Footage shot from over their shoulders reveals a sea of faces out of which individuals quickly emerge, as the comedians -- especially emcee Harvey -- enthrall and provoke audience members.
The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
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Reviews Counted:28
Fresh:25
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: If you want lots of laughs and don't mind some profanity, The Original Kings of Comedy can deliver.
Theatrical Release:Aug 18, 2000 Wide
Box Office: $11,053,832
Synopsis: When four of the world's funniest black stand-up comics came together to celebrate their crownings as the "Kings of Comedy," acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee decided to film two of their most... When four of the world's funniest black stand-up comics came together to celebrate their crownings as the "Kings of Comedy," acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee decided to film two of their most memorable shows. The result is THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY, a raucous concert film that takes its cue from classic performers such as Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. The host of the evening, Steve Harvey, spends most of his time criticizing modern music--namely hip-hop--for forgetting to include love in its songs, missing the days when black music was passionate and romantic. D.L. Hughley focuses on universal topics such as work, as well as taking his time to criticize certain unfortunate audience members. Cedric "The Entertainer" makes a series of clever points about the differences between white and black people in addition to using his large frame to dance and run around the stage to hilarious effect. Capping off the film is Bernie Mac, a frustrated 42-year-old who is sick of sex and believes that people should tell it like it is, no matter whom they might offend. As funny as each individual is, they also take the time to make poignant observations about race, relationships, and popular culture, giving the film a sincerity that is truly refreshing. [More]
Starring: Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey
Starring: Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey
Director: Spike Lee
Director: Spike Lee
Producer: Walter Latham, David Gale, Spike Lee
Studio: Paramount Pictures
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Reviews for The Original Kings of Comedy
A consistently hilarious assemblage of highlights from the hit concert tour of the same name.
Seeing the film in a crowded theater is a lot more fun than watching it on TV would be, and the crappy, grainy look does create a sort of you-are-there immediacy.
Some of the humor on display in the movie is very funny, but much of it is offensive and demeaning.
The jokes fly so quickly and hard that you may find yourself laughing through many of the punch lines.
They form a hilarious and even poignant conscience for a brand of black humor much deeper and wiser than what we've seen on screen this year.
If they're not yet kings, they're pretty strong contenders to the throne.
What comes out of these comedians' hearts hits the most powerful chord, and the audience wants more of it.
What makes the film an almost nonstop ride of hilarity is the poetry in each comedian's profanity.
As there can only be one king, the crown goes to Bernie Mac, a goggle-eyed marvel of old-school Chicago weirdness.
Live comedy ... is a singularly difficult experience to capture on film, but Lee's done his level best here.
Mac fires his comic salvos with the authoritative ease of a champion boxer.
The key to such a movie's success is its ability to capture the 'you are there' feeling -- a task that The Original Kings of Comedy is largely effective at.
Time and again, we're transported by the outpouring of liberating humor from four men who know the territory.
While that vulgarity eventually gets wearing, parts of their acts are so funny your cheeks hurt.
Ranks right up there with Pryor's Live on Sunset Strip, Eddie Murphy's Raw and Martin Lawrence's You So Crazy.
There's nothing stodgy about these court jesters or their humor, even though their act is a decidedly grown-up affair.
This often hilarious quartet use the foul-ups, aggravations and muddles of everyday life to produce more laughs than most movies you'll see this year.
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