Directors Judd Apatow, Larry Charles, and Kevin Smith deliver the laughs with breakthrough films that challenge the relationship between comedy and tragedy (Funny People), test the boundaries of good taste (Bruno), and in Smith’s case, introduced audiences to the ultimate slacker lifestyle (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back). One-man comedy shows with Will Ferrell and Dane Cook also add to the fun this month.
November 3 Comedy DVD Release: You’re Welcome America
You’re Welcome, America. A Final Night With George W. Bush (2009)
Will Ferrell’s one-man multi-media comedy show performed live at Broadway’s Cort Theater and later broadcast on HBO. It’s a mixture of political satire, standup comedy, dreamlike fantasy, and gratuitous nudity all delivered with Ferrell’s uncanny impression (perfected during his appearances on Saturday Night Live) of the former United States president. The performance includes brief appearances by Michael Delaney as Dr. Scott Blumeth, Pia Glenn as Condoleezza Rice, Adam Mucci as the Pilot, and Patrick Ferrell as Jerry the Secret Service Agent.
- Starring Will Ferrell
- Director: Marty Callner
- Writer: Will Ferrell
- Genre: Standup Comedy Performance
- Run Time: 115 minutes
- Rating: Not Rated (contains profanity, sexual references, and male nudity [photograph])
November 17 Comedy DVD Release: Bruno
Bruno (2009) Widescreen and Blu-ray
A gay Austrian fashion guru loses his television show in Europe and moves to Los Angeles to reinvent himself. In his quest for fame, he meets the already rich and famous, and the unknown and star-struck. As in his 2006 comedy, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Sacha Baron Cohen blends reality and fiction in a mockumentary where many of the participants are unaware that the joke’s on them.
- Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Clifford Banagale, Josh Meyers, with cameos by Bono, Chris Martin, Elton John, Slash, Snoop Dogg, Sting, Paula Abdul, Harrison Ford, Ron Paul
- Director: Larry Charles
- Writers: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer, Jeff Schaffer
- Genre: Comedy/Mockumentary
- Run Time: 82 minutes
- Rating: R (for pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and language)
November 17 Comedy DVD Release: Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection (2009) 3-Disc Set Widescreen
This collection includes three of Smith’s most popular comedies. Clerks (1994) follows a pair of slacker convenience store workers who deal with a multitude of problems while juggling their work responsibilities. In Chasing Amy (1997), two male comic book artists meet an interesting female comic book artist who, although a confirmed lesbian, manages to interfere with their life-long friendship. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) tells the story of two men out on a revenge mission from New Jersey to Hollywood in order to destroy a movie whose characters are based on them.
- Starring Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonhauer, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith (Clerks); Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Ethan Suplee, Scott Mosier, Jason Lee, Casey Affleck, Guinevere Turner, Matt Damon, Brian O’Halloran (Chasing Amy); Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck, Jeff Anderson, Brian O’Halloran, Shannon Elizabeth, Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter, Will Ferrell, Jason Lee, Judd Nelson, George Carlin, Carrie Fisher, Seann William Scott (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
- Director: Kevin Smith
- Writer: Kevin Smith
- Genre: Comedy
- Run Time: 309 minutes (combined total)
- Rating: R (strong graphic sex-related dialogue, crudeness, language, sexuality, and drug content)
- Additional Information: Also newly available on November 17: Clerks on Blu-ray and Chasing Amy on Blu-ray.
November 17 Comedy DVD Release: Dane Cook – ISolated INcident
Dane Cook ISolated INcident (2009)
With the success of Dane Cook’s other DVDs, The Lost Pilots and Tourgasm, the actor and standup comic created a new act for ISolated INcident. Performed live on stage before 400 audience members at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, California, Cook showcases his darker side in this hour-long performance.
- Starring Dane Cook
- Writer: Dane Cook
- Genre: Standup Comedy Performance
- Run Time: 55 minutes
- Rating: Not Rated
November 24 Comedy DVD Release: Funny People
Funny People (2009) 1-Disc Widescreen, 2-Disc Unrated Widescreen, and Unrated Blu-ray
A successful comedian learns that he suffers from a fatal blood disease. Acknowledging his lonely existence, he hires and befriends an aspiring comedian. His younger protégé then inspires him to reconnect to people in his life before it’s too late. Although touched by poignant moments, this film delivers the expected laughs from writer, producer, director Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin).
- Starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, Jonah Hill, Aubrey Plaza
- Director: Judd Apatow
- Writer: Judd Apatow
- Genre: Dramatic Comedy
- Run Time: 153 minutes (unrated version); 146 minutes (theatrical version)
- Rating: Not Rated (R-rated theatrical version contains language, crude sexual humor, and sexuality)
- Additional Information: The R-rated theatrical version is included on the 1-Disc Widescreen edition.
For more information about any of these comedy films, visit Internet Movie Database.
Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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