The Comedians of Comedy (2005)

That was an excellent one.

I wanted to but couldn't!

An Exercise In Nonsense

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Now granted, comedy is subjective and everyone has their own opinion of what is funny and what is not. Personally, I found this to be a terrifically funny and entertaining look at what life on the road is like for many modern-day comedians. Patton Oswalt has always been a favorite of mine, but I very much enjoy Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford and Zach Galifianikis as well. Maybe it's because I more closely identify with them and their "off-beat" personalities, this probably stems from the fact that I've been a proud "nerd" all my life. These are people who were brave enough to stand out by simply being themselves and not trying to fit into any category or alter their personalities in order to endear themselves to a wider audience. Brian and Patton are 40- year old comic book lovers, how could you not find that refreshing? Too many people take life much too seriously and spend most of it worrying about what everyone else thinks of them, these are INDIVIDUALS who could not care less about that. The comedy in this film is not always laugh-out-loud funny, but it is not forced. It's honest and unapologetic, which is what comedy is really all about.

I have recently become a huge fan of Patton Oswalt. I think he's the most deliciously original comedian to come along in ages. He is refreshing and fearless in his routines, which run the gamut of topics from how much Bush sucks to the sleazy exploits of 1970s producer Robert Evans. I'm a longtime fan of Maria Bamford and her wide-eyed innocent/schizophrenic routine. Whenever she effortlessly switches her naturally high-pitched voice to one that is clipped and throaty, I can't help but giggle. I liked Brian Posehn long before I even knew he was on "Just Shoot Me", and there is something so innately funny about his aging nerd persona. All three of these talented, unique comedians headline "The Comedians of Comedy", a Netflix documentary about their U.S. tour. They truly deserve to be stars, and this tour gave them the recognition they so richly deserve. I thought,no, I KNEW I'd like this movie...But I was wrong. Instead of the three comics each getting their own routine segments, "The Comedians of Comedy" is bogged down by meandering and dull documentary scenes that contain no humor, no insight, nothing of real interest. I think there is a total of 30 minutes of intermittent stand-up routines total in the 109 minute movie. What a rip-off! Come on, is anyone really interested in seeing our stars banter in their RV? Where's the humor in seeing Posehn in an arcade and a comic book shop? Does anyone find random diner scenes particularly funny? If this movie couldn't have shown our comics strutting their stuff, at least make it about what life is like on the road. It's not even about that. Worst of all, the comics never appear to be having real fun. Oswalt admits how bored he is doing a radio interview, Posehn sheepishly admits to how much he sucks at giving a tour of his home, and Bamford nervously improvises every time the camera is pointed at her, and her humor there is only sporadic.Sheesh, these guys deserve a chance to show the world their unconventional, amazingly crafted humor that is a refreshing change of pace from the brainless entertainment of mainstream comics like Dane Cook. Instead, we have to sit through their mundane, everyday routines on the road in a substandard bore of a movie whose quality could easily be surpassed by any student film. If you can locate any of Oswalt's, Posehn's, or Bamford's performances on DVD, by all means do. Their talent should be a joy to behold, not a chore like it is here.

I am a huge stand-up comedy buff and instantly recognized all 4 comedians involved when I saw the preview on the digital cable box. I knew that three out of the four comedians were hilarious and Maria is not. The problem is that she just has one voice and tries to rely on that to be funny. Sadly there is a lack of material or any real comic timing on her part. The other 3 never fail to deliver, especially my favorite out of the bunch Zach Galifianakis. The best part of the documentary is the on-stage stuff, which is what makes this movie as enjoyable as it is. The off-stage stuff is a mixed bag. Some of the scenes, like where the 3 male comedians are discussing puns using the word "bear" are extremely hysterical. Once again, Maria's scenes end up more disturbing than humorous. It ruins couple-of-comedians-hanging-out vibe that the rest of the off stage stuff is like. You end up feeling more concerned about her mental health than thinking she is funny. Also, there is a lot of time spent establishing that they are some very nerdy guys. Which doesn't end up that entertaining. If a the tour was a little bit longer (for some more material to be captured) and the editing a little bit better the movie could have easily made it to 9 out of 10. Be warned, the movie gets a bit odd and pervish at the end. The comedians appear to lose their minds, which must've involved some drug use that we never see. However, there is some of the crude material that is genuinely funny. It is what really makes Patton and Brian's political jokes work. In conclusion, the stand-up receives a 9 out of 10 and the off-stage gets 8 out of 10 and Maria subtracts some points away. If you are not a fan of crude material, you shouldn't watch this movie.

Not only did I just see this movie last week, but I went to see the Portland performance shown in the movie. The movie gives a great portion of these four hilarious comedians at their best. If it's playing in your area, you should really go and see it. It will not disappoint. It's high time that a movie that takes place in Oregon shows Oregon as a great state. It's all too often that it's seen as some backwoods hick state just because crystal meth has been a beaver state staple for so long. But, I digress. See the movie; it will make you laugh so hard that you will surely come up with some crass way of describing its high potency of hilarity. The stars of the movie will inspire you to do so.