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The Original Kings of Comedy

The Original Kings of Comedy

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Some hilarious stuff...
Review: This is one of those DVD's you simply must own. Whenever you're feeling a little uneasy or upset about something, there's segments in this film that are guaranteed to cheer you up.

Steve Harvey and DL Hughley are equally funny. Both are energetic and charismatic and you can tell the audience is loving every minute of their skits. The highlight of Steve's performance is the Titanic bit, whereas DL Hughley shines with his Gilligan's Island skit. I was also cracking up when he started to bust on the audience towards the end of his set. Next up is Cedric the Entertainer, who I think is the weakest of the four. He has his moments, like the ghetto wedding and the break dancing battles, but I've seen much funnier stand-up from him (check out his Platinum Comedy Series DVD for some REALLY funny stuff). Finally, Bernie Mac ends the show. This guy is absolutely hilarious. He comes out full of energy and it just never lets up. By the time his set was done, my sides were literally hurting me. I'll never get tired of his stuttering nephew/bus stop story. And the best part is that most of his set is about his kids instead of the standard non-stop relationship/sex jokes we're all sick of hearing from other comedians. True, he falls into a raunchy sex diatribe for a few minutes, but he pulls it off with such raw audacity and energy that you simply can't help but crack up laughing. Hilarious. Undoubtedly my favorite of the four.

This movie has created debates between people with subjective opinions about which one of the four is the funniest. Everyone has a certain favorite because different people have different tastes. That's what's so special about this movie: there's something in it for everyone. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The 4 Kings Reign Supreme
Review: The Original Kings Of Comedy are indeed,the true kings of the comedy world. They earned the title of world heavyweight comedians for good reasons. The #1 reason however, is their performances in this movie and their overall 2 year nationwide comedy tour. I've seen many live on stage standup comedy movies before (Martin Lawerence,Richard Pryor,Eddie Murphy etc...), but this one by far is the best. This film showcases the incredible talents of Cedric "The Entertainer", D.L. Hugley, Bernie Mac, & Steve Harvey at there very best. All 4 of these comedians can do individual shows with success ,but when you put them all together its just untouchable. I can not really say one comedian was better than the other because all 4 kings performed very well. Each comedian had his own special impact on the film. The only thing that could possibly make this movie any better would be if Chris Tucker or Chris Rock was a 5th member. Nonetheless,these 4 kings are so funny, you forget there are any other comedians in the business. If you love comedy and want to watch a fun show that will make you laugh til' your stomach hurts, then I suggest you see "The Original Kings Of Comedy". I know that it is a must for me to see this film again. I will get this movie on DVD the day it is released. This movie is straight up hilarious and outragously funny. Its just a good show to watch whether you're black or white. It just can't any get better than this.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sickeningly Hilarious!
Review: This film captures stand-up performances from comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, and is a non-stop laugh-fest in the highest sense of the term. This review is not going to be a very long one - to be rather honest. The humor, of course, revolves around many taboo subjects like racial stereotypes, sex, religion and other things - if you are easily offended by any of these things, I suggest you avoid this film like the plague, because it is no holds barred! A few of the many hilarious scenes that I consider personal favorites from each comedian:

(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.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: it has moments
Review: Spike Lee does a Great job Directing this Film.Steve Harvey I dig but He doesn't showcase all His Best here.still I dug the 70's Music part from Him.He was Right on Time there.Cedric the Entertainer is My Boy.He always Hits Home&Here He is Tight.D.L.Hughley the weak link of the four is Alright Surprisingly.I find Him to be a Low-Budget Chris Rock mos tof the time but here He has a Moment or two.Bernie Mac is the Surprise He gives a Solid Performance.Bernie is Funny but He has had some Sub par Performances to me in the past.Overall each Comedian Compliments each other&that's my Problem there is nobody rising to the level of a Richard Pryor or getting your Hyped like Redd Foxx or Eddie Murphy or getting raw like Rudy Ray Moore or tying Subjects like Paul Mooney.show it has Moments but nobody really shows the Sign of Being CLassified as a King to me.Funny but no Royality to Boast about here.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Laughs forever
Review: The Original Kings of Comedy, not to be confused with Scorsese's King of Comedy, was a hilarious riot. All of the comedians were funny, even the MC Steve Harvey (check out his riff on the movie "Titanic" and when he steals an audience member's sweater).

