Rating: 
Summary: Interesting & Original Look at Comedy & Show Biz in General
Review: "Comedian" is a fascinating documentary of Jerry Seinfeld's return to standup comedy after ending arguably the most popular tv show of all time as well as retiring all of his old material. Although there are many funny moments in this film, it's really not a comedy - it's a documentary/"behind the scenes" look at the work Seinfeld put into getting back into the groove of coming up with new material and performing for all different types of audiences. Along the way, interesting conversations are documented between Seinfeld and other standup comedians including Colin Quinn, Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, Garry Shandling, Jay Leno, and many others. The movie gives an inside look at how comedians create their sets, and how they feel about performing. It's fascinating to watch Jerry Seinfeld, worth probably 300million dollars, driving himself to small clubs in New York City to pop in unannounced to see if he can try out his new material for an unsuspsecting audience. One of the funniest parts of the movie is when Seinfeld must confront a noisy, talkative audience at a comedy club on Long Island, prompting him to say backstage, "How BIG do you have to be to get people to stop talking during your set?" Another interesting aspect of "Comedian" is that while it chronicles Seinfeld's return to standup, it also chronicles a younger, unknown, aspiring comedian and his struggle to become a famous comedian. The interaction between him and more skilled, experienced comedians is awkward and captivating all at once. I'm not a huge fan of Seinfeld - I loved his show, find a lot of his standup funny, but probably wouldn't see him live - yet I left this movie really liking it and suggesting it to everyone I know. I highly recommend this movie if you're a fan of Seinfeld's, any of the aforementioned comedians, or shows like "The Larry Sanders Show" or "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Rating:
Summary: interesting
Review: The first thing that people must know about Comedian is that it is not a concert film. People walked out of the theater during the movie, saying it wasn't funny enough. It wasn't meant to be funny, although there are some funny parts. It is the story of Jerry Seinfeld building a new act, after he retired his old, successful pre-sitcom act, and how, even after all his fame and millions, it just comes down to whether or not the joke is funny. He gets a standing ovation going ON stage but if he is not funny, within a minute or two, he has lost his audience. The movie also chronicles Orny Adams, a younger up and coming comic who will do anything to make it big.
Rating: 
Summary: The Worst Movie I Have Seen
Review: If you are expecting to be entertained a la Jerry Seinfeld style, do not hold your breath. The laughs in this movie are few and far between. The theme of this movie is the angst that Jerry still suffers as a comedian, even though he has reached the top. The whole movie is a string of backstage conversations with Jerry and other comedians. It reminds me of the outtakes that one views at the end of a movie, although this movie is not as entertaining as some outtakes I've seen. All four people in my group (all Jerry fans) agreed that this movie put us to sleep, literally.
Rating: 
Summary: Comedian not funny.
Review: I like Jerry Seinfeld. Alot. The show was funny, all his stand up was funny, but this movie wasn't. And its not just about Seinfeld. It's also about some egotistical manian named Orny Adans who also isn't funny. Don't make the mistake that I did and see this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Insight into Jerry and Standup Comedy
Review: Comedian is a documentary about madness. Why would a wildly successful and extremely wealthy man like Jerry Seinfeld continue to visit bars and clubs to tell a few jokes? Why would he endure ridicule from drunks and other lowly patrons? This doesn't seem to make much sense, so this well made documentary attempts to answer that question.The first thing that is apparent in this movie is the fact that these performers work really hard. This isn't some mail it in job, these folks drive themselves insane working on new material and making people laugh. In the movie, we see even Jerry torturing himself trying to come up with jokes and lines. It's not easy, and Jerry let's us know that in surprisingly frank dialogue. The movie follows Jerry all around the country, debuting his new act to a variety of audiences. Most of the time, he succeeds, but sometimes, he flops. These instances provide some of the best parts of the movie, watching the King just fail. Very interesting. Also great is Jerry's interaction with other comics, like Colin Quinn and Chris Rock. You can see that a great friendship exists between these guys, and it's nice to know they've all been pretty successful on their own. The other part of the movie follows a young comic on his way up, Orney Adams. I thought this portion of the movie was very good, almost as good as the Jerry material. Adams is so dedicated to his success that he will do anything to make it to the top. He is also tortured mentally, never thinking he did well or always degrading his own ability. He is quite funny, but he sure doesn't think so. I just thought some of his scenes are hilarious, and they really show everyone what these guys have to go through to succeed. Great little documentary.
