Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writer (WGA):

Albert Brooks (written by)

Release Date:

9 November 2006 (Hungary)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

To improve its relations with Muslim countries, the United States government sends comedian Albert Brooks to south Asia to write a report on what makes followers of Islam laugh.

Plot Keywords:

Comedian | India | Islam | Satire | New Dehli

Cast

Albert Brooks	...	Albert Brooks
Sheetal Sheth	...	Maya
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	Sen. Fred Dalton Thompson
Penny Marshall	...	Penny Marshall
Victoria Burrows	...	Casting Director
Paul Jerome	...	Studio Executive (as Paul Eric Jerome)
B.J. Ward	...	Barbara Nader
Lynda Berg	...	Margaret Allenton
Steve Kramer	...	Sam Loman
Vipin Kumar	...	Customs Agent
Avinash Kaur	...	Job Applicant
Rima Laham	...	Job Applicant
Sanjeev Johrai	...	Hotel Guest
Imran Mashkoor Kahn	...	Concierge
Kavita Ashok	...	Waitress

Also Known As:

Untitled Albert Brooks Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content and brief strong language.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Malaysia:(Banned) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41936) | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Seventh Picture Productions LLC

Trivia:

Sony Pictures Classics was originally going to distribute the film in the USA but chose not to, citing controversy over the film's title, which they wanted to change. Warner Independent Pictures then picked up the film for US distribution.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Albert Brooks is in Pakistan talking to the men, the translator is speaking Hindi. The national language of Pakistan is Urdu which is similar but draws from Persian and Arabic.

Quotes:

Maya: If I don't laugh at something that I'm supposed to, then please feel free to just kick me so I understand.

Movie Connections:

References The Jazz Singer (1927)

Soundtrack:

Put on a Happy Face

of course

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World is about an American stand up comic that gets a government assignment to find out what tickles the funny bone of Muslims. Brooks goes from audience to audience and tries American comedy on lethargic onlookers that don't seem to get it. Well of course people with a drastically different background and knowledge base will not appreciate American humor. That's the humor behind it. Brooks does a decent job, but the comedy is by design rather slow and plodding. Some funny moments, but mostly dry with no zip. If you're looking for a bunch of good laughs, skip this movie. If you're looking for a Brooks movie because you like Brooks, try this one.