Irrera, Dom

The Big Lebowski - 10th Anniversary Limited Edition

After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of Fargo, this casually amusing follow-up from the prolifically inventive Coen (Ethan and Joel) brothers seems like a bit of a lark, and the result was a box-office disappointment. The good news is, The Big Lebowski is every bit a Coen movie, and its lazy plot is part of its laidback charm. After all, how many movies can claim as their hero a pot-bellied, pot-smoking loser named Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) who spends most of his time bowling and getting stoned? And where else could you find a hairnetted Latino bowler named Jesus (John Turturro) who sports dazzling purple footgear, or an erotic artist (Julianne Moore) whose creativity consists of covering her naked body in paint, flying through the air in a leather harness, and splatting herself against a giant canvas? Who else but the Coens would think of showing you a camera view from inside the holes of a bowling ball, or an elaborate Busby Berkely-styled musical dream sequence involving a Viking goddess and giant bowling pins? The plot--which finds Lebowski involved in a kidnapping scheme after he's mistaken for a rich guy with the same name--is almost beside the point. What counts here is a steady cascade of hilarious dialogue, great work from Coen regulars John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, and the kind of cinematic ingenuity that puts the Coens in a class all their own. Be sure to watch with snacks in hand, because The Big Lebowski might give you a giddy case of the munchies. --Jeff Shannon

After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of Fargo, this casually amusing follow-up from the prolifically inventive Coen (Ethan and Joel) brothers seems like a bit of a lark, and the result was a box-office disappointment. The good news is, The Big Lebowski is every bit a Coen movie, and its lazy plot is part of its laidback charm. After all, how many movies can claim as their hero a pot-bellied, pot-smoking loser named Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) who spends most of his time bowling and getting stoned? And where else could you find a hairnetted Latino bowler named Jesus (John Turturro) who sports dazzling purple footgear, or an erotic artist (Julianne Moore) whose creativity consists of covering her naked body in paint, flying through the air in a leather harness, and splatting herself against a giant canvas? Who else but the Coens would think of showing you a camera view from inside the holes of a bowling ball, or an elaborate Busby Berkely-styled musical dream sequence involving a Viking goddess and giant bowling pins? The plot--which finds Lebowski involved in a kidnapping scheme after he's mistaken for a rich guy with the same name--is almost beside the point. What counts here is a steady cascade of hilarious dialogue, great work from Coen regulars John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, and the kind of cinematic ingenuity that puts the Coens in a class all their own. Be sure to watch with snacks in hand, because The Big Lebowski might give you a giddy case of the munchies. --Jeff Shannon

Barnyard - The Original Party Animals (Full Screen Edition)

When the farmer's back is turned, the animals party down in Barnyard. A young cow named Otis (voiced by Kevin James, The King of Queens) loves to have fun at the farm's wild late-night hoe-downs, despite the disapproval of his father, Ben (Sam Elliott, Thank You for Smoking). When Ben dies defending the barnyard from marauding coyotes, Otis is chosen as the new leader--but responsibility sits uneasily on Otis' head and he fears he may not be able to protect his friends from the coyotes. Barnyard's design of the cows seems inspired by Gary Larson's The Far Side comics; though the style is simple, the characters are surprisingly expressive. From moment to moment, the movie is reasonably entertaining. The actors--including Courteney Cox, Danny Glover, and David Koechner (Anchorman) as a very menacing coyote--do solid voice work and there are plenty of amusing gags. But as Barnyard gallops towards its end, the combination of cliches (the story is a clumsy reworking of The Lion King), odd choices (the male cows have udders), and lackluster dialogue makes the movie sag. --Bret Fetzer

Moo-ve over all you pretenders...here are the original party animals - the critters of Barnyard! This laugh-filled tuneful animated adventure stars Otis (voiced by Kevin James) a carefree party cow. To the consternation of his respected father Ben (voiced by Sam Elliott) Otis is happy to spend his days singing dancing and playing tricks on humans. But all good things must come to an end and when Otis is suddenly forced into his father's position of responsibility the animal antics multiply as he struggles to find the courage and talent to be a true leader. Wild wacky and "udderly" hilarious here s a herd of animated pranksters that'll keep you laughing out loud!System Requirements:Run Time: 89 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG UPC: 097361186146 Manufacturer No: 118614