Rating:
Summary: Not Funny, Jerry!
Review: I love Jerry Seinfeld. I was lucky enough to see his new act live here in Rochester last year, and it was just incredible. Hilarious stuff. Comedian chronicles Jerry's attempt to get his new act ready for the road, starting from scratch. Maybe this would be better appreciated by comedians. I really didn't laugh at all during the film, and neither did anyone else in the audience. I saw it with someone who practically WORSHIPS Jerry, and although she said she liked the movie, I didn't hear her laugh at all. The soundtrack overpowers the dialogue, making some of the standup material hard to hear, and the film itself is so dark and grainy that at one point, Chris Rock appeared as nothing more than a set of teeth. I also didn't appreciate the amount of time the film spent following obnoxious, arrogant standup Orney Adams. This guy is so full of himself that I wanted to go into the movie and give him a punch in the mouth. The part where his ego is pointed out by a fellow comedian is great, though; Adams looks fit to be tied.....I can't wait for this punk to be a big failure. ... Comedian may be a great example of what it's like to build a new comedy act, but as entertainment, it's lacking. Watch a few old episodes of Seinfeld, instead.
Rating:
Summary: It's gold, Jerry! Gold!
Review: A fascinating look at stand-up comedy by one of the most brilliant and successful comedians ever, Jerry Seinfeld. This movie chronicles his return to the stage after "retiring" all his old bits in his HBO special, "I'm Telling You For the Last Time." There's no shortage of funny moments, but it's the insight into the world of stand-up comedy that makes this such an interesting movie. I didn't care too much about the part about Orny Adams, a young, up-and-coming comic, though. I guess it was necessary to contrast his "journey" with Jerry's, but I just found it distracting and not all that interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding documentary
Review: Comedian follows Jerry Seinfeld as he returns to performing live stand-up after several years of TV work, and shows his genuine trepidation as he tries to get back into the scene. It's true that crowds give him rousing applause at first, but you get to see him as he flounders at times, afraid of losing his audience, being embarrassed at the stuff that doesn't work ... and hear his conversations with seasoned performers, with their advice for him and commentary on his new stuff, as he develops a new, full-fledged show. The film also follows relative newcomer Orny Adams, revealing his frustrations and overconfident attitude (now, just thinking about this guy makes me laugh!). At times I wondered if the emphasis on how difficult it is was a bit much, considering who we're talking about here, but the sincerity of all of the comedians in the film, including Jerry, overcomes this. In fact, when he does a Letterman show (his first after the cancellation of Seinfeld) I couldn't help but get a bit nervous myself! Overall, it was as good as going to a live NY comedy club, along with interesting insights into live performance.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, at the most.
Review: Since I was expecting an actual routine, not a documentary, it was boring. A few parts were funny but all in all it was a waste of time. Don't get me wrong, I love Seinfeld the show and I'm sure that his stand up is awesome too. Unless you are a hardcore Seinfeld fan or considering becoming a professional comedian, I just don't see how this could be entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Tedious, painful, and slow
Review: This is a documentary that follows Jerry Seinfeld as he travels around the country performing at comedy clubs and struggles to build a new act after retiring all his old material a couple of years earlier. In an article published in The New York Times in September 2002, Seinfeld is quoted saying, "...this is not a process that anyone would enjoy watching. It's very tedious and very painful and very slow." Okay, that's a quote unfairly taken out of context; however, it nonetheless sums up this film very well: tedious and slow. I wanted to see the way Jerry develops jokes and learns by trial and error in front of audiences how best to deliver them. Unfortunately, what you see instead are pointless scenes of an old, overweight Seinfeld walking down corridors, riding in limos, eating in restaurants, and talking about nothing -- which still could have been interesting, but it's a boring "nothing" rather than a funny "nothing." Skip this and go watch a rerun of "Seinfeld" on TV instead.
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