The Aristocrats

[pablo]

My wife & I saw the new movie The Aristocrats last night, and it's easily the funniest film I've seen in many years. Most of the audience was howling, screaming & gasping with laughter - and shock - at the parade of comedians all telling variations of the same dirty joke.

This a documentary/comedy which is really neither. It's similar in some ways to the movie Comedian that stars Jerry Seinfeld, but it's really a unique jazzy collage about style, improvisation, performance and the whole notion of comedy. It's also required viewing for any performer even if you're not a comedian.

Drop everything and go see it. Today. Now. I mean it.

[scot]

someone told me about the movie and the premise. I was surprised that I hadn't heard this traditional joke. Do you guys all know the joke "the Aristocrats"

[pablo]

Punchlines

Yes, I've heard it before, but the punchline was always different.

The punchlines I've heard were "The Brady Bunch", "The Partridge Family" and "I Love Lucy".

In the movie, the best punchline is by Sarah Silverman, who takes the joke in a completely different direction than anyone else.

[newyorkstreetdean]

I'm just the messenger

The Aristocrats database

I had heard about the movie but had never heard the joke. Untill now...

[gav]

hmmm, I just read 4 of the versions on the site you just posted. either I lost my funny bone somewhere, or that stuff is just not funny.
I imagine the movie must be better than the written versions.
I guess if I was drunk in a bar and someone was actually playing out the motions, I might be laughing now.

[Jim]

https://www.cartmanthearistocrat.com

[newyorkstreetdean]

Gav, I agree completely. I have alot of faith (just realized the irony in using that word here) in Penn & many of the other comics listed for the movie. I hope that site is just people going for shock value because you are right, not funny.

[Doctor Eric]

Dean and Gav:

Go see the movie. The joke sucks, the joke has always sucked, you'll get the point when you see the movie. The joke is an exercise, it's not about the punchline, it's about the middle.

Two weeks ago Emo Philips was in town (he owned), and he told his version of the joke, it sucked, and it was still cool to hear.

[Stephon]

When I first heard about the joke, I was told it was created as a response to those people who laugh at jokes they don't really understand; here's a joke that's written to be completely devoid of humor, so when the mark laughs at the punchline, those in the know can mock him.

Don't know if that's really true. These days, I hear the joke is the comedy equivalent to jazz improve. It's a joke all comics recognize, but they can each perform it in their own style.

I found the best part of the movie was getting to see how different comics approached the material--it was a real insight into how some of them thought/worked.

[Rich Potter]

Yup! Good flick

I can't wait to see the DVD, which undoubtedly will have more of the same. But more of the same oughtta be diverse and varied. I want to hear more of Bob Saget!