RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Comedian
Comedian

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Comedian (2002)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
77 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 86

Fresh: 66

Rotten:20

Average Rating: 6.8/10

Consensus: Comedian is an insightful look at the hard work of creating comedy.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for language

Runtime: 82 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Oct 11, 2002 Limited

Box Office: $2,683,160

Synopsis: In this endearing documentary, Jerry Seinfeld shares the challenges and triumphs of returning to the stand-up stage after having made his fame with his eponymous television series. Starting out at... In this endearing documentary, Jerry Seinfeld shares the challenges and triumphs of returning to the stand-up stage after having made his fame with his eponymous television series. Starting out at gritty New York City venues like The Comedy Cellar, Gotham Comedy Club, and Caroline's, Seinfeld slowly readjusts to live performances. Backstage in between shows he chats with fellow comedians Colin Quinn and Chris Rock about writing and introducing new material, dealing with dead audiences, and getting comfortable on stage. These conversations convey a compassion and understanding about the struggles faced by all comedians, especially those who are much less established than Seinfeld. One such upstart, Orny Adams, is prominently featured in the film. A determined 29-year-old who wants fame and fortune more than anything else, Orny's journey takes him from the same small NYC venues where Seinfeld performs, to a signing with a manager, and tours to Montreal and L.A. This subplot casts Seinfeld's laid-back personality and more mature approach in a unique light. As Seinfeld graduates to bigger theaters and longer acts, working his way up to a 60-minute show, he finds inspiration in fellow comedians. The climax of the film is Seinfeld's meeting with Bill Cosby, a moment he calls one of the most important of his career. COMEDIAN, directed by Christian Charles and produced by Gary Streiner, is a gift to Seinfeld fans, while its positive tone and uplifting message will appeal to all audiences. [More]

Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling

Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, Orny Adams

Director: Christian Charles

Director: Christian Charles
Producer: Gary Streiner
Studio: Miramax Films

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 7

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

May 13, 2003

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Comedian
  • Jerry Seinfeld is a working stand-up comic again. COMEDIAN is a candidly revealing, intimately observed, and often very funny look at what it takes to be a comedian. On-stage, Jerry delivers his hilarious brand of observational humor. Off-stage, he struggles with difficult material, confronts self-doubt, revels in small successes, and accepts help and support from friends and colleagues, including Colin Quinn, Ray Romano, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Jay Leno, and Bill Cosby. COMEDIAN also discovers the sharp wit of rising young comic Orny Adams -- outspoken, insecure, and fanatical about becoming the "next big thing." What emerge are two fascinating journeys by two contrasting personalities who have some surprising parallels.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Comedian

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
    Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Robert Koehler
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    08/07/08
    Mark Halverson
    Sacramento News & Review

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
    12/27/07
    Joe Lozito
    Big Picture Big Sound

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Film Threat
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Um olhar fascinante sobre os bastidores da comédia stand-up.

    comment Comment
    03/08/04
    Pablo Villaca
    Cinema em Cena
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
    09/05/03
    Stephen Kelly
    PopMatters
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: iofilm.co.uk | comment Comment
    08/04/03
    Ignatz Ratskiwatski
    iofilm.co.uk

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    07/07/03
    Greg Muskewitz
    eFilmCritic.com

    It’s both endlessly intriguing and side-splittingly funny.

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    05/22/03
    David Cornelius
    eFilmCritic.com

    Think sausage. It’s gristly, filled with fat, and even if you like standup comedy, you might not want to see it done.

    Full Review Source: Reno Gazette-Journal | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Mark Robison
    Reno Gazette-Journal

    Being funny is serious business.

    Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
    04/13/03
    Linda Cook
    Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

    Choppy editing and too many repetitive scenes spoil what could have been an important documentary about stand-up comedy.

    Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
    04/06/03
    Betty Jo Tucker
    ReelTalk Movie Reviews

    Digital-video documentary about stand-up comedians is a great glimpse into a very different world.

    Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
    02/11/03
    James Rocchi
    Netflix

    Comedian never comes full circle with the intimate details surrounding the personal life of Jerry Seinfeld. The real romanticism is about a man and his love affair with one main dancing partner—the companion called comedy.

    Full Review Source: TheWorldJournal.com | comment Comment
    02/02/03
    Frank Ochieng
    TheWorldJournal.com

    You might be shocked to discover that Seinfeld's real life is boring.

    Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
    01/14/03
    Audrey Rock-Richardson
    Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

    It doesn't have a narrative arc so much as it sips from the snifter of the life of a comedian, but that does not detract from its interest one bit.

    Full Review Source: Cinerina | comment Comment
    12/14/02
    Karina Montgomery
    Cinerina

    Those with an interest in the art of stand-up will revel in this, and there's enough laughs to sustain it for those not looking to overintellectualize things.

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/08/02
    Chris Iorfida
    Film Threat

    Ultra-cheap and incorrigibly lo-fi, Comedian doesn't have much rhyme or reason, or a point.

    Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
    11/26/02
    Eugene Novikov
    Film Blather

    What's missing most from Comedian is the stand-up act that Seinfeld is so carefully crafting.

    Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
    11/25/02
    Sean Means
    Salt Lake Tribune
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: American Dreamer | comment Comment
    11/19/02
    Stephen Silver
    American Dreamer
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
    See More Topics...

    Related Forums for Comedian

    Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    79%
    79%
    Gran Torino
    30%
    30%
    12 Rounds
    23%
    23%
    Confessions of a Shopa…
    —
    The Code
    39%
    39%
    Inkheart

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    22%
    22%
    Push
    12%
    12%
    The Unborn

    More New Releases…

    RT On Current TV

    What’s Hot On RT

    Deconstructing Harry

    Deconstructing Harry

    Pt. 3: Cuaron's darker Prisoner of Azkaban

    Best Mockumentaries

    Best Mockumentaries

    From Borat to Spinal Tap, this one goes to 11

    Humpday Clip

    Humpday Clip

    An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

    Half-Blood Prince

    Half-Blood Prince

    How good is the 6th Harry Potter?

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Weekly Ketchup: T.J. Hooker Film in Development
    38
    • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
    134
    • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
    42
    • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
    60
    • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
    20
    • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
    10
    • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
    82
    • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
    39
    • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
    8
    • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
    92
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Deconstructing Harry, Day 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    83
    • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    67
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
    59
    • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    53
    • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
    46
    • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
    44
    • Tomatometer Watch: How Good is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?
    44
    • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
    39
    • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
    28
    • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
    20
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
    0
    • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
    10
    • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
    2
    • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
    5
    • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
    10
    • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
    24
    • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
    5
    • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
    11
    • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
    7
    • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
    7
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Comedian at Rotten Tomatoes
    • Comedian at AskMen

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
    Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

    MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

    The New Cult Canon
    The New Cult Canon External Link

    The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

    Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
    Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

    TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

    A Baywatch Comedy?
    A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

    BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.