In fact, the core of the film focuses on a series of high-profile firings and refusal of tenure to those scientists and educators in the academic world who dared to consider the validity of I.D. And with the wry, comedic approach that Moore used in Sicko and Fahrenheit 911, Stein spans the globe and talks to scientists and philosophers on both sides of the heated debate, hoping to prove that many have been far too closed-minded in even presenting I.D. as a reputable option.
Initially, Stein seems to be rallying for open debate and discussion rather than bullying anyone who offers an alternate point of view, something that’s not always associated with those who embrace I.D. But a couple of times during the film, the method Stein uses to make his point doesn’t present him (or the argument) in the best light, especially when the film segues into an overly long section that shows Darwin's influence on the Nazi ideals, ultimately comparing Darwinists to communists.
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Those missteps aside, Stein does a respectable job of offering plenty of food for thought for later discussion in a relatively entertaining manner. Technically speaking, the camera work leaves a little to be desired during the early interviews, but as the film progresses, those issues seem to have been corrected. Stylistically, the integration of whimsical film footage to further illustrate his points ups the entertainment value in what could’ve been a pretty dry subject for the average joe. And if those who would normally write off something of this ilk as nothing more than conservative, right-wing rhetoric would be willing to put aside their notions, they may even be surprised by the provocative dialogue that’s been initiated in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.
CAUTIONS:
- Drugs/Alcohol: None, but some cigarette smoking shown.
- Language/Profanity: A couple of mild profanities.
- Sex/Nudity: None.
- Violence: There is some rather chilling Holocaust footage as piles of dead bodies are shown when Stein visits Nazi concentration camps.