A reader responds to my post:

Christ is not a name, it is a noun, a titlle [sic] denoting his status. In Greek Chirstos means annointed [sic]. So in saying THE Christ, the film sugests [sic] that Jesus is the one and true son of god. From the Gnostic perspective, a Christ is title denoting a state of being: i.e. it is our destiny to try and become a Christ. So is Jesus the Christ, or if you are Gnostic he his Jesus the First Christ (think along the lines of Budha [sic]).

While this may seem like a fair rebuke, it in nonetheless true that "Christ is an uncommon name" insofar as "President", "Fluffer", and "Holy Apostolic See" are uncommon names. Uncommon because they're titles. So goes the joke. It's funnier to say, "I'm going to the mall to see the Jesus get his ass whupped" than to say "I'm going to see the ritual reenactment of the brutal martyrdom of the Christ ". And though the movie was funny, it could have benefited from an additional joke.