Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
| Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Albert Brooks |
| Written by | Albert Brooks |
| Produced by | Steve Bing Herb Nanas JoAnn Perittano |
| Starring | Penny Marshall Victoria Burrows Paul Jerome Albert Brooks Sheetal Sheth Emma Lockhart Amy Ryan |
| Cinematography | Thomas E. Ackerman |
| Edited by | Anita Brandt-Burgoyne |
| Music by | Michael Giacchino |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Warner Independent Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10,000,000 |
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World is a 2005 film starring and directed by Albert Brooks.[1] It was shown at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Synopsis
Upon reaching India, Brooks begins interviewing Indians and gathering material for the 500-page essay expected of him from the government. He is aided by two agents (who actually help very little) and an Indian woman named Maya (Sheetal Sheth), who was hired as his assistant.
Brooks' interviews and a failed stand-up performance begin to attract the attention of the Indian government, who fear he is a spy of some sort. Unable to get a visa, Brooks illegally enters Pakistan for four hours to interview several fledgling Pakistani comedians, the Indian government becomes even more paranoid, increasing border control. This action causes alarm to Pakistan, who responds with security measures of their own.
As tension between the countries grows, the American government orders Brooks to leave the country and return to America. It is later said that the tension between Pakistan and India is resolved after they learn that everything was Brooks' fault. It is also revealed that Maya sent what was written of the report to Washington, but it received no recognition.
Cast
- Albert Brooks as Himself
- Amy Ryan as Emily
- Sheetal Sheth as Maya
- Fred Dalton Thompsonas Himself
- Penny Marshall as Herself
- Marco Khan as Pakistani Comedian
Release
Reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics. According to
In a positive review, Nathan Rabin wrote in The A.V. Club, "Looking succeeds smashingly both as a comedy and as a savvy deconstruction of comedy. It's equally concerned with getting laughs and exploring how culture and language affect the way people process humor."[4]
See also
References
- ^ Scott, A. O. (January 20, 2006). "Sometimes Politics Simply Won't Do". The New York Times.
- ^ "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World". Metacritic. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ Rabin, Nathan (January 8, 2006). "Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
