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Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)
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Comic and filmmaker Albert Brooks serves his country while struggling to get some laughs in this offbeat satiric comedy. Brooks plays himself, a comedic filmmaker whose most recent success was providing the voice of a fish for an animated feature and who has just been passed by as director for a remake of Harvey. As Brooks wonders what's going to happen next with his career, his wife (Amy Ryan), and his daughter, he's approached by government representatives who want him for a special assignment. The State Department, eager to better understand the cultural gap between the United States and the Middle East, have been directed by the president to make a study of what makes Muslims laugh. Brooks is asked to fly to India and Pakistan and bring back a 500-page report on Muslim humor; told the Medal of Freedom may be his if he comes through, Brooks accepts. With a pair of State Department officials in tow, Stuart (John Carroll Lynch) and Mark (Jon Tenney), and some help from a local assistant, Maya (Sheetal Sheth), Brooks sets out to find the funny bone of India's and Pakistan's Muslim communities, though it doesn't take long to find out what they don't find funny -- his standup act. Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World was originally set for release in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics, but when they became nervous over the film's title, they dropped the project and it was picked up for distribution by Warner Independent Pictures. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Albert Brooks, Sheetal Sheth, (more)
Director(s):
Albert Brooks
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World

Comic and filmmaker Albert Brooks serves his country while struggling to get some laughs in this offbeat satiric comedy. Brooks plays himself, a comedic filmmaker whose most recent success was providing the voice of a fish for an animated feature and who has just been passed by as director for a remake of Harvey. As Brooks wonders what's going to happen next with his career, his wife (Amy Ryan), and his daughter, he's approached by government representatives who want him for a special assignment. The State Department, eager to better understand the cultural gap between the United States and the Middle East, have been directed by the president to make a study of what makes Muslims laugh. Brooks is asked to fly to India and Pakistan and bring back a 500-page report on Muslim humor; told the Medal of Freedom may be his if he comes through, Brooks accepts. With a pair of State Department officials in tow, Stuart (John Carroll Lynch) and Mark (Jon Tenney), and some help from a local assistant, Maya (Sheetal Sheth), Brooks sets out to find the funny bone of India's and Pakistan's Muslim communities, though it doesn't take long to find out what they don't find funny -- his standup act. Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World was originally set for release in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics, but when they became nervous over the film's title, they dropped the project and it was picked up for distribution by Warner Independent Pictures. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
98 mins

Complete Cast of Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World


Director(s):
Albert Brooks
Writer(s):
Albert Brooks
Producer(s):
Deepak Nayar, Albert Brooks, Tabrez Noorani
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13(Profanity, Adult Situations, Drug Content, Adult Humor)
Categories:
Music & Performing Arts, Comedy
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    Penny H.

    I don't see the point of making a moving about how everyone thinks you're not funny and then to actually prove them right. My husband and I agreed that the only way this movie was made was because of Mr. Brooks writing and directing it himself. Really sad to waste the amount of money it takes to make a movie on something like this.

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    Ash M.

    There is plenty of comedy in that part of the world, just that when it comes to Albert Brooks as a comedian, he just plain sucks. For comedy coming from that part of the World, see Howard & Kumar go to White Castle, Bend it Like Beckham, Monsoon Wedding. If there was no comedy in that part of the world Hollywood would not be grossing box office hits down there cheers

    Yes   |   No

     
    Joseph T.

    I don't know if some of the other reviewers watched the same movie I did, or they're not familiar with Brook's deadpan style of humor. After reading the reviews, I almost skipped watching it after I rented it, but I'm glad I didn't. I thought it was clever how he played himself- it was almost a prmotion for some of his earlier films. I really liked some of the background jokes, like missing the Taj Mahal and the telemarketing room in India. Those jokes reminded me of the Zucker brothers comedies. I really liked this movie

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