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"All
the 'Kings' Men" by Scott Mantz
"The Original Kings
of Comedy"
Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley
Directed by Spike Lee
There haven't
been too many decent stand-up comedy concert movies in a while,
and it makes perfect sense. With all the cable stations around these
days, who needs to go to the movies to see something you can see
on TV almost every night? That said, if there's anybody who is going
to bring back the format that Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy made
famous, it's Spike Lee. And his timing is perfect. After a long,
hot, and incredibly lame summer, "The Original Kings of Comedy"
is like a breath, or should I say 4 breaths, of fresh air.
I thought Robert
DeNiro was the original "King of Comedy," but OK, whatever. Either
way, "The Original Kings of Comedy" is no ordinary concert movie.
Whereas most comedians play clubs or, if they're really successful,
small theaters, the "Kings" tour has been playing to sold out shows
in coliseums around the country since its inception in 1997. This
movie captures the tour for prosperity, which was filmed over the
course of two nights in Charlotte, NC, in February earlier this
year.
Whenever Spike
Lee's name is attached to a film, you know you're in for some sort
of lesson on racism that's disguised as commercial entertainment.
"The Original Kings of Comedy" is no exception. The four comedians
lace their acts with numerous references to the cultural differences
between Anglo- and African-Americans lifestyles, and while they
each get their fare share of laughs, there's still enough time to
reflect on the message that's written between the lines.
As with all
stand-up routines, the four performers find their best material
from their own experiences, and with their urban roots, there's
plenty to choose from. Steve Harvey seems the most liberated of
all the performers, using the stage to break free from the structural
limitations of his self-titled WB television show. It's clear that
he's a religious man, and his love for "old school" music provides
for some of the film's more inspired moments. Cedric the Entertainer
has the highest laugh-per-joke ratio, as his ability to jump from
one subject to the next keeps his routine fresh. D. L. Hughley laces
his material with the most thought-provoking messages by pointing
out how everybody has been guilty of racism at some point, but by
the time Bernie Mac takes the stage, the jokes start to wear thin,
and the movie feels like it's going on too long.
"Kings" sets
itself apart from other concert films like Martin Lawrence's "You
So Crazy" and Eddie Murphy's "Raw" because it puts you right in
the line of fire. The comedians keep the jokes coming at a fast
and furious pace, while Lee captures the feel of the vibrant and
rowdy audience to accentuate the infectious atmosphere of the film.
In between the concert footage, Lee goes behind the scenes, as we
see the Kings playing cards, joking around, and psyching themselves
up to go on stage. It would have been nice to see more of this,
since it undoubtedly captures what all comedians must go through
before they get to be the center of attention for a measly 30 minutes.
The underlying
message of racism is prevalent in the entire show, but like any
good joke, it starts to get old after a while. The comedians certainly
have their moments, but at almost two hours long, lacing the film
with more backstage antics and contemplation would have showed the
inspiration behind a group of young men who surely must have been
inspired to be so darn funny.
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