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Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World

Play trailer Poster for Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World PG-13 2006 1h 39m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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44% Tomatometer 108 Reviews 27% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
The United States government sends comic Albert Brooks and two handlers from the State Department to India and Pakistan on a mission to discover what makes the 300 million Muslim residents of those regions laugh. The three travel from New Delhi to the Taj Mahal, and even to a secret mountain location in Pakistan.
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Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World

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Critics Consensus

Although the premise seems ripe for laughs, Albert Brooks isn't ruthless or clever enough to pull it off.

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Critics Reviews

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Nathan Rabin AV Club 11/27/2006
A-
Looking for Comedy succeeds smashingly both as a comedy and as a savvy deconstruction of comedy. Go to Full Review
Stephanie Zacharek Salon.com 10/07/2006
The movie has a perversely unifying effect: Muslims, Christians and Jews may not be able to agree on exactly who the heck Jesus is, but they're fully capable of bonding in boredom. Go to Full Review
Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper 02/11/2006
I think this thing is just flat and dead. Go to Full Review
Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine 03/25/2024
5.5/10
Has some quality elements, including a standout sequence where Brooks performs a show in New Delhi that is completely tanking. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/14/2020
3.0/4.0
Albert Brooks chooses to create a patient, intelligent, and gentle comedy. Go to Full Review
Paul Chambers CNNRadio 03/12/2010
C+
Finally seeing this film so many years after I was told it was awful, I can't agree with the people who told me that. Perhaps I love Brooks' self-deprecating humor too much. Paul Chambers, CNN. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Mason M Jul 2 Keep in mind that this very positive review of this film is coming from an Albert Brooks super fan. I don't think that this film would probably appeal to someone who doesn't like Brooks as much as I do. Even though I had very low expectations for this film due to this rotten tomatoes score, I was actually very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. The concept, first of all, is spectacular. And Albert Brooks's writing and directing is as good as ever here. All the characters and their dynamics were enjoyable and interesting. And Brooks's writing is spectacular, it's hilarious and his dialogue (as always) is entertaining, clever, and natural. India makes for a great setting for this film, and Brooks does a great job shooting it, making for beautiful photography and memorable locations. And of course this film isn't nearly as good as Brooks early masterpieces, but Brooks carries over a certain warmth and charm from his past few films that wasn't quite as apparent in his early works. Though Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World may not be Brooks's best film, it's a heavily enjoyable film that's sharply written and warmly made. See more dave s 12/21/2022 To better understand the Muslim world, Albert Brooks (playing himself) agrees to participate in a government program to determine what makes the Muslim world laugh, traveling to Pakistan and India to carry out his research. Those who enjoy the dry and droll humor of Brooks will love the sly humor of Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World. Those who don't appreciate his humor will probably hate the movie, as evidenced by the primarily negative reviews. It's as simple as that. Based on the title alone, one would expect something a little more outlandish with substantially more cutting satire, but it seems to accomplish what Brooks was probably shooting for – a pleasant diversion filled with subtle humor instead of a barrage of belly laughs. See more 04/10/2022 Seriously funny (and original) Albert Brooks comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL. See more 06/18/2018 While I am a fan of Albert Brooks and he is clearly from the same school as Larry David, I believe Larry David could have done this concept better. See more 07/18/2017 Failed to find any comedy in this film. See more 06/27/2015 If you love Albert Brooks.... See more Read all reviews
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World

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Movie Info

Synopsis The United States government sends comic Albert Brooks and two handlers from the State Department to India and Pakistan on a mission to discover what makes the 300 million Muslim residents of those regions laugh. The three travel from New Delhi to the Taj Mahal, and even to a secret mountain location in Pakistan.
Director
Albert Brooks
Producer
Herb Nanas
Screenwriter
Albert Brooks
Distributor
Warner Independent
Production Co
Shangri-La Entertainment, Seventh Picture Productions LLC
Rating
PG-13 (Drug Content|Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 20, 2006, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$887.4K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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