Looking For "Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World"

Pardon My English ^ | February 06, 2006 | Aaron Margolis

[djjava]

Thanks for reading.

[trubluolyguy]

There is no comedy in the "Muslim World". Smiling will get you flogged at the least.

[GSWarrior]

With Albert Brooks movies you either get them or you don't. His humor is so dry he makes Bob Newhart look like Robin Williams.

Loooking for Comedy... is playing in my neighborhood. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Brooks' Real Life, Modern Romance and Lost In America were hilarious, IMO.

[KJC1]

Pretty funny, the timing of this movie and the most unhumorous response in real-life "in the Muslim world."

LOL.

[GreenFreeper]

interesting post. Never heard of the movie.

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

There is no comedy in the "Muslim World". Smiling will get you flogged at the least.

Didn't the Ayatollah Khomeini say something like, "There's no room for joy in Islam"? Wonderful sales pitch.

[djjava]

i don't know for sure it was actually played in 160+ theaters (it is indicated that IMDB cites only 23 theaters)but consider the fact that a major movie release ends up on upwards of 3,000 theaters, and little to no advertising for this movie was likely, it appears to be a combo of self-censorship and censorship.

[idkfa]

I like this ad placement.

[Dunstan McShane]

Loooking for Comedy... is playing in my neighborhood. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Brooks' Real Life, Modern Romance and Lost In America were hilarious, IMO.

Amen--Lost in America was painfully funny.

And Defending Your Life--classic.

[rwa265]

You mean to tell me it was banned in Boston? Oh, my!

[djjava]

we know it was supposed to be playing in that many theaters, but I express my doubts since it was supposed to be playing in Boston, and no theater in the area is playing, or claims they ever were playing it. Thus brings the suspicions that it may not have been playing in up to 140 theaters it was supposed to be playing in.

[Restorer]

FWIW I understand that the movie is painfully politically correct in its treatment of Islam. I believe it's been shown in a number of Muslim countries without protest.

[djjava]

as I said a few times, it was SUPPOSED to be playing in Boston, but wasn't, even though it was scheduled for release in Boston on January 20th--but no theater is or was playing it. It was SUPPOSED to play in Boston, but for some reason, is not. Thus, I think there is a credible suspicion that Boston is not the only city it was SUPPOSED to be playing in, but mysteriously never was.

I am suggesting that the 161 number by Box Office Mojo may be incorrect, as it may indicate that 161 theaters were scheduled to be be playing the film, but many never did. Do note, that over the weekend, the number dropped into the 20s, closer to number of theaters I found IMDB to cite as the number of theaters it was playing in.

[djjava]

mass ping

[Starter]

With that in mind I ask, "why isn't it playing?"

Probably because people that I know who have seen it have also said that it was painfully unfunny. And they're big Albert Brooks fans who were predisposed to like the film.

[djjava]

why only in an inital 161 theaters, instead of a broader release that an Albert Brooks film should command? and especially in light of the Mohammed cartoon rampages....

[Andy'smom]

You know you're right. I remember seeing the ad for the movie a few weeks ago in the Globe. After reading your post, I just checked the paper and I can't find it listed at any theatre. This is very interesting, I wonder if some calls were made to a few of the theatre chains?