Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (14)

"If (it) didn't happen exactly this way, it should have."
Another "made-for-Showtime" original movie that wildly exceeded expectatations (see also my review of the Patrick Stewart vehicle "Safe House"), "Elvis Meets Nixon" details the two days in December of 1970 when Elvis Presley, for reasons known but to himself, left his home in home in Memphis, Tennessee on his own for the first time in his adult life, criss-crossing the country to Washington, DC, then to Los Angeles, CA, and finally back to DC for a meeting with...President Richard Nixon. Fun for Elvis lovers and nonlovers alike.
I just recently saw this movie with a group of friends, some die-hard fans like myself, and others who know very little about Elvis. This movie was great! Everyone enjoyed and laughed out loud at the absurdity of the reality these two men lived in. Both were so out of touch with everyday life... they were destined to find each other in this truly ironic way.
"You can't make this up..."
Of course, most of it is an "artists impression", but based on what everyone knows about these two men with many eccentricities and very strong personalities. Bob Gunton does a great Dick Nixon and Rick Peters does a really good Elvis, minus the singing voice. The factuality which the story is based on is the letter Elvis sent to Nixon which is fantastic itself and the photo of Elvis in the purple cape suit with the President in the Oval Office - proof that the meeting did occur.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) solemnly alerts us to the glory that was Spinal Tap in his introduction to this "rockumentary" about the legendary British heavy-metal group, featuring lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), lead singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer), and a succession of drummers whose careers were cut short by spontaneously combusting on their stool, drowning in somebody else's vomit, or otherwise perishing in untimely fashion. Under DiBergi's studious interrogation, the band and their familiars retrace the band's evolution from head-bopping Mersey Beat poseurs to head-banging metal poseurs, each change in musical direction or tonsorial chic having little effect on the surviving trio's sublime idiocy. For, as St. Hubbins (he's the "deep" one, relatively speaking) sagely observes, "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Dolby
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered
• Special Edition
• NTSC

Reviews (336)

THIS BAND IS GARBAGE!!!! THAT'S WHY THIS MOVIE IS SOOO FUNNY!!!!!
Most people doesn't realize that this band SUCK'S!!!!
11/10
How to be a part of real Rock History without being a musician, singer, producer or someone in the music business? Answer: Make a movie as this one. Almost every serious Rock fan and rock star must have seen this movie or if they haven't, they had better see it before they go out and give another interview. Believe me, there are bands and performers who still talk and give interviews like Spinal Tap did in this movie. This movie is made for these guys. Like me, if you have watched countless interviews of rockstars, popstars and movie stars you cannot do without this classic. The Lead guitarist was my favourite. I could give him an Oscar for his brilliant performance. If Jimmy Page used a bow on his guitar you must wait and see what the lead guitarist ofSpinal Tap does.
"No One Knows Who They Were Or What They Were Doing, But Their Legacy Remains"
A seering exploration of life behind the glitz and glamour of rock and roll? Not quite, but it is an amusing mock-u-mentry on a fictitious band named Spinal Tap and the trials and tribulations on the concert road for a group long past its glory days.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Comedy    3. Feature Film-comedy    4. General    5. Movie    6. Music & Musicals   

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (36)

Casually Earnest Storytelling
ends up creating a compelling style all its own, earnestness mixed with obscenity, leading to the unforeseen dilemma of finding what the storyteller was looking for but being trapped by his story from allowing himself to acquire it. It grows on you. And the serenity of Elizabeth Wagner anchors it in joy and hope.

Enjoyable and funny
Just saw this last night and had to follow up with the reviews to see if this film maker had made any other films.This was funny, touching and memorable.I did read in several on-line reviews that in Oct. of 1999 Elisabeth and Myles married.I'd love to see a follow-up of there life.Where is Myles now????

