Actor/comedian Paul Provenza and magician/comedian Penn Jillette created this film as a tribute to one classic joke. “The Aristocrats” joke starts with a man coming into an agent’s office telling him that he has just seen/or is part of the most original act ever. The man goes on to describe a performance filled with utter debauchery. When the appalled agent asks what the act is called the man says — The Aristocrats!
The description of act is where a comic has the freedom to embellish as they see fit. The joke has served as a kind of rite of passage for all comedians. The point is to see how far one will take the act. What new taboos can be stepped over with each telling.
venza and Jillette interview dozens of comedians of varying ages about the joke. Some tell the history and others tell their own version of the perverted performance. The film is filled with a who’s who of funny men and women including Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria, Lewis Black, Drew Caret, George Carlin, Carrot Top, Billy Connolly, Andy Dick, Joe Franklin, Whoopi Goldberg, Gilbert Gottfried, Allan Havey, Eric Idle, Dom Irrera, Eddie Izzard, Richard Lewis, Bill Maher, Howie Mandel, Jackie Martling, Larry Miller, Martin Mull, Kevin Nealon, Gary Owens, Kevin Pollak, Paul Reiser, Andy Richter, Don Rickles, Chris Rock, Jeffrey Ross, Rita Rudner, Bob Sagat, Harry Shearer, Sarah Silverman, Dick & Tom Smothers, Jon Stewart, Rip Taylor, Dave Thomas, Steven Wright and Robin Williams. And some of the funnier performers are not listed because I don’t know their names.
Inherently, the joke is not funny. The punch line, which can also be the Sophisticates, is really anti-climactic. As one watches the film you find yourself laughing at the performers who have great timing or can find a way to throw in unexpected left turns.
Or in the case of Bob Sagat, who to me is just the corny, clean cut guy from FULL HOUSE and AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS, it’s amazing how raunchy he gets. Kevin Pollak is funny because he tells the joke in a perfect impersonation of Christopher Walken. Gilbert Gottfriend is funny because of the asides he throws in. Jason Alexander is funny because of his style. Andy Richter is funny because of the context he tells the joke in.
In the end, one learns more about how comedy works then about the joke. That’s good and bad. With the film mainly one person after another telling the same joke, the film gets redundant toward the end. If the joke isn’t funny at the start of the film, it really isn’t funny after hearing it told over and over again for an hour and a half. The idea of the film is interesting, but not really compelling. I was unable to watch the film straight through, watching it in parts. For fans of comedy, the movie will be a history lesson into a minor note of backstage history as well as a good examination of what makes things funny for you. As a movie, the lack of narrative really makes the time lag. Like the joke, the film runs out of steam by the conclusion.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
