lustyvita
It seems as though a lot of people were expecting a comedy show, as opposed to a documentary on a comedy show. Its a shame they have to pan the film for not dazzling them with humor, when it has so much more to offer. I find the filmmaker's choices and the honesty of those on camera riveting (i.e. insecurity, heckling, bad jokes, good jokes, grateful to ungracious and back again) Maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed the show in person (on an off night), but I truly enjoyed the evolution of the show from Vince's eyes. I want to make love to him. A similar film is THE COMEDIAN, being in show business I find the material incredibly compelling, those of you who like sports or Larry the Cable Guy obviously, it wouldn't be for you. Interestingly there were no women on the crew or in the show . . . hmmmmm
jdesando
In Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 NightsHollywood to the Heartland, if the four relatively unknown comics (a "Guido," an Ohio rube, an Arab, and a non-descript guy) accompanying Vaughn on a 30 day tour of 30 cities had been better, the documentary would have been better as well. Sadly this tepid montage of the trip is rarely funny, rarely imaginative, although the infectious good will of Vaughn saves it from total banality.Jerry Seinfeld's Comedian (2002) and the arch Aristocrats (2005) have far more humorous moments while also revealing the humanity of the performers. Vaughn tries with limited success to show the heart of the comics between acts, but, alas, not one is interesting enough to have more than a beer with.As with most of these documentaries, there are only snippets of the acts and then cutting to another performer or a personal note. Thus, we can never understand fully why a comedian will or will not make the big time. One thing I do know, this January graveyard toss off will not make it big time. I'll ask you in December if you think it should be nominated for best documentary; you'll haveto research it on IMDb to remember.
Karen Divorty
Wildly entertaining, Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Tour 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland, a documentary that tears through the stand up circuit with 4 comedians who perform 30 shows in 30 consecutive nights in cities across the US.The "Stand-up Comic" hasn't been in our consciousness for awhile. They have become a dying breed, a career that starves the mind and body. This film goes beyond itself, allowing the fatigue and exhilaration of comedy, seep through the screen. Through off stage interviews with each of these comics, you feel their emotional intensity and yearning for inspiration from their lives.This is a Vince Vaughn movie that just entertains it has all the right factors. There is Vince center stage doing his usual fast talking persona that I dare say has plagued most of his recent films. He is the name and the host of every show. He invites guest Justin Long, who hams it up as a waiter to him and Jon Favreau, but Justin goes on to do an unforgettable impression of Vince Vaughn in a scene from Swingers. He does same type of act with Keir O'Donnell ("the gay dude from Wedding Crashers" as an audience member and survivor of a hurricane Katrina calls him) draws pictures based on title recommendations from the audience. "Our First Date" is particularly hilarious; as it features Keir in a tree holding grapes out to a bobble headed Vince Vaughn. Still Vince reveals himself to be more that just a movie star, a thoughtful reflective and supporter of stand up. He gives the spotlight to the 4 comics, Ahmed Ahmed, John Caparulo, Bret Ernst and Sebastian Maniscalco who he pulled from the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.Ahmed Ahmed shows perhaps the most natural on-stage presence, his comedy is a pure reflection of his life - he was arrested at a Las Vegas airport for being middle-eastern. John Caparulo is a standout, with his fowl mouth, Bob Goldthwaitesque voice and his yappy dog presence, he is the most accessible to audience. When the tour stops in a particular town where they are required to do a clean show, John has to restrain himself on stage and is forced to change his brand of comedy in an altogether negative way. There is also something to be said about Sebastian Maniscalco, he is by far quirkiest of the group, he takes long, full cleansing showers and dry cleans his socks and underwear, but his genius is he embraces himself and uses it in his routines. It is his reflections after his performances and his life as a stand up that really pull at the heart strings and outlines the heart of what this film really is truly about, the often heart stopping truth of comedy. In the end it was the always hard working Sebastian that seemed the most altered by the tour. The final sequence of the film, a wrap party that has him caught up in a tearful goodbye, as he come to terms with the tour experience. It is clear he is altered forever.
closeupman
I went to a preview screening yesterday and I must saw I was presently surprised. There was a negative review here and I thought it wouldn't be that good.It was a great movie, and the serious side (as short as it was), made it even better. They give free tickets to Katrina survivors(although I'm disappointed that Vince didn't go out there with the other comedians and help hand out that tickets, he just took a photo after the show with some of the survivors), I think it was a poignant moment and helped to not make the movie just one continuous cavalcade of laughs. It's trying to show not only the human side of the comedians but of the audience as well.One of the funniest moments is when one of the Katrina survivors, a young teen, recognizes Keir by saying,"You're the gay guy!" The audience was laughing so hard at that! I think too that Ahmed Ahmed didn't get enough time. The irritating comedian got way too much screen time...how much of his 'swearing' do we need to hear.I think though that the short 'montages' without audio need to go, either have the audio of the stick or cut it out, it's no fun to just watch the comedians do something and not hear it.8/10