Review of Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2006) by Jeffrey S — 24 Jan 2007

In 1996 Albert Brooks made 'Mother,' a terrifically funny movie brimming with great bits, and stars Brooks and Debbie Reynolds really make them zing. Before that, Brooks made sharper social comedies like 'Lost in America' and 'Defending Your Life,' which had great bits and zinging actors, too, but there was also an insight in Brooks' bewilderment with a changing modern world - a trademark theme.

After 'Mother,' though, we got 'The Muse,' which jettisoned social inquiries altogether, and the only actor who could pull off the bits was Brooks himself. Now he gives us 'Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World,' which is entirely social inquiry, has no great bits, and even Mr.

Brooks looks like he's given up. He nebs and furrows himself into invisibility as a comic who sent by the US government (!!) to find out what makes the Muslim world laugh (!!!). But they send him to a India, a predominately Hindu country.

Whether this is a little bit racist or all part of the joke is irrelevant because not only does the movie find virtually zero comedy there, but it still manages to lump all Middle Easterners together, be they Indian or Pakistani.

(Even the Pakistani comedians threaten him with guns.) There are one or two laughs, but it's all pretty bleak. Come back to us, Albert, before we have to divide your career into pre-'Mother' and post-'Mother.

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