The Aristocrats

Released without a rating and billed as "the most vile, disgusting, and vulgar" film of all time, The Aristocrats is also funny enough to qualify as a minor comedy classic. We say "minor" only because hearing the same foul joke told by 100 celebrated comedians is inevitably exhausting, even though the shaggy-dog gag (a vintage in-joke among comedians, allowing outrageously obscene improvisation, and always ending with the same titular punchline) is also a fascinating litmus test for each comedian's irreverent style. As codirectors and show-biz insiders, veteran comedians Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette (from the comedy duo Penn & Teller) corralled an unprecedented parade of stand-up celebrities (George Carlin, Robin Williams, Drew Carey, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Silverman, the South Park kids and many, many more), each telling "the dirtiest joke of all time" in their own inimitable fashion. The sheer volume of vaudevillian vulgarity takes on a life of its own, more fascinating than funny, until Gilbert Gottfried (at a celebrity roast for Hugh Hefner, shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01) tells what is unanimously hailed as the definitive version of the joke. It's a matter of context, style, and bawdy bravado, and for better or worse, The Aristocrats will endure as a testament to a joke so bad--so uproariously bad--that no comedian worthy of the profession can resist the temptation to tell it. --Jeff Shannon

"A man walks into a talent agent's office with his family and says Have I got an act for you! The talent agent replies So what do you do?" So begins "The Aristocrats" a joke that has been handed down from comedian to comedian for decades but is rarely told on stage. The next part of the joke varies allowing for improvisation and the only requirement in telling the joke is that it be as offensive as possible.Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette spent two years documenting as many versions of this infamous joke as possible cornering comedians like Drew Carey Whoopi Goldberg Susie Essman and Paul Reiser whenever and wherever possible. The results are surprising and often take their humor to places that may make sensitive viewers uncomfortable. While comic legends such as Don Rickles The Smothers Brothers and Phyllis Diller admit their familiarity with the joke they shy away from telling their own versions. Some may be surprised however to see performers who are normally associated with family-friendly material including Bob Saget and Jason Alexander describing scatological and incestuous acts with deadpan glee. Ultimately though THE ARISTOCRATS is more than just many versions of the same dirty joke--it is an exploration of the workings of the unrestricted comic mind.System Requirements:Running Time 86 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: UNRATED UPC: 821575540759 Manufacturer No: TF-54075

Barnyard - The Original Party Animals (Widescreen Edition)

When the farmer's back is turned, the animals party down in Barnyard. A young cow named Otis (voiced by Kevin James, The King of Queens) loves to have fun at the farm's wild late-night hoe-downs, despite the disapproval of his father, Ben (Sam Elliott, Thank You for Smoking). When Ben dies defending the barnyard from marauding coyotes, Otis is chosen as the new leader--but responsibility sits uneasily on Otis' head and he fears he may not be able to protect his friends from the coyotes. Barnyard's design of the cows seems inspired by Gary Larson's The Far Side comics; though the style is simple, the characters are surprisingly expressive. From moment to moment, the movie is reasonably entertaining. The actors--including Courteney Cox, Danny Glover, and David Koechner (Anchorman) as a very menacing coyote--do solid voice work and there are plenty of amusing gags. But as Barnyard gallops towards its end, the combination of cliches (the story is a clumsy reworking of The Lion King), odd choices (the male cows have udders), and lackluster dialogue makes the movie sag. --Bret Fetzer

Kevin James plays Otis the Cow in this animated comedy. Hmm let's check the dictionary here... HEY! Cows are supposed to be female! Does this mean he's a tranvestite bull? Or is Otis a drag king? Or just a gruff-voiced lesbian with an unfortunate name? Well Kevin James is the King of Queens. Someone call Marlin Perkins we demand answers!System Requirements:Run Time: 90 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG UPC: 097363431244 Manufacturer No: 343124

