5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny, funny, funny, November 3, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Chris Elliott: Action Family & FDR: A One-Man Show [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Chris Elliott is the epitome of the ridiculous. From outrageous sight gags, like a fist fight with his father, using obvious stunt doubles, to the subtle(?), not knowing his son has been going to a Spanish-speaking school, and can't figure out why his grades are failing, Chris Elliott packs a wallop on the laugh meter. He has also cast the show perfectly. The actors playing his family, and the sundry characters surrounding the detective business play their roles straight, without winking to the camera. Hats off to this highly under-rated comedy writer, actor, and director.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I laughed until I felt sick, March 20, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Chris Elliott: Action Family & FDR: A One-Man Show [VHS] (VHS Tape)
That's right, I laughed until I thought I was going to be sick! Not at "The Action Family" so much (though that was funny--and Chris Elliott's David Cassidy impersonation at the end is right on) but at "FDR: A One-Man Show", which is so indefinable, so weird, so. . .well, beyond Monty Python is the only phrase I can think of to describe it. Probably only one person in ten would find this even vaguely amusing (pretty much the same percentage of people who appreciate Chris Elliott's humor), but that one is going to laugh until they want to hurl. I know, that's not a very literate or distinguished description, but it was the best I could do. Chris Elliott, you are THE funniest man in the world. End of statement.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 stars are not enough!, June 30, 2004
This review is from: Chris Elliott: Action Family & FDR: A One-Man Show [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Chris Elliott is one of the funniest people in America. I don't know why this guy isn't a household word!
I first "ran into" Chris Elliott when he was a semi-regular on the David Letterman show years ago. Every time he was on, he would just steal the show! David L. is funny, but honestly Chris was soooo much funnier whenever he was on, he made Dave look bad in comparison.
Chris also was *the* perfect voice for Dogbert in the old Dilbert TV series.
The fact that he's been reduced to playing Raymond's brother's future brother-in-law on Everyone (Everybody?) Loves Raymond is a crime against humanity!
But I digress. I'm supposed to be reviewing "Action Family" and "FDR".
I found this tape, used, at Blockbuster several years ago for $5. Having never seen it, but absolutely LOVING Chris Elliott, I bought it and, boy, that was the best $5 I ever spent! I can't tell you how many times I've watched my tape. I now have a friend converting it to DVD for me so I can have this gem forever. I can't believe it's out of print! This tape deserves a much wider audience than it's been given.
The other reviewers here sum it up pretty well. I especially love the person who said he laughed so hard he wanted to hurl. Yeah, it really is that funny!
"Action Family" is hysterical -- a combination of silly 70s family sitcoms and overly dramatic Quinn Martin-style 70s cop/detective shows. The opening pays homage to The Brady Bunch, but the remainder of the sitcom portion of the half-hour is more slanted towards The Partridge Family, complete with a blonde mom named Shirley and an ending homage to The P. Family with Chris playing Keith Partridge that will have you grabbing your sides while tears run down your face. It is brilliantly "filmed" in two media ... video for the indoor/family/comedy scenes and film for the outdoor/gritty/detective scenes. The detective half of this flick is played so straight, so deadpan, that again you will find your face soaking wet and your sides in serious need of medical attention. If you used to watch Mannix back in the day, you will really enjoy Chris's take on the detective genre!
As for the second half-hour of this tape, the "FDR: One Man Show" ... oh my gawd, I do not even know where to begin. Words cannot describe how completely off the wall this is. Chris plays the wheelchair-bound Franklin Delano Roosevelt with such kitsch (?) chutzpah (?) ... there's no English word for it, but I bet there's a perfect Yiddish word to describe this flick! Let's just say that Chris Elliott doesn't let historical facts get in the way of his telling the story of FDR's life, and he's a genius at portraying a terrible actor. Make no mistake, Chris Elliott is *not* a bad actor -- he is a great actor who can play a terrible actor like nobody's business.
It's a shame this is out of print, and that the used ones being sold on Amazon are going for over $40! Yikes! If you don't own this tape, please do yourself a favor and find some way to get your hands on it. I promise you will not regret it!!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