Though people are still arguing over who was the funniest of the four, I think that Cedric "The Entertainer" was the best because there's no way you couldn't crack a smile when he was talking about the Monica Lewinsky scandal. D.L. Hughley was also a riot, even though he used some of his jokes before in other stand-up specials. Either he's not creative or I watch too much TV. And Bernie Mac, who also used that "stuttering boy" joke before, still provided laughs although he's not as charismatic as D.L. or Ced.

The main flaw of their performances is that all four comedians mostly based their jokes on the same tried-and-true subject that all black comedians draw on: how black people are different from white people. But the guys make better jokes on this subject than most comedians do, so that's why this movie flowed well.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
Review: The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simply put: THE BEST
Review: 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A refreshingly light-hearted experience
Review: I'm going to start the review off with the obvious: this is not a movie, but rather a documentary on the Kings Of Comedy Tour. In other words, a stand-up comedy film. You're probably reading this and wondering "why would anybody sell a collection of comedy skits as a full-length feature film?" See the movie and you'll understand. While no doubt suited for television viewing (partly because they're all on BET), the experience in the theatre gives an overall impression of being there, actually watching Steve Harvey, DL Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac toss their routines live. As for the performers themselves, some of them are downright hilarious - I particularly like Steve Harvey and, of course Bernie Mac - while DL Hughley is kinda so-so, spending most of the time talking about panties and dissing audience members. But even the weaker performances survive because the performers are energetic and bristling with enthusiasm. This ends up making the material seem a lot funnier than it really is. I guarantee you'll find yourself laughing till you're crying over jokes that really aren't all that funny (like me as well as everyone else that was in the theatre). DL Hughley is no doubt decent overall, and Cedric the Entertainer has his shining moments, although as a whole they aren't really anything special. Emcee Steve Harvey and Bernie Mac, on the other hand, are awesome. Steve Harvey's material is actually funny to begin with (I LOVE the Titanic bit at the beginning), but a lot of it is inspiring as well. He manages to find humour in love, spirituality and family life without sounding blasphemous or disrespectful. Most importantly, he means every single word he says, and that connects with the audience all too well when talking about romance and love. As for Bernie Mac: THIS is the skit that makes the movie so good. Without a doubt the star of the show, Bernie talks rudely about his kids and his unique parenting techniques, and pokes fun at other parents. His subject matter can be a little risky, but he never comes through as disrespectful or snarky. Whereas Steve Harvey delivers his skits with pure honesty, Mac's charm comes from the fact that its obvious that not a single word of it is true. This allows him to explore territory that others may be afraid to. As a whole, this movie is highly recommended if you love to laugh. It is an entirely worthwhile way to kill two hours, and I can guarantee you'll leave the theatre (or television) with a gigantic smile on your face.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
Review: The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good chuckle
Review: This documentary was brilliant right from the start. The friendship and mutual respect between the guys is apparent. The filming was excellent making you feel apart of the crowd and atmosphere. What I liked about this was the regular use of music to add entertainment, you could really feel the warmth and reminiscing when Harvey played some old skool tracks. For me all except D.L were funny. I just don't find D.L. funny but I guess it's who you identify with you find funny. Ced was the best right from the get go. His entry music smashed it and jokes on blacks in hockey, run co-ordinator and breakdancing all made him the best on the night for me. For all round entertainment, jokes and music this DVD is a must have. It's a shame we don't get more of this stuff in the UK. Really cheers me up after a long day/ week.


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