Comedian

If you see Comedian expecting a concert film with Jerry Seinfeld, you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for an incisive--almost surgical--examination of the psyche of a stand-up comedian, this is your movie. Comedian zigzags back and forth between the hugely successful Seinfeld, who's trying to get back to his stand-up roots by developing an entirely new act, and an unknown comic named Orny Adams, whose naked craving for success is almost painful to behold. Adams lays bare his ego to an embarrassing degree; Seinfeld is more subtle but just as revealing about the fears and anxieties that drive him to go back on stage. By following these two through comedy clubs, festivals, and spots on David Letterman's talk show, the documentary cunningly explores how jokes are put together, the in-the-trenches camaraderie (tinged with competition) of stand-ups, and the sheer existential terror of trying to make people laugh. --Bret Fetzer

Intimate look at the trials of stand-up comedy through the eyes of comedy veteran Jerry Seinfeld, and new-comer Orny Adams.
Genre: Documentary
Rating: R
Release Date: 3-NOV-2004
Media Type: DVD

The Big Lebowski - 10th Anniversary Edition

After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of Fargo, this casually amusing follow-up from the prolifically inventive Coen (Ethan and Joel) brothers seems like a bit of a lark, and the result was a box-office disappointment. The good news is, The Big Lebowski is every bit a Coen movie, and its lazy plot is part of its laidback charm. After all, how many movies can claim as their hero a pot-bellied, pot-smoking loser named Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) who spends most of his time bowling and getting stoned? And where else could you find a hairnetted Latino bowler named Jesus (John Turturro) who sports dazzling purple footgear, or an erotic artist (Julianne Moore) whose creativity consists of covering her naked body in paint, flying through the air in a leather harness, and splatting herself against a giant canvas? Who else but the Coens would think of showing you a camera view from inside the holes of a bowling ball, or an elaborate Busby Berkely-styled musical dream sequence involving a Viking goddess and giant bowling pins? The plot--which finds Lebowski involved in a kidnapping scheme after he's mistaken for a rich guy with the same name--is almost beside the point. What counts here is a steady cascade of hilarious dialogue, great work from Coen regulars John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, and the kind of cinematic ingenuity that puts the Coens in a class all their own. Be sure to watch with snacks in hand, because The Big Lebowski might give you a giddy case of the munchies. --Jeff Shannon

After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of Fargo, this casually amusing follow-up from the prolifically inventive Coen (Ethan and Joel) brothers seems like a bit of a lark, and the result was a box-office disappointment. The good news is, The Big Lebowski is every bit a Coen movie, and its lazy plot is part of its laidback charm. After all, how many movies can claim as their hero a pot-bellied, pot-smoking loser named Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) who spends most of his time bowling and getting stoned? And where else could you find a hairnetted Latino bowler named Jesus (John Turturro) who sports dazzling purple footgear, or an erotic artist (Julianne Moore) whose creativity consists of covering her naked body in paint, flying through the air in a leather harness, and splatting herself against a giant canvas? Who else but the Coens would think of showing you a camera view from inside the holes of a bowling ball, or an elaborate Busby Berkely-styled musical dream sequence involving a Viking goddess and giant bowling pins? The plot--which finds Lebowski involved in a kidnapping scheme after he's mistaken for a rich guy with the same name--is almost beside the point. What counts here is a steady cascade of hilarious dialogue, great work from Coen regulars John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, and the kind of cinematic ingenuity that puts the Coens in a class all their own. Be sure to watch with snacks in hand, because The Big Lebowski might give you a giddy case of the munchies. --Jeff Shannon

