THE NATURE OF EXISTENCE (2010) (***)

When so many movies are about nothing, TREKKIES director Roger Nygard makes a film about the biggest questions. Why are we here? Does God exist? What is our purpose in life? He travels the world and asks these questions of people of all walks of life. With a light, but respectful touch, he creates a charming film that answers all those questions and doesn't answer any of them at the same time.

He gives equal time for both the religious and scientific point of view and all that lies in between. Some of the big names interviewed include Indian holy man Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, renowned evolutionary biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins, Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik, 24th generation Taoist Master Zhang Chengda, co-discoverer of string theory Leonard Susskind, Mormon novelist Orson Scott Card, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK director Irvin Kershner, comedian Julia Sweeney and Carl Sagan's widow Ann Druyan.

While many of these "authorities" on the meaning of life say interesting and thought provoking things, it's some of the odd ball characters that stick out in my mind. I was completely captivated with the "trans-personal undoing agent" Aha. He looks like Harry Knowles from Ain't It Cool News shopped at the Psychic Eye Book Store. He talks like he's permanently high on helium. When a woman at one of his seminars asked how she can kind her purpose in life, he tells her that her purpose is the person next to her and that one must come to terms with the fact that once we are gone we will eventually be forgotten; seeking anything else is only seeking "fucking recognition."

Ron Adonis runs an unorthodox ministry. He's pro-wrestles for the Lord. In a match, a villain of the Ultimate Christian Wrestling league is about to put a whipping on an opponent when the lights go out and when they turn back on his challenger is now Jesus beginning beaten by Roman guards. The villain then gives his life over to Christ right there and then.

I loved the honest opinions of the Stonehenge Druids Rollo Maughfling and King Arthur Pendragon about masturbation. It's just practice for the real thing. Comedian Geoff Bolt says there are many instances in his life where things would have turned out a lot better if he would have just masturbated first. Of course there are others in the film that have a totally different point of view. This just underlines how varying religions can believe completely different things and yet have justifications for either side.

Brother Jed Smock brought back memories of my college days. I think every college campus in the U.S. has their very own confrontational evangelist. When Nygard pits the street preacher against the sarcastic Bolt comedy does ensue as the preacher gets slapped silly with religious dogma. Okay, Nygard takes sides sometimes.

And then there is the pizza parlor owner who doesn't have much time for religion. But if the aliens show up, he's outta here.

Nygard doesn't come to any definitive answers, because there are none. Depending on your point of view you will be agreeing with some of the interviewees and rolling your eyes at others. But the best part of the film is finding the person you agree with that you would never in a millions years think you might agree with on such matters. In this Nygard finds common bonds between different people. Now that's a pretty good purpose.