• Condition: New

• Paramount

• Rating: R (restricted)

Spike Lee directed this rousing look at two nights in Charlotte, North Carolina, in which four black comedians-Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac-take the stage and tell it like it is. 2000/color/115 min/R/widescreen.

(1). Steve Harvey does a pretty good job of mocking the characters in the Titanic film who choose to keep playing their violins amidst a major catastrophe. He later goes into detail about why he prefers "old-school" music; particularly old-school R&B, over the hip-hop and rap trends that seem to be preferred by the modern generation. He does an effective job of lambasting rappers, and is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at this. Needs to be seen to be believed.

(2). D.L. Hughley was hilarious too, but like some have pointed out, some of his routines came from other, earlier stand-up specials. Side note: If you can find a copy of his stand-up comedic special entitled "Going Home," pick it up. That performance I believe to be his funniest, and it leaves me rolling on the floor everytime.

(3). Cedric The Entertainer's humor was the least brash of all the four, and has more of a laid-back, subtle charm, which still manages to make you laugh. The whole break-dance scene was funny, as well as his "cruising into outer space" scene, his self-made "martial art style" scene, and others.

(4). Bernie Mac - good lord. He was without a doubt the craziest, most brash, most (messed)-up comedian in this set. Sadistic and intensely cathartic, even. It's only fitting that he would be the last performer. His routine was just a little too much for me - and still is - and I mean that in the best way possible. His takes on kids and how they get (or should get) punished, sex and orgasm, and the "stuttering" kid were just too much - not only was I laughing too hard, but my lungs began to hurt, I nearly lost my voice for a brief period, and I was nearly out of oxygen. The guy was too much! Saying that he cracked me up would be a HUGE understatement.

All in all, recommended for many who want (or need) a major laugh-fest. Sometimes, one of the best ways - if not the best way - to deal with unpleasant situations in life is to be able to laugh at them - as exemplified in this film. If you suffer from chronic asthma, heart disease, and/or are easily shocked - particularly by the things mentioned in the above paragraphs (including loads of profanity) - stay VERY far away from this - you will be digging yourself an early grave.

16 of 17 found the following review helpful:


Simply put: THE BEST  Jan 21, 2001
As you might have read from other reviews, this is not a movie rather than a stand up comedy film. I dare anyone to watch this and not find it funny. If you don't laugh, then you don't have a sense of humor at all. The show is about the concert tour of the same title that was the 2nd highest grossing tour of the year. Steve Harvey is the MC and provides his own touches of brillance throughout the show. His ability to relate to people on all walks of life is evident from the moment he takes the stage. He warms up the crowd for each comedian but the crowd doesn't need it, since you barely regain control from laughing so hard from the last joke you heard. D.L. Hughley is great in this, although I, personally, think that his set could have been alittle better. I had just seen his last comedy special before the movie, so I was alittle jaded. Next is Cedric the Entertainer. The man is awesome. The way the he accents his jokes with phyiscal style is brillant. To top off the show is Bernie Mac. Simply put, he steals the show. I could not stop laughing when he was on. To not own this DVD is a crime. I will be the first in line to get it when it arrives. You should do the same. I hope this helps.

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:


An Exellent Comedic Work, Well Worth Seeing Repeatedly  Feb 19, 2001 By Mike Fisk
I saw this movie soon after it was released, and went alone to it, as all my friends decided to ditch me there to go see The Cell. After we all came out of the theater, I was the only one pleased with their movie-going experience. Of course, comparing it to The Cell is impossible (and pointlessly stupid due to differences in genre), and it's always much more interesting to critique a film on its own merits.

Anyone expecting to see a typical Spike Lee joint in this film is probably disappointed from that aspect, as it plays out a little like a comedian's version of This Is Spinal Tap, except that these guys are actually talented. In fact, they're REALLY DARN GOOD. Each of the four comedians (Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Highley, and Steve Harvey, in no particular order) has his own "segment" of the film, where he is able to be featured in their own style cutting loose and waxing comedic on nearly every facet of life. No matter how hard I tried, I was laughing out loud throughout the film (which made the other patrons of the theater laugh at me seeing the only white guy in the theater laughing harder than they were at jokes insulting white people, but the barbs were all TRUE! I can always spare a little bit of psychological stability ). I have a personal favorite routine, but I am pretty sure Amazon won't let me talk about it without either censoring it or not publishing it, so I'll leave that at that.

If you want to look at it as being a 2-hour-long HBO Def Comedy Jam, so be it. But it's a damn good one, and one that anyone who has an affinity for good stand-up comedy should see, provided they have no problems with language that'd make Carlin gasp (well, maybe not...). However, please check your pride at the door, thank you.

14 of 18 found the following review helpful:


Reply to the Review From Baltimore, MD  Mar 13, 2002
The purpose of this review is not to change the mind of the "reviewer from Baltimore, MD," as his mind appears to be already made up. I won't even dispute his opinion that the film is not funny, because that's too subjective to argue...It definitely had its moments, but doesn't measure up to Richard Pryor or Chris Rock...but then again, what does?) However, the fact that the film and the humor contained there in appeals to a predominantly black audience makes it no less legit than, say, the comedy of George Carlin, Dennis Miller, Jerry Seinfeld, or Jeff Foxworthy, who appeal mainly to white audiences. We laugh at what we can relate to, empathize with, or understand on some level. It is not the fault of Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac, or D.L. Hughley that the "reviewer from Baltimore, MD" cannot relate to 'hood humor. And I feel sorry for him if his main impressions of black people are derived from the media and crime statistics (the latter of which is more related to economics than race--correlation is not causation). I can't believe that I even have to argue this, but there is much diversity within the black community as there is within the white community...

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:


Great live comedy...we pay homage to Bernie Mac!  Aug 11, 2008 By DJ Come of Age "DJ COA"
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3LEJZ5Y1TCJQT

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