From the Academy Award winning Coen Brothers comes The Big Lebowski - the hilariously quirky comedy-thriller about bowling, avant-garde art, nihilistic Austrians, and a guy named…The Dude. Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski doesn't want any drama in his life…heck, he can't even be bothered with a job. But, in a case of mistaken identity, a couple of thugs break into his place and steal his rug (you gotta understand, that rug really tied the room together). Now, The Dude must embark on a quest with his crazy friends to make things right and get that rug back! Starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, John Goodman, John Tuturro and Steve Buscemi, The Big Lebowski has become a cultural phenomenon. Now, experience the outrageous fan favorite like never before in this 2-Disc Anniversary Edition loaded with all-new bonus features that will take you beyond the movie! The Dude abides…

Hollywood Shuffle

The alumni of Hollywood Shuffle are spread across dozens of current comedies and TV sitcoms--this is the movie that introduced Robert Townsend and the Wayans Brothers to the world. Townsend plays a young actor who struggles with being offered stereotyped street hustler roles while trying to maintain his self-respect and the approval of his family. Between scenes of comically humiliating auditions, Bobby has satirical fantasies about the plight of black actors, including the classic "Black Acting School" sketch, in which white teachers demonstrate jive talk and street moves for the befuddled black students. Townsend has a charming, low-key comic style, one considerably more subtle than that of some of the black comics who have risen to success with supposedly self-aware renditions of the stereotypes Townsend mocks. Townsend made this movie on his credit cards and it is clearly a heartfelt labor of love. --Bret Fetzer

The best example of urban guerilla filmmaking is ironically and happily also one of Hollywood's most triumphant success stories. Actor Robert Townsend (I'm Gonna Git You Sucka!) decrying the lack of good roles for black actors puts his money where his mouth is and co-scripts (with Keenen Ivory Wayans) directs and stars in this "exuberant tirelessly energetic funny appealingly mean-spirited and easy-to-like" comedy (Janet Maslin The New York Times) that took Tinseltown by storm!Actor wannabe Bobby Taylor (Townsend) dreams of landing a role any role. But in a town where the best black roles are usually jive-talkin' gangsta stereotypes Bobby learns that you have to make your own parts even if they're just in your head. Spoofing everything from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Eddie Murphy to Siskel & Ebert Bobby's vivid imagination and Hollywood Shuffle are "an exhilarating blast" (New York)!System Requirements:Running Time: 81 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: R UPC: 027616864420 Manufacturer No: 1002211

The 4th Tenor

Long-suffering comic Rodney Dangerfield (Caddyshack, Back to School) stars in this cinematic fairy tale about a New York restaurant owner named Lupo, a cynic who suddenly falls madly in love with a tempestuous singer (Annabelle Gurwitch). She spurns him, saying she can only love a man who can sing great opera--so Lupo sets out to learn and falls under the sway of a couple of Italian con men who promise to teach him how to sing. But when he is given a role in an opera, his voice turns the audience into an angry mob. He flees and ends up meeting a buxom young widow (Anita De Simone) with a family secret that can give Lupo the voice he desires--but will it give him Gina? The 4th Tenor strives for a gentle, magical tone. Fans of Dangerfield may enjoy the movie as the comic's last hurrah; others will find him far too old for the part. His spirit yearns, but his flesh is weak. --Bret Fetzer

Comedy king and star of Caddyshack and Back to School, Rodney Dangerfield, plays a lovestruck restaurateur determined to wow his dream girl by learning to sing.

The Godson

Open Mic - Dave Chappelle

Who wants to be a star? Who has what it takes? How do they think up all that funny stuff?!? For every comedian that you see knockin' 'em dead on Jay Leno or the Letterman Show, there are thousands more who battle each week...not for the national spotlight but for survival, five minutes at a time, on the stage of comedy clubs, roadway dinners or hole-in-the-wall bars across America. These are the next generation of star comedians, and their stories are central to understanding what it takes to make it big. "Open Mic" is a revealing look behind the veil of Hollywood's glamour into the competitive and crazy world of stand-up comedy. Featuring comedy performances and interviews from some of today's hottest comedians, this is the breakout film that proves: dying is easy...comedy is hard!