"Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World"--Funny idea, or not really?

[wtmusic]

Right at the top I'll admit I haven't seen the movie (seeing the trailer, I think, is enough). Premise: The US government gives Albert Brooks the task of finding out what makes Muslims laugh, in order that the information may be used to improve America's standing among them.

The movie apparently tries to dull the initial shock of the concept through introspection: "We're not making fun of Muslims, we're laughing at ourselves". IMO it comes up short for several reasons:

First, it perpetuates Arab "terrorist" stereotypes (a Middle Eastern-looking man claims, "I am funny! I was the funniest one in my explosives class!"). Ha ha. Ha.

Second, it trivializes the ongoing persecution of Muslims by the Western world. Shall we have a sequel where Nazis attempt to find out what makes Jews laugh, with humbling and heartwarming results? An extreme comparison, but not too far off the mark.

Third, it was filmed in India, a country with only a 15% Muslim population (the extras were likely dark-skinned Hindus, maybe no one would know the difference?):eyes:. It was likely too dangerous to film it in Pakistan, or Indonesia, or Saudi Arabia, or Libya. Why was it too dangerous? Because Muslims don't have a sense of humor?

Someone please tell me the film is hilarious and I'm missing out on something. I'd appreciate some input from Muslim DUers as whether these sentiments are out to lunch.

[joeybee12]

1. The trailer looks really bad...Albert Brooks is a funny guy who can't

make funny movies.

[Lerkfish]

4. oh, to fair I think he is uneven: Defending your life is one of the best

movies ever made, and the movie where he gets in an RV with his wife to emulate easy rider (forget the name of the movie) is also comedy gold.

however, the scout, the remake of the inlaws, and few others are horrible and nonfunny.

in that way he's like Mel Brooks: when he's good, he's brilliant. when he stinks, boy does he stink.

[vi5]

6. Lost In America is the RV one.

[Lerkfish]

8. thanks! I couldn't come up with it.

my favorite scene from that was when he goes down to the casino in his pajamas and his wife has gambled away the nest egg. He's lecturing her, and she keeps saying "22, 22".
He is so upset he says from hereafter she cannot even mention the term "nest egg". If she must refer to place where birds live, she must say "round twig"

:)

But Defending your life is my favorite, and is a perfect movie. No scene is wasted, no scene is unnecessary.

[joeybee12]

13. Oh, I really didn't like Defending Your Life...

...not one bit!

Oh well, to each his own.

[Lerkfish]

15. true. humor is somewhat a taste issue.

people have different tastes.
For example, I love monty python, but cannot get my wife to even watch it.
But I'm saying, as a movie, its put together exceeding well, even if you don't like the jokes.

[vi5]

2. I've read that he's screened it for muslim audiences...

including political and religious leaders in heavily muslim countries and that they have all enjoyed the film and sung it's praises. I haven't seen it but from everything I've read from Brooks on this he's not trying to perpetuate any stereotypes. I could be wrong but maybe not.

[wtmusic]

3. interesting

do you remember where you read that?

[vi5]

5. I don't remember, but it was somewhere recently.....

A magazine interview with him. It wasn't anything extensive just a one pager. If I remember it I'll post it here. I mean don't get me wrong he could be just trying to position/slant it however he thinks will make it the most palatable. But honestly from everything I know about Albert Brooks I doubt he's trying to play to negative stereotypes. It's not like it's Dennis Miller doing this or Don Rickles.

[peekaloo]

11. He told that story on The Daily Show this past Tuesday, too.

I love his humor because it's usually gentle and self deprecating.

[Syrinx]

7. set in India

As I understand it, it's set in India, a mostly Hindu country, because the US government is incompetent. In the movie, that is. :D

[FlemingsGhost]

9. Comedy is all about timing, and this is too soon.

According to Woody's formula:

Comedy = Tragedy + Time

[Boo Boo]

10. I haven't seen it, but the clip I saw on Letterman left me with a strong

impression that it probably sucks.

[Orangeone]

12. I don't get the

Premise. There are a lot of comics in the Muslim countries--it's just that Americans never heard of them.

[wtmusic]

14. exactly

it's ethnocentrism marketed in a PC package.

[Lerkfish]

16. similar to "carbon copy" and "soul man"...the people who make them

think "what's the problem?" because they have no friends in the circle of people who might be less than comfortable with the premise.