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When Jews Were Funny

Play trailer Poster for When Jews Were Funny 2013 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 35% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Filmmaker Alan Zweig surveys the history of Jewish comedy.

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When Jews Were Funny

Critics Reviews

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Rob Nelson Minneapolis Star Tribune Zweig's movie is equal parts witty and provocative ... Rated: 3/4 Mar 31, 2014 Full Review Dave McGinn Globe and Mail It's fun viewing. Rated: 2.5/4 Nov 15, 2013 Full Review Bill Chambers Film Freak Central Zweig couldn't defer to a more insightful batch of interviewees. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 16, 2015 Full Review Daniel Walber Nonfics Director Alan Zweig's own anxieties get in the way of his larger questions about humor and Jewish identity, leaving us with more yuks than nuanced ideas. Rated: 3/5 Jun 5, 2014 Full Review Jay Stone Canada.com It's a jumbled purpose in a film that is otherwise rambling conversation with some grand old names. Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 20, 2013 Full Review Jason Gorber ScreenAnarchy On the whole, I think When Jews Were Funny is a strong testament to a lost age, a kind of elegy to the self-deprecation and introspection that certainly shaped in a major way modern comedy. Rated: B- Sep 22, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I used to think why jews aren’t funny anymore but after watching this movie with my Jewish rabbi neighbor. He told me that they have lost faith and humor in society after the war on Purim. So sad Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/31/19 Full Review Audience Member I didn’t even know that Jews where that funny Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/28/19 Full Review Audience Member A tedious documentary that is unsure of what it wants to be. Zweig offers sweeping generalizations that leave his interviewees nonplussed. The only reason I hung in until the end of the documentary was in hopes of hearing more classic jokes. Alas, I did not. Spend 90 minutes watching Blazing Saddles -- it's a richer exploration of Jewish humor. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Not very informative or entertaining. C- Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member This is way more than a movie about old Jewish Comedians, this is a movie about the Jewish soul. You have to be a Jew to give this film 5 stars because it hits on all 8 Jewish cylinders. Only 4 stars if you're a Goy because frankly you will be only able to connect intellectually with this and