Ben Stein's Expelled did better than expected this weekend, earning over $3 million dollars in limited release <check out how little Where is Osama made by comparison>. I can report that the screening I attended Sunday afternoon contained a packed house in one of the largest theaters in Boise. Quirky, I believe, would be a good adjective to describe the documentary. Definitely interesting, challenging and not just a bit courageous, but surely quirky.

Mr. Stein runs around the world talking to scientists on both sides of "the wall" he labors to convince us exists. Basically his premise is that mainstream science worldwide will not allow anyone to jump out of lockstep with Darwinism. He interviews a number of people "expelled" for something as small as mentioning Intelligent Design exists as an alternative theory in the classroom <a professor> or refusing to show bias in an article written about ID <a journalist>.

For such serious and possibly boring material as you might guess a bunch of interviews with scientists would be, the movie whips along at a fast clip and is quite entertaining. Mr. Stein's monologues are often interlaced with over-the-top black and white footage, such as a gang of boys pushing around another for not fitting in, or a teacher showing how her class can play the silent game. Like I said...quirky.

The most disturbing part of the documentary comes when we journey to Germany to delve into the connections between Darwinist theory and Nazi policies. I've never heard anything like it, but in my opinion at least, Mr. Stein made a very good case for the logical extension of the theory of Natural Selection.

Overall, Expelled is a documentary worth seeing. But don't take my word for it: our local paper gave it a half-star this weekend, along with a sarcastic, spite-filled rant masquerading as a review. Could they be just a little more obvious? As a friend who went with me said -- even the latest blood and guts filled teenage sex romp gets one star... ;)