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By
DEBORAH NICOL
Blurring the lines between
vulgarity and comedy is the basis for the
comedian's ultimate in-joke. With nowhere to go
but down, first-time director Paul Provenza and
comic Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) gather
any and all comedians who would willingly lower
themselves to tell the most offensive joke
possible (which is, of course, all of them). The
only rule to the telling of the apparently
oldest-joke-in-the-book is that the punch line be
the film's title. And it is in the telling that
all havoc is wreaked.
The reason this joke – in all of its gloriously
vile variations – is not told on stage, is that it
is likely not to be as appreciated, as it is by
other comedians. For comedians have heard all the
jokes before, so to crack up a prankster one must
be fouler, harsher and fall so far beyond the line
of decency that it is impossible to distinguish
the line from a sunspot. This collection of
crudity will surely do well at frat houses and
political fundraisers.
As non-FCC-abiding cable and the internet become
more crass, so must the joke. As time prevails,
the use of incest, bestiality, gastrointestinal
disorders, racism and sexism must become so
overwhelmingly disgusting as to cause physical
illness to the listener. Or, cause pain from
laughter to another comedian. In this aspect, this
documentary-of-sorts is almost a love letter to
itself. Not so much self-congratulatory as
self-inflicting of a bullet to the stomach.
Not limited to the usual line-up of stand-ups,
television personalities and film stars, Jillette
and company also document mimes, ventriloquists,
fire jugglers, card tricksters, South Park
cartoons, and fathers holding their toddlers while
telling the joke. Jillette states that it is the
"singer not the song" that allows the joke to
continue, and with each telling a new depreciation
is gained for each performer. For if you cannot
tell a joke involving vomiting on the audience
while violating your grandmother, then what sort
of comedian are you anyhow?
Extras on the disc include a commentary track by
Jillette and Provenza, extended takes for each
comedian, one long version of the joke made up of
bits from everyone, a Johnny Carson tribute, other
jokes from the comedians, and the winner of a
contest for telling the joke. |