Pretentious & Sad
I caught this movie on cable, and while the premise seemed interesting I found myself disliking the Myles, more and more with each scene. He was/is absolutely the most repugnant, self-centered man I have ever had the displeasure of viewing. He was boring, hideously dressed (wearing a plaid shirt and dorky jeans in L.A??? to supposedly meet the woma of his dreams).
Read more

Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

Features

• Color
• Full Screen
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Comic Documentaries    2. Special Interests    3. Television & Documentary    4. Travel   

Editorial Review

Struggling filmmaker Mark Borchardt is the subject of Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Dolby
• NTSC

Reviews (114)

I love this film to death.
I love this film to death. It touches my heart in ways no other films have. It uninhibitedly and unpretentiously captures the greasy, smudged fingerprints of a real human being as he creates something straight from his soul.
The best of the best...
American movie must be watched repeatedly.Each time you view, you will find more & more.Only in Wisconsin can this type of true talent be found.If you don't watch this film, please turn in your human being card, & go back to where people have no minds or souls. 123becky

"R.I.PUncle Bill"
O.K. I absolutely LOVE this film.I've seen this movie about four times now and I usually wonder if it is real or not.The movie is so well done and edited so beautifully, that I wonder if this is scripted with paid actors.I've seen that Mike Schank in a couple other movies, so I dont know.Anyway, I'm not trying to give this a bad review.Chris Smith is a genius.He is the best documentary filmmaker, I have seen so far.I had friends exactly like Mark and Mike, so I could totally relate to them, which is cool.This film is also very inspiring and educational to anyone who wants to make a movie.They dont give you step-by-step instructions or anything, but it gives you an idea of how its done.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

A brazen mixture of stand-up comedy, political commentary, CEO confrontations, and shenanigans with Random House tour escorts, Michael Moore's second foray into dark docucomedy after Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Dolby
• NTSC

Reviews (62)

The Big One: Michael Moore's Crusade against Corporate America
G'D bless you Michael Moore for your crusades not only in the books you have written but also for your doccumentary movies to safeguard the working man blue collar workers. The Big One is depressing and funny at the same time. His political satire and savy humour helps you deal with the horrible reality of the coruption in government and in corporations in america. It is about time someone stood up to the corruption of the ceos and corporations. G'D gave michael moore the heart and the guts to go out there and fight the good fight not only for faith but also for justice.

Cheap Trick Fans will like the Interview with our favorite 'Trickster, Richard V. Nielsen, at his home in Rockford, Ill.!
Michael Moore strikes at the Establishmewnt again!
Michael Moore is an idiot
This was a ridiculous documentary. I watched with an open mind, and after it was finished I was so irritated because he showed such a one sided biased view, it was ridiculous. Being that it is a Michael Moore movie I should have expected this but I tried to view it openly. Let me warn you now, don't waste 2 hours or 20 dollars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• Full Screen
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

Great film, Too much money
**includes a spoiler.
Holy Crap.
I saw this film in my Rhetoric of Cinema class, and as soon as the initial collage of televisions hit my eyes, I was transfixed.It was, to be honest, extremely bewildering until it hit me: this is how I think.At that point it became sensory overload, but I loved it.It was thought provoking, it was intense, it was absorbing.It's required viewing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animation    2. Comic Documentaries    3. Special Interests    4. Television & Documentary   

Editorial Review

Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (156)

Michael Moore : Propaganda Stooge of the UAW
Michael Moore filmed this propaganda,partially financed by the United Auto Workers, to distract attention from the real reason GM was forced to shutter plants - the Japanese auto invasion, made possible byGM's unhealthy cost structure. Thecompany was burdened with exorbitant UAW wages, something union friendly Michael Moore does his best to conceal. So Roger Smith becomes
Michael Moore's first is still his best, despite the vulgarities
Leftist-Anti Establishmentarian
Not likely to help much in solving the problems
The film is a wonderful snapshot of the decline and fall of an American town.The scenes of parties for Flint's rich folks and GM executives, interspersed with poor workers being evicted from their homes, are great.I also loved seeing Reagan and hearing the Flint citizens talk about how he was going to bring the jobs back.This is the President who put our country on the road to bankruptcy.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedy Video    2. Documentary    3. Movie   

Features

• Black & White
• Silent
• NTSC

Reviews (9)

Just Stunning...
I can only second what the others have said-the whole thing is wonderful.Too bad it looks like we'll have no DVD release of this-I wouldn't part with my LD's of this for anything.

The best Keaton documentary available
In the same style seen in "Unknown Chaplin", this video set shows the complete life of Buster Keaton using rarely seen footage. A facsinating work!! I would like to see a DVD version made.

