21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid doc w/ interesting insights-NOT a concert film!, May 2, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Kids In The Hall - Same Guys, New Dresses (DVD)
First off, let me say that anyone looking for the Kids In the Hall's answer to "Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl" will be sorely disappointed. This is more of a backstage documentary, though some live concert sketches are included (only a few full scenes, mostly segments). The audio was not taken from the theatre's sound boards, so it is a bit dodgy at times, though always audible. You want to pick up this DVD for a glance at the Kids' actual personalities and how they interact as a group. And it is fascinating as such, with as much insight as one could cram into 90 min. (obviously, you will not come away knowing the boys backwards and forwards). Also, don't expect a laugh riot - when offstage, they five are not always "on" and cutting up. Indeed, it's far more interesting to hear them discuss business and their methodology than simply trying to be funny constantly. Though, the commentary IS possibly funnier than anything in the film, as the Kids freely comment and rip on themselves and each other while viewing the film. Guest commentary by Mike Myers, Jason Priestly, and Andy Richter is amusing and interesting, though the comments from Trey Parker & Matt Stone are unfunny and obnoxious (they're trying WAY too hard to be funny). As far as the Kids go, McDonald and Thompson come off as the nicest (though Thompson seems rather, shall we say, eccentric), McKinney is amusing but the most businesslike, and Foley & McCulloch come off as the least likable. The extras are bizarre and irreverant, as one one expect from the troupe. Well worth picking up!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A guaranteed good time for all!, December 27, 2002
This review is from: Kids In The Hall - Same Guys, New Dresses (DVD)
I discovered the Kids through Comedy Central re-runs a few months ago and was heartbroken when the network replaced their former 2-3pm hour with... more SNL reruns! We need more of those!
Anyway, before I get off on another Comedy Central diatribe, I want to say that this DVD is absolutely hilarious. I hadn't seen that much of the Kids work in comparison with the entire body of it, and was looking forward to getting a look into the guys' personalities and real life personas -- and that's exactly what I got. It's really easy to get a real idea of each of the Kids here. Scott definitely comes off as the most fun and the most like he is onstage. Surprisingly Bruce, who seems so lighthearted and whimsical on stage, is much more business-like and not as easily likable offstage.
There's not that much of the guys' 2001 tour on this DVD; it focuses more on the behind the scenes work. It's put together in a way that you can see the work that went on for the few sketches that are shown almost fully: the Tanya sketch, the opening credits, and perhaps most in-depth, Scott's monologue involving his robo-dog, a hilarious behind the scenes diversion that will keep you laughing.
Of course, the group's stage work is as strong as ever, but this DVD is especially recommmended to those who have seen everything KITH but want to know more about the individual guys, how they work, and what they're really like. As for extras, "Kevin Eating Soup" is hysterical to watch for some strange reason, as are the other extra features (one, "Phoner," is actually rather serious and shows Dave, Scott, and Mark's real feelings about the group), and the commentary from the Kids, especially Mark and Scott's, will keep you in stitches. A great KITH purchase!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
One Nice Five Mean, June 17, 2002
This review is from: Kids In The Hall - Same Guys, New Dresses (DVD)
In my opinion, there's In Living Color, The Ben Stiller Show, Mr. Show, and Saturday Night Live, and then there's Groucho Marx, Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Monty Python, Woody Allen, and The Kids in the Hall. There's talent, and then there is genius. Yes, genius. Is a comedic genius somehow less than a genius in Physics? Yes. But I don't laugh at kinetic energy (hey, I'm trying to be funny, look at that).
I watch only one hour of TV a day. The one hour of television I watch every day is the one hour of The Kids in the Hall I've recorded while at work. I was SO eager to watch this. I was grinning, looking at the cover as I headed over to a friend's to watch it ("Oh, look, Mark's put on a little weight, ha ha," and "Ooh, I never knew Dave had a tattoo. Hmm."). How could this movie miss? I thought I could watch the guys put on lipstick for an hour and a half and still somehow enjoy it. But oh my. What a cold, dreadful, bitter movie.
As Dave Foley admits, no one really wanted to shoot this documentary. Not even Jason Priestly for crying out loud (notice how quiet Priestly gets on the commentary when Foley brings up the idea). Foley ended up with hundreds of hours of footage of struggling lawyers and struggling technicians and struggling sketch comedy artists (oh, and some struggling, booing fans).
When I finished watching the movie (and then again with commentary), I really got the feeling that I had indeed just watched footage that "ended up" somewhere on some poor editor's desk and a certain reluctant "director's" office, that later "ended up" for sale, and ultimately "ended up" in my house.
What the videographers got was five middle-aged (nearly) men doing their best to somehow usurp one another (to what end at this point in their respective careers is beyond me) using techniques best known by rotten little children. At least Scott Thompson understood that--maybe subconsciously, maybe who cares--and used the robotic puppy to get his precious attention instead of acidic grumblings put into use by Bruce and Dave. It really did work: There is way, way too much in the final cut devoted to Scott and the dog.
The movie itself is absurd. The movie pokes fun at the absurdity of the childishness of the five men in the troupe. Matt Stone and Trey Parker poke fun at how the movie pokes fun at The Kids in the Hall (quite a clever little banter they had there). A lot of poking. The Kids in the Hall must think their fans are crazy or dumb or both for wanting to go the theater and pay to see these tired old guys do Sir Simon, Chicken Lady, and Buddy Cole. Why are they so cynical and jaded? What do they have to lose?
I loved hearing Mike Myers talk about his true love of the troupe and a little on his history with the guys. He talked so earnestly. Dave and Bruce just kind of lazily lobbed unfunny quips about what we see on screen, Kevin seemed like he's just along for the ride, Jason Priestly clipped on his mic and mostly stammered in this pseudo-serious tone, and Andy Richter said some very, very forgettable things. I really liked Mark and Scott's commentary (they recorded in a different locale). I thought their commentary was funny (I like how they argue about children and "unconditional love") and interesting (a bit of a straight-laced Dad in McKinney speaking alongside Scott, who wants to be considered just "funny," instead of the "gay, funny guy"). Their talk was not so snappy and competitive and had a little more meat to it.
Do dumb, online reviews need a summary paragraph?
Hope you like the DVD. I didn't.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
