Did Johnny Utah really say this?

May 6, 2016 6:40 AM

IMDB, and 2,000 Google hits, claim that there's a scene from "Point Break" in which Keanu Reeves's character says, "Wars of religion always make me laugh because basically you're fighting over who has the best imaginary friend." I don't remember this but maybe it's in some director's cut??
posted by johngoren to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

I don't think it's in Point Break. Apparently it's attributed instead to comedian Richard Jeni:

I don't get that -- people going to war over religion. I don't know, I could see going to war over justice or democracy or even revenge. But if you're going to war over religion, now you're just killing people in an argument over who has the better imaginary friend.
posted by bluecore at 7:33 AM on May 6, 2016 [5 favorites]

try some google searches without quotes and using just the key words...
you will see this basic quote attributed to Yassir Arafat and Napoleon as well...
posted by calgirl at 9:49 AM on May 6, 2016

Yasser Arafat and Napoleon are both misattributions, AFAIK.
posted by bluecore at 10:03 AM on May 6, 2016

Here's the script which may deviate a bit from the film, so it's not definitive, but your line isn't in there, even though spot checking my favourite lines ("I... am... an... Eff...Bee... Eye... Agent!!") tested fine.
posted by furtive at 11:54 AM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

Anecdata: I've seen this movie many times and I don't remember that line being in there at all.
posted by hootenatty at 4:10 PM on May 6, 2016