Customer Reviews

The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey (Patton Oswalt / Brian Posehn / Maria Bamford / Zach Galifianakis)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What is great about The Comedians of Comedy is that it is not your typical comedian DVD. We have become so lazy as a society that even sitting on our sofa and watching TV can't be enjoyed unless our shows are explained in detail and wrapped up in a simple little package. The Comedians of Comedy is an example of what comedy is. Its more than some guy standing in front of a mic explaining the difference between white people and black people. Its timing, its irony, its looking at life and saying WTF?

But beyond that, this DVD shows a different side to comedy that we don't normally see and that is the comedians point of view. Patton Oswalt created this tour which is a bunch of comedy shows in "Indie rock" establishments to promote the idea that a comedian's career can be followed like a bands career. That is what this DVD is showing. So for those who need things spelled out for them (like R. Shultz) The Comedians of Comedy is SO FAR from frat humor its comedic that one would say this DVD contains the sense of humor of a frat guy. If anything, all the comedians on this DVD hate frat guys! They are simply doing what they love and really couldn't care less what other people think about their humor. Ok Im done with my preaching.

This is an amazing DVD. I read reviews online all the time saying "anyone will like this", but seriously. I even showed it to my mother who laughed. That's a big deal.
This DVD follows these four comedians on their two week tour. Their nightly shows are spliced together with scenes of them in their bus on their way to that particular city.
Also throughout the episodes, it shows the comedians in interviews discussing comedy in America during her "time of need", interpersonal relationships, and anything else they could think of.
This DVD makes me laugh to tears every time. Literally.

Before I watched this film I was not sure who Patton Oswalt was. I watch a lot alternative comedy like Mr. Show, David Cross, and I love comedians like Bill Hicks and George Carlin. Patton, Brian, Zach and many others are carrying the torch. This video is without a doubt the very best comedy DVD I have ever seen. I liked this video so much I wouldn't let Netfilx have it back. When I saw the video it could not be purchased anywhere, so I "lost" it. I play this video in the background at parties in my, and it is fun to see how many people take time out to listen to comedians like these guys with no context. I always hear the inevitable, "who is this?" These comedians are the best on the planet it's great more people can see this DVD now.

I liked it beary much.

I'm so glad I read the review by R. Schultz. It was such a pick-me-up. I giggled 'til I almost peed. I'm really not sure how to process the opinion of anyone who is lamenting the pop culture passing of Skippy from "Family Ties". I'm sorry that Marc Price has disappointed you, Mr. Schultz. I, too, miss the hi-larious way he used to fawn all over Mallory... Oh, Skippy, will you ever win?

As far as Patton Oswalt goes, I think he's done a great thing with this tour. He showcases comedians that are smart, edgy and not-so-mainstream. Brian Posehn and Maria Bamford are very funny. And Zach Galifinakis is plain nuts. Reminds me of Andy Kaufman when he wasn't on "Taxi". As for comparing Patton Oswalt's stand-up to his appearancees on "King of Queens", I've always maintained that he was slumming when he was on that show to pay the bills and be able to do things like we see on this DVD. He played the lovable, misunderstood, third-fiddle doughboy on TV, and did a fairly decent job of it. But it doesn't come even close to the razor-sharp wit he displays in his stand-up act.

I've only been to one frat party, and once was enough. But anyone who thinks of Zach Galifinakis as a sloppy frat boy would yearn for the yesteryear clean-cut humor of that wacky Skippy. Mr. Schultz, there's this show called "Saved by the Bell" you might want to check out...

I saw this at the 2005 South-by-Southwest Film festival, and that night I wanted to buy it on dvd because it is so freaking HILARIOUS! I love Zach Galifinakis so much and this movies shows how truly funny he is! Awesome film!

Some of the most underrated comedians working today are Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford and the find of my century, Zach Galifinakis. Yay CoC!

This DVD seems to get mixed reviews on here, and I think the biggest problem occurs when viewers don't know what they're getting into. If you are unfamiliar with the comedic style of Brian Posehn and Patton Oswalt, if you are only familiar with their TV characters (Brian Posehn from "Just Shoot Me" and Patton Oswalt from "King of Queens"), I imagine you will be disappointed. If you have never heard of Zach Galifinakis, you might be a little shocked. A quick search on Youtube for snippets of their respective standup routines should clear up any questions you might have about who they are.

If you are a fan of Brian Posehn, Patton Oswalt, and Maria Bamford, I think you'll be impressed with this DVD. Zach only plays a minor role and at his exit you wonder if it's sincere or if it is just part of his game (as Zach is known for staging uprisings during his standup show). Brian Posehn is far and away the highlight of the program, and the only real disappointment is that the program didn't last longer.

Having seen the excellent "Comedians of Comedy" TV series I was expecting simply more of the same but this disc gives a surprisingly different angle to the antics of four very underrated stand-up comedians on tour.

What's not shown in most blurbs is that for a measly $10, a DVD-14 disc is included -

Side A - (DVD-9) - The Comedians of Comedy (Documentary/Reality Film)
+ Deleted scenes.
+ Making of.
+ Various bits from other rising Indie comedians.

Side B - (DVD-5) - "Live at the El Rey" (Comedy concert)

Comedy is very subjective, but for anyone with any interest at all in intelligent, alternative, dry or quirky humor, then this DVD will not disappoint.

It's difficult to choose a favorite comedian, since they're all capable of pulling big laughs but I personally found Maria Bamford to be a fascinating and truly unique comic and possibly the best character impersonator I've ever witnessed. It truly surprises me that we haven't seen more of her on TV and film but that can also be said of the others too.

Highly recommended.

I read a couple of review before writing this and the one that infuriated me was titled "Innocence Lost" by R. Schultz. What this reviewer doesn't understand is that actors and comedians on television are not the same person as their characters on television and they shouldn't have to embody their characters in reality. Having said that, I hope you ignore his review because it's fails at even attempting to be objective.

On to the actual review... I was really drawn to this DVD because I have seen and heard stand up material from nearly every comedian on this DVD and would definitely characterize myself as a fan of each one. The video is shot in a documentary style with snippets of live comedy sewn in. It is brilliant. These comedian are not the popular variety. They're simply a group of friends who decided to go on a comedy tour together and this video is a window into that time period in their life. Some of the most hilarious moments are watching them interact as friends (like bearalyzed, you'll find out if when you watch it). I particularly liked this video because it humanizes these comedians. I found it to be very poignant and moving at times. It's more a documentary than a stand up comedy video. I would highly recommend it, especially if you're a fan of Oswalt, Posehn, Bamford or Galifianakis. Having said that, I know that this brand of comedy isn't for everyone, but then again you could say that about almost anything. Check it out and judge for yourself.

It seems to me that people are expecting something different when they buy this than what they get. I am not sure what they are expecting, but these are funny people with what most would say a very unique take on how things are and how to relay that to others. I appreciate this, apparently more than some.