Product Details

• Actors: Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Lily Tomlin
• Directors: Andrew J. Kuehn
• Producers: Andrew J. Kuehn, Don Scotti, Gregory McClatchy, Irwin M. Rappaport, Joan Hyler
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Miramax
• DVD Release Date: January 13, 2004
• Run Time: 82 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000DZ3BL
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,673 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker
Bruce Vilanch is a gag writer who, according to Nathan Lane, has given more stars "more lines than a Hollywood coke dealer." He's the man behind the quips at such events as the Oscars and other made-for-TV events. Bruce's clients include Billy, Whoopi, Robin, and Bette, all of whom appear in this seventy-two-minute documentary, speaking glowingly of their pal and engaging him in rowdy verbal sparring. Vilanch is a walking caricature comprised of shaggy hair and beard, colorful glasses, and a joke T-shirt; when Donny Osmond told him he looked like a Muppet, his comeback was a wonderfully dirty line involving Jim Henson's fist. He comes across as a very nice, amusing, generous fellow, but Andrew Kuehn's film feels more like an overgrown "Entertainment Tonight" segment than a full-fledged documentary. -Ken Marks
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Product Description
Superstars Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Bette Midler are just some of the big names who laugh it up in this richly funny behind-the-scenes look at the art of creating comedy! When celebrities need a hilarious punchline, they GET BRUCE! -- Bruce Vilanch, the comic writer behind Hollywood's biggest events! As the writer of the Oscars(R), the Emmys, and the Grammys award shows, laugh master Bruce is not only Hollywood's most wanted man, but he's been its best-kept secret ... until now! Featuring outrageous on-screen moments with Roseanne, Lily Tomlin, Paul Reiser, and many more, this fun film is your all-access pass to Tinseltown's most glittering nights ... with the man who keeps everyone looking like a star!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MOVIE BUFFS WILL LOVE THIS!, March 8, 2000

By	eileen f. (Norwood, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Get Bruce [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Get Bruce is a documentary on a writer for all kinds of celebrities for events such as the Oscars and Comic Relief. As a huge movie fan, I really enjoyed watching Bruce and all the movie stars, comedians, and other celebs all talk into the camera about how great bruce is..or how he is to work with and what kind of work he does. His mother talks too, and she's pretty funny. This whole documentary is a must see for fans of hollywood and beyond. You may recognize bruce from Hollywood Squares..the new one. Watch it , you won't be disappointed.(if you are a documentary fan) GO GET BRUCE!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRUCE, March 21, 2006

By	Shannon Deason "SchylarRex" (Houston) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I knew of Vilanch as a comedy writer, but I had no idea all this guy was into and how much respect he has in the industry. Parts of this DVD are laugh out loud hilarious and frankly Robin Williams has NEVER been funnier and that really is saying something, his bit is totally extemporaneous and it is classic Robin Williams, it alone is worth the price of this DVD, but it really is Vilanch that shines here, he is so likeable and you can tell he loves what he does and frankly you really can't blame him.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great peek at the man behind the jokes, January 15, 2001

By	hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Get Bruce [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though he's now fairly widely known through his appearances on the New Hollywood Squares, Bruce Vilanche's work has been heard (and laughed at) by millions of people worldwide. As a joke writer for artists (Bette, Whoopi, Billy, Robin), events (Academy Awards), and in his earlier days, TV (Brady Bunch Variety Show, Donny & Marie), Vilanche is one of a few select go-to guys in Hollywood.

The documentary mixes interviews with his clients, footage of his featured work, snippets of Vilanche himself speaking at awards ceremoies (he won an Emmy for his Oscar work) and rare performances, and, most interestingly, some work sessions. The last is the most interesting, as it provides some insight as to how Vilanche goes about creating his jokes. His description of writing for different individuals - creating jokes and then voicing them appropriately, is fascinating. The peek into the working process of different comedians (Midler, Crystal, Williams) is revealing both of Vilanche and his clients.

What really makes this film work is that Vilanche is as interesting as the stars he writes for - something that cannot be said of all comedy writers.