Review - The Aristocrats

by John Mizer
August 15, 2005

This film review comes with a big fat asterisk attached. This movie is NOT for everyone. It's incredibly vulgar, leaving no taboo or sensitive subject unscathed. Nary a one. AMC theatres refuses to carry the picture and during the screening I attended, several audience members headed for the exits. You've been warned... That being said, The Aristocrats is a documentary about a long-running joke dating back to vaudeville days. It seems to be an in-the-know joke with most comedians. Unlike most other jokes it's not the punchline that gets you rather the trip to the punchline. Over 100 comedians/writers/entertainers take their crack at telling, examing, philsophizing over this joke for almost an hour and a half with more funny-than-not results. Each has their own spin with varying degrees of vulgarity. The editing is one of the movie's strengths as each comedian brings their own delivery to the table and I have to say that there is nothing more surreal than hearing Bob Saget get lewd, rude & crude during his interpretation this joke. Fans of Lenny Bruce & the late great Bill Hicks will adore this movie while others will wish they had their 90 minutes back. Like the gentlemen previously mentioned (not Bob Saget), The Aristocrats pushes the envelope of what comedy could be while showcasing a myriad of talent, polarizing it's audience and challenging their subjectivity.

Rating: 4 out of 5