

is neutral about it.

It seemed a risky gamble to adapt Julia Sweeney's tragicomic one-woman show to a cinematic setting (and have Sweeney direct it as well), but it's one that pays off wonderfully. The film lets her choice words speak for themselves as it utilizes an interesting visual technique to prevent it from becoming too stagebound. Her tale of a rocky road to recovery for both her and her brother following their untimely cancer battles is one laden with sadness, but the inventive monologues have a deeper understanding of human fallibility and how humor can be used as a weapon during hard times. The film never feels depressing, or worse yet, like a futile exercise in self-important therapy. While never reaching the heights of, say, the best stage work of Richard Pryor or Lily Tomlin -- both of whom have a similar life-experience focus -- God Said Ha! is heartfelt and memorable and the best showcase of Sweeney's talents to date. The film wasn't much more successful than Sweeney's short-lived Broadway run, but has come to enjoy a following all its own. Incidentally, God was produced by good friend Quentin Tarantino, who urged Sweeney to create her own big-screen vehicle. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide

Tags: cancer , god , standupcomedy , familydynamics