The Aristocrats

Directors Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette make a point in their commentary-which is surprisingly thought-provoking considering it's for a movie that consists of nothing but putting two cameras down (at most) and shooting people talking: This is about comedy as jazz.

As you've probably heard, what they did is take an old joke that every comedian seems to know and filmed about 100 comedians telling or commenting on or talking about it. It's a long, highly filthy joke with lots of room to riff and put your own personal stamp on, and they do. It's just about watching a bunch of different minds playing with the same concept.

You can see who can absolutely fly with it and who falls flat on their face (that will of course be a matter of taste) And since some of the minds are brilliant comic performers-

Hank Azaria seems to create a whole character (complete with backstory) just for the one joke.

Drew Carey insists that a physical bit of business is required to sell the punchline, something which seems to come as news to most of the other comedians.

Carlin, of course-another point Provenza makes in the commentary is that there are very few comedians he likes to listen to talk about the technique of comedy; Carlin is certainly one of 'em as far as I'm concerned (Provenza also mentions Paul Reiser and Larry Miller). It's like listening to Sinatra talking about singing...

Andy Richter lovingly tells the joke to his infant child...

After the first few times you hear the joke, you'll find, what kills you in the re-tellings is the little "licks" the players throw in. Steven Wright, among others, questioning the very reality of the joke, like "Wait...why would the man say that?"

Why would the man say what? Well, lemme tell you. A man walks into a talent agent's office, see, with his family, and he says, Have I got an act for you!

...oh just see the movie. In time, the actual content of the "Aristocrats" joke stops mattering because this is really a tribute to comedy and the way a comedy mind works.