No need to compare him with Charlie -- BOTH are just GREAT!
About 7 years ago, I saw an one-hour biography TV program on Buster Keaton in my home country, Japan.The approach to the entire life story on Buster that the program organized could be best summarized in some descriptions:"The Great Stone Face formed by his father's abusive training in his childhood", "Acrobatic performance that is one-inch-close to death" or "Happy ending of his life after lifelong loneliness" and so on and on.Until I had a chance to see this "Buster Keaton - A Hard Act to Follow" I used to have no doubt what a sad clown Buster was -- even sadder than Charlie Chaplin.Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Documentary    3. Movie   

Features

• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Waste of money and Time!
I am a Theatre teacher who was looking for a prime example of Pantomime to show my students. I ordered this video and was appalled at the horrible quality of the VHS. It is in B/w from the 60's (which isn't a problem) but it is all from one TV show and is hard to see due to a huge horizontal line running through the middle of the screen. I returned the VHS hoping that it was just the single VHS that was bad but it apparently is on the master copy because the one I got back had the same problem. The video is called Meet Marcel Marceau: 1962-today. But it is all one very old performance with no variety and very hard to see. I would try looking somewhere else for a good example of mime. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedy    2. Comic Documentaries    3. Television    4. Television & Documentary   

Editorial Review

Michael Moore's superb documentary (following in the footsteps of Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1123)

It is worth seeing, but Michael Morre missed the point
He thought the columbine incident was about gun control.It was not.It was about anger and bullying.That is the problem.That is what would have fixed that problem.We need to help children be better to eachother or problems like this will keep going on.It is worth seeing because it is interesting, but he is wrong on this one.Micahel Moore is a good director but people are not always right.

Changed My Perceptions of Michael Moore
I saw the last half hour of this movie on the Bravo network last week when I was actually looking for a rerun of "Project Runway," so my first exposure to it was the segment with K-Mart and the interview with Charlton Heston.
Confusing the Argument on need for more American Gun-Control.
Indeed,there is a need for a continuation of regulated gun-control,in America.Yet,Michael Moore uses terrible examples to prove his point and humorously distorts the facts.Moore's end product does not justify the means.Eventhough Moore doesn't use a gun to kill ,he's the very essence of the "drive-by media".Why didn't he do a film on pukeheads who recklessly abuse their right to own a gun?-Answer-because that would give honest people the validation to bear arms. The people he points to ,in the film, who have done the shootings,are kids.After years of watching violent images,via videogames,and no parental control led them to that destructive behavior.Not the K-Mart availableness of the rifles and the bullets. The eschatological preachers of the elusive Doomsday,like David Karesch,do have a right to gun-ownership.But not for Holy War,against the American government and Pagan socialists alike.Now,Tim McVeigh's senseless bombing ,had more to do with his anti-social delusions ,rather than his true feelings about legal restrictions on unlimited gun-ownership.(If it wasn't for the song ,"Happiness is a Warm Gun", John Lennon may not have been shot by the maniacal subliminal Beatle listener,Mark David Chapman.) Charlton Heston supports ownership of hunting rifles,for sport and protection.The surprise Moore attack on Heston,was ridiculous.Like comparing apples to oranges.Moore shows himself as an opportunist,and not a gentleman.Dick Clark owns some music restaurant chain,where a black woman was directed to work at one.How is he to know,about her family members possessing guns or not?She broke the law,and Clark can not be held responsible for her domestic negligence.The careless woman's family promoted an un-healthy atmosphere for their dear children.Moore's subreptitious inferences are highly entertaining,but divert from the root cause of the lethal gun shootings,in America. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic Documentaries    2. Documentary    3. Pop    4. Television & Documentary   

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Dolby
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

EXCELLENT LOOK AT HOW THE BIG "WHIGS" IN HOLLYWOOD LIVE!
This movie was so well done and it was very interesting. It showed you what life was like in the "Hollywood" spotlight. The director, Francis Megahy was very brilliant in creating this film. Anybody out there who loves interesting films and learning more about the movie industry, please don't hesitate to rent this film, you won't regret it!

