The Aristocrats DVD Review:

The star-studded celebration of comedy which was a hit at this year’s Sundance festival, The Aristocrats, boasts the simplest premise possible, as if daring audiences to find out if the film is entertaining. Over 100 comedians are recorded in this documentary, all telling the same joke. If you have doubts about a film which contains only one joke, be assured that there are plenty of laughs, some within the joke but many freely flowing from the environment which is created when a comedian sets out to tell the joke. As daring and offensive as you may be told this film is, don’t listen. It is far more offensive than you could even imagine, and strangely enough that is not only the point of the joke but it also becomes the point of the film.

The joke begins with a family walking into a talent agent’s office and promising that their act will knock him off his feet. What follows depends on the teller of the joke with the only requirement being offensive and repulsive behavior on the part of the family. This often includes incest, bestiality, sodomy, scatology, and as many obscene words possible. Although the punch line packs little heat, this is not really the point of the joke. The joke is all about the teller’s ability to come up with a creative and offensive middle of the joke.

The joke has been around for ages and has grown infamous in the comedy world as it was told extravagantly among insiders. Although they all have heard the joke, it became a competition to see who could go on the longest or tell it the most offensive. It is a comedian’s joke, as is seen when Gilbert Gottfried tells it at a roast for Hugh Hefner, causing Rob Schneider to laugh so hard that he literally falls out of his chair.

The Aristocrats is filmed in a casual manner, some interviews as comedians are about to go on stage or preparing for a show, but most are just casually sitting around. This allows the comedians the freedom and comfort to tell the joke and talk openly with minimal distraction or pressure. There are also variations on the joke such as Eric Mead’s card trick telling of the joke and Billy the Mime’s silent rendition done on the street as pedestrians watch in shock.

While the jokes never stop coming and there are certainly laughs up until the last frame of the film, it does tend to lag at spots. Although the comedians are humorous, one can only hear the same thing said so many times before it loses its meaning. When this happens the film is only saved by the creativity of comics. Whether it is a Christopher Walken impersonation or an animated version of the joke featuring the South Park kids, variety is needed. There is no arc in the film and although it is truly funny, it defiantly remains a film about one joke.

This is not the kind of film I would recommend to anyone who doesn’t enjoy the shock humor involved. The film contains no nudity and no violence and yet it still manages to be the most offensive film I have ever seen. As Penn Jillette says, “I don’t want to surprise anyone. This movie is too much fun to be forced on people. If comics having a good time with taboo words is going to bother you, don’t go see this.”

The DVD is packed with all sorts of features which are likely to be enjoyed by any fans of the film. There is a commentary track with the filmmakers, comedians telling their other favorite jokes, and extended versions of many of the comedian’s telling of the joke. There is a special tribute to Johnny Carson, a highlight reel of the best telling of the joke by many comedians in the film, and contest winners from the Be An Aristocrat contest. The DVD also comes with a great insert which has an introduction by both of the filmmakers and a complete list of the two hours worth of special features.



Ryan Izay

One hundred of the best stand-up comedians talk about a fabled joke from within comedic circles. With origins that date back to the days of Vaudeville, the joke has been shared by comics in secret for years. Now they have decided to share their favourite and very dirty joke with the world, telling it in their own unique way but it always has the same punch line, ‘The Aristocrats’.

Most documentaries are about a single subject matter but when you gather together one hundred of the best stand-up comedians in the world to talk about a famous joke and then you have a recipe for hilarity.

‘The Aristocrats’ joke can be traced back to the days of Vaudeville. With the same introduction and the same punch line, the skill in the joke is creating the middle section. The joke became a way of showing off your improvisational skills and soon became an inside joke within the comedic community. With tales of parties revolving around the joke and comedians using it as a warm up for before they perform, it soon became a comedic standard bearer and a secret within the comedy ranks.

With the joke staying within comedy circles, it disappeared from the public consciousness until director Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette decided to share it with the world. Gathering together some of the best stand-up comedians working in the world today, they ask them to talk about the first time they heard the joke, how it has influenced their career and how they actually tell it. This is where the skill comes in and you also get an inkling into the mind of the comedian telling it.

When telling ‘The Aristocrats’ joke, it the middle section of the joke that gives the teller a complete free reign and it usually involves a tale of complete depravity as they describe the family’s act. The more depraved, disgusting and downright rude you can get it the better as they describe acts that are illegal around the world or at least fronded upon in modern society. Of course the scenes they are describing are completely hilarious, with all the shock value to the descriptions just increasing the impact of the inevitable punch line all the more funny.

‘The Aristocrats’ is a fascinating insight into a joke that has been the stable of comedians for many years. Crude, rude and full of obscenities, this might be a bit much for some but for everyone else, this is a completely hilarious and a look into the world of comedy that we have never scene.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the movie is presented well, especially for a documentary.

BONUS FEATURES

Director’s commentary with Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette
The men behind the movie provide commentary on the contributors. The pair reveals how the project came about and how they got the comedians to contribute. They also talk about the comedic performances missing from the piece either by scheduling or death, who would have loved to have contributed over the evolution of the project. The fact that comedians actually don’t tell jokes is actually discussed as the two reveal the origins of the joke and what intrigues them so much.

Behind the Greenroom Door (16.01 mins)
Contributors George Carlin, Paul Reiser, Larry Miller, Rita Rudner, Harry Shearer and many more talk about what attracted them to comedy, what it is like on stage and they tell their favourite joke. As many modern comedians don’t actually get the chance to tell jokes, this is a chance for them to tell their favourites and it is very funny.

More from the Comedians (24.28 mins)
Contributors Bob Saget, Kevin Pollack, Pat Cooper, Jon Stewart, Phyllis Diller, Ron Jeremy, Billy the Mime and Terry Gilliam talk about contributing to the movie as we see extended footage from their interviews. We get to see a musical version of the joke, an extended mime version and how Terry Gillian’s contribution was lost due to technical difficulties.

Aristocrats Competition Winners (9.50 mins)
Watch an animated version of the joke and one from a performer who interacts with the public as he tells the joke.

For Johnny Carson (2.07 mins)
Contributors talk about how Johnny would have done the joke on ‘The Tonight Show’.

Theatrical Trailer (1.23 mins)
Watch the promotional trailer for the movie

OVERALL

With extra features that are just as hilarious as the main feature, the DVD treatment of ‘The Aristocrats’ is very good. The commentary track is fun and the extra footage of the comedians discussing other comedic subjects just adds to the value. Again this proves that documentaries tend have to the best DVD treatments as they are a labour of love for the filmmakers.

Jamie Kelwick