Review: I saw this documentary in theaters and laughed through the entire thing. I won't lie though, I am a little more desensitized then most and have unfortunately recommended this film to people I clearly shouldn't have. So after upsetting a few friends, I am forced to tentatively recommend a film that got a lot of hype when it was first released, but has now slipped into the role of “hidden gem” of recent releases. I will admit, humor aside, this is merely an average documentary that relies exclusively on interviews, but even with little breathing room you are faced with countless (and I do mean countless) comedians telling a joke where the punchline is infinitely less important then the build up. What is so impressive about this documentary (besides the sheer raunchyness of the joke), is how many people Jillette and Provenza interviewed. For them, this started more as a side project and slowly over time become a potential documentary. How they managed to wittle down the interviews to a reasonable 90 minutes is beyond me. Of course their time and dedication shows the love these two comedians have for the craft. This is what makes the Aristocrats joke so important for most white collar comedians. Provenza once called it the jazz genre for comedians because it let them improv with other comedians, and with that in mind audiences seemingly view a jam session between some of the greats who establish their presence while new comers try to keep pace. As I said earlier, the technical side of this documentary isn't great, but in my opinion: “who cares!” Improv is meant to be imperfect, it's meant to hold a sort of chaos that features the talent rather than the routine. And seeing Bob Saget recite the joke completely off the cuff while trying to be dragged on stage for a show is one of the greatest comedic moments I've ever seen. But be prepared, nothing is off limits backstage of comedy and if most things are taboo for you, you are best to avoid this documentary. I was in a full theater, and found myself being the only one laughing at times. So remember that even if you do enjoy raunchy humor, you may find some things too obscene. But, if you just roll with it, you'll have the greatest laugh of your life. Review by Matthew Abshire Informative: 3- You will gain a little insight into the comedic world/mind, but for the most part all you will learn is how to tell a dirty joke. Entertainment: 5- An endless stream of comedic raunchiness, but certainly worth it if you can stomach it. Technical: 3- Nothing amazing, and it has its flaws, but nothing that limits the stories and characters. Overall: 3- I loved this documentary, but you could just as easily hate it.
The Aristocrats
Format: Theaters Year: 2005 Running Time: 89 Min Distributor: Mighty Cheese Productions and THINKfilm Producer: Penn Jillette Director: Paul Provenza Date Reviewed: 5-1-2007 Story: Comedy veterans and co-creators Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza capitalize on their insider status and invite over 100 of their closest friends--who happen to be some of the biggest names in entertainment, from George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg and Drew Carey to Gilbert Gottfried, Bob Saget, Paul Reiser and Sarah Silverman--to reminisce, analyze, deconstruct and deliver their own versions of the world's dirtiest joke, an old burlesque too extreme to be performed in public, called "The Aristocrats." (IMDB)