Investigative movie: How things happen in fleshpot Hollywood
If you want to know what makes a Hollywood movie "happen", then here's a good look at the "industry". I grade movies not only on each's story line and actor performance, but on how well put together itis; this particular one never failed to hold my interest and makes a lot ofsense...All the time maintaining the British camera crew's POV (point ofview) during interviews with Hollywood's movers & shakers, and trailingindustry con artist/pimp Kevin Johnson. Well done! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• Director's Cut
• NTSC

Reviews (11)

Bigfoot & the Four Horsemen
As stated by others, this documentary is about two things - bigfoot and the four horsemen of sasquatchary (John Green, Rene Dahinden, Grover Krantz, & Peter Byrne). This is a well done piece, giving time to each of the four men. They talk about bigfoot and Dahinden tries to give an explanation of why the four of them didn't get along. Their in-fighting is amusing and their personalities come out here. Krantz the scientist, John Green the journalist, Dahinden the seemingly bitter every man, and Byrne the playboy hunter. Two of them are dead now (Krantz and Dahinden) and the other two (Green & Byrne) are getting on in years. Most amusing is how all four of them dismiss John Lesparitis as a dimwit regarding bigfoot.
Bigfoot lore with a comical twist.
It's always good to see the comedy side of mostly serious topics, bigfoot being a fringe subject with not alot of lighthearted humor surrounding it. We believers take this subject seriously in an enjoyable way that lets us believe that there is still mystery in the world and we are not complete masters of the universe just yet. This dvd is very entertaining if not to informative and gives insight into the four men who started serious investigation into the bigfoot phenomenom. Bigfoot songs, excerpts from d-movies{pretty campy stuff}, and a host of interviews from real reseachers are not well edited together but it adds to the fun of dvd. Overall I think it's a worthy addition to the bigfoot catalog but take it with a grain salt and sit back and enjoy.

Four Men's egos and is Legend seems to be a hoax....
This film was not so much a story abyut Bigfoot as it was about the four men who searched for the creature during the last 35 to 40 years of their lives.The four grew into largely self fish old men who while convinced that the creature they were searching for was real, hated each other with a large degree.Grover Krantz wanted to and encouraged people to shoot a Bigfoot if they saw one, while Peter Byrne totally disagreed with that. The other part of this film delt with how likely it is that the Roger Patterson Bigfoot footage might be a hoax, although the four geeks in this film who make that claim are just as bad and unbelieveable as the four crusty old men who belived that Bigfoot was real.The fact is that in recent years, the Bigfoot mystery has started to loose a lot of ground as more sightings turn to be lies that come from people who like to see their names in the papers, Bigfoot footage has turned out to be people in ape suits,and large foot prints of this creature have been revealed to be fakes.There is still no evidence that such a creature exists or has existed in the recent past.The theories that have been suggested for this creature's existence has largely been thrown out of the academic world as 'unproved speculation". There is however still some basis to belive that maybe a similar creature, the Yeti, might exist, as recent evidence coming from China suggests that an unknown primate of some kind does live in the moutains of that country and maybe has a range that goes to the country of Vietnam where local people tell of a similar primate animal (they call the Yarnin). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic Documentaries    2. Television & Documentary   

Features

• Black & White
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Not as funny as the box makes it look, but...
Honestly, this is a hard one to rate. What you've got here is a 1950's communist scare film, hosted by none other than Jack Webb of TV's Dragnet. So, you're taking your 1950's American life for granted? Well, what if you suddenly woke up in a town than looked just like yours... but was run by communists? "The classic paranoia film," the box calls it. There is an additional short about the meaning of the oath a soldier takes, with an apparently funny caricature of a Korean communist.Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Documentary    3. Movie    4. V/a Compilations   

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (5)

Buster Keaton's road movie
The Railrodder and Buster Keaton Rides Again (1965) are enjoyable remnants of the Keaton revival that occurred in the late '50s and early '60s, just before Keaton's death in 1966. The National Film Board of Canada paid tribute to Keaton by having him do a short subject in his old silent style. The Railrodder & Buster Keaton Rides Again
The Railrodder & Buster Keaton Rides Again is not 5 stars because it is the equal of The General or Sherlock Jr.. It is 5 stars because there is nothing else like it. THE RAILRODDER is a short. It was made in 1964 in the style of one of Buster's great 1920-23 silent shorts. Buster makes a trip through Canada. BUSTER KEATON RIDES AGAIN is a documentary on the making of The Railrodder. It also includes a bio on Buster. Buster Keaton Rides Again at times seems like a home movie and is very insightful. At one point Buster becomes upset when he dosn't get to do a gag he wants (it eventually ends up his way). I could imagine the situation as taking place in the 1930's as a battle with Lawrence Weingarten and the insipid MGM team. Only then it was on a much grander scale. The Railrodder & Buster Keaton Rides Again is a wonderful tape.

Comedy and Railroading in one flick
Here is the person of Buster Keaon.Nothing less than a genius of comedy.This combines a very funny short movie and the making of it as well.Keaton suggests, often demands how a scene will be done and we see just why he brought tears of laughter to Americans for decades.Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Drama    3. Miscellaneous    4. Movie    5. Silent Movie   

Editorial Review

Can you handle the truth? If you're Mickey Mouse, George Will, a Philip Morris executive, or any one of the corporate no-good-doers who pollute the environment, abandon their customers, or cheat their workers, best be on your guard: Michael Moore has got your number, or at the very least, your home address! Moore, muckraking journalist, guerilla filmmaker (Read more

Features

• Box set
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (31)

Embarrassing
I had to stop watching this after episode 8 because I was overwhelmed with sympathetic embarrassment for Mr. Moore (since he obviously doesn't have the sense to be embarrassed for himself.) I knew he was a reactionary dribbler before I watched the tape but I thought it might be entertaining anyway. Too bad it was just sad. I only liked the first two episodes because he actually attempted to help people (the guy who needed an organ transplant, and the guy who was layed off,) but otherwise it was uninteresting and unfunny. His early episodes attempt to deal with issues which are mildy interesting (tobacco industry, homophobia... same old same old, but still noble) but in later episodes it becomes more about just lampooning the "bad people" (aka rich people) and not actually doing anything proactive. This would be fine if he were actually funny, but he's not, and his comedy bits sound more and more like leftist diatribe as the show goes on... And no, I'm not a republican, but I know garbage when I see it (GIGO.)

A look into the underbelly of America
I caught a few episodes of The Awful Truth on the tele and must say it is a pretty mixed bag.I liked the episode on guns, where Moore went to the NRA with his new idea for a mascot, a walking talking gun.Needless to say they wanted no part of it, but it was much more to the point than was "Eddie the Eagle," or whatever the NRA calls its stuffed bird which tries to warn tots of the dangers of guns while at the same time it fights any and all legislation on the hill to combat the proliferation of handguns.But, at other times Moore sounds pretty sanctimonious, such as when he is wheeling through New York in his rented Taxi refusing to pick up white folks. In other words it is the Michael Moore many have grown to love, not afraid to take on the big boys, and at the same time pointing out the many inherent weaknesses in our society.

Awful... but truthful too
Michael Moore is one of the few journalists out there who understands and acts on the need to present the story as it stands, regardless of the consquences. He refuses to sell his soul in order to satisfy media magnates, and this means we get a combination of (a) the hidden reality behind the big media stories, and (b) a rather irreverent look at the way many large US corporations operate. Both of these are tackled in humourous ways (Crackers the Corporate Crime-Fighting Chicken taking on Disney was an absolute classic), but can also be alarmingly sober (e.g. cold-hearted insurance company refusing to pay out to save a client's life). The Awful Truth is thus social conscience as well as great entertainment. Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Documentary    3. Gift Set    4. Movie    5. TV Shows    6. Television   

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (7)

BRUCE
I knew of Vilanch as a comedy writer, but I had no ideaall this guy was into and how much respect he has in the industry.Parts of this DVD are laugh out loud hilarious and frankly Robin Williams has NEVER been funnier and that really is saying something, his bit is totally extemporaneous and it is classic Robin Williams, it alone is worth the price of this DVD, but it really is Vilanch that shines here, he is so likeable and you can tell he loves what he does and frankly you really can't blame him.

A glimpse into the life ofa great comedy writer
Millions of people know of Bruce Villanche from his appearances on the "Hollywood Squares"with his bushy hair, glasses, and T-shirt collection.America has been laughing at his work for many years, though.He's written everything from TV shows (the Academy Awards and "The Brady Bunch Variety Hou,r" just to name a few) to the speeches and jokes for today's hottest stars, including Bette Midler, Whoppi Goldberg and Billy Crystal.This documentary takes you into his world, showing you his creative process in snippets of his own stand-up, interviews with some of his clients, and scenes from TV shows and ceremonies. The Very Best of Bruce Vilanch
Words cannot express the ways in which this great man has helped to mold me into the person I am today.He has helped me not only accept who I am but also how I live my life.Get Bruce! is an instant classic in my book.In the film the Master Vilanch shows not only his comical side, but also his androgynous personality.I am 110% positive he has had the same impact on all who have the pleasure of experiencing the Master at his finest.Bravo Bruce!!!I await the start of production of Get Bruce II.Like a fine wine this movie continues to get better with age.Pick up a copy and experience the MASTERFUL Vilanch for yourself.Take it form me the #1 fan: you wont be disapointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

Dated and Dull
This is waaay before the age of personal trainers. Not only is their a small amount of bare skin, but the bare skin they show ain't worth seein'.Thisstuff got better in the 80s, when there was ample supply of attractive, and less inhibited women.

Too dated to be enjoyable
If seeing naked women in funny situations is what you're looking for, you're better off seeing Playboy's Really Naked Truth or one of the Candid Candid Camera series.
VHS version is a disappointment compared to the original.
It had been almost 30 years since I saw this in the theater and looked forward to the VHS version. I was somewhat disappointed because it contains too much "discussion" at the expense of some of the great original footage not included on the VHS release. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Entertainment Rated R    2. Documentary    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

You must own this if at all interested in comedy.
Simply put, if you have the slightest bit of interest in the Second City, improv, or good comedy in general, this tape is a must own.As stated elsewhere, the Second City is a legendary comedy theatre which has spawned some of our country's greatest comic minds (John Belushi, Alan Arkin, Mike Myers, Robert Klein, Joan Rivers, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, etc.).This vid is a doc of the making of one of the troupe's most successful and innovative reviews in recent years, "Paradigm Lost."It also presents scenes from the show which won many top Chicago theatre awards.It was so hilarious, in fact, that two of the revue's performers, Tina Fey & Rachel Dratch, were immediately scooped up by "Saturday Night Live."It's a fascinating portrait, letting us see the process from the very first day of rehearsals to the opening night.Interviews with the cast and very talented director, Mick Napier, are sprinkled throughout and, if you listen to what they have to say, you can learn as much here as you could sitting in on a good improv class for a few days.All the performers are fantastic and all the scenes are genius.Most all of the cast has popped up elsewhere in recent years and deservedly so.In addition to Dratch & Fey, the performers are Jenna Jolovitz (now a writer for "Mad TV" & the failed "The Downer Channel"), Kevin Dorff (writer & sometime performer on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien"), Jim Zuvelic (last seen in a guest shot on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), and, in my opinion, the funniest of all, Scott Adsit, who was in the cast of "Mr. Show with Bob & David" and has been seen on "Tenacious D" and "Friends."This title is as informative as it is hilarious.Host Jim Belushi doesn't even manage to bring things down (thank God he's not called on to be funny)!

Second to None is second to none
This brilliant documentary manages to bring the viewing audience behind the scenes ofthe creation of a very funny Second City show titled Paradigm Lost. Second City isChicago's famous comedy improv theater which has produced many of American comedy's great stars ever sincethe classic Saturday Night Live cast of the 70's.In fact comedians shownin this Second to None video are now writing and acting in SNL.We see hilarious ideas unfold and emerge as full blown skits, while learning,in wonderfully interspersed vignettes,how the actors learn to relate to and trust each other and the director. Don't miss theunforgettable first day of a baby gargoyle in school.Yes,it's far out sometimes but always entertaining, whilewe learn about theater direction and production at the same time. Thewriting,direction and productionof this video by HMS, a Chicago based company with six Emmy awards to its credit, is skillful and unobtrusive.It's hard to think of a documentarty that was as much fun as this.

Great Insider's View Of Second City
For the first time ever, Second City allowed cameras to film the process of creating a revue. The fact that it was the amazingly talented director Mick Napier anda stellar cast that included Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Scott Adsit, Kevin Dorff, Jim Zulevic, & Jenna Jolovitz - along with Ruby Streak and Craig Taylor - being filmed, made the whole thing historic as well as funny and enlightening. Anyone who wants an insider's peak at this process should get this video. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedy    2. Comic Documentaries    3. Documentary    4. Television & Documentary   

Editorial Review

This "mocumentary" by Dirk Shafer, an actor-model turned filmmaker, is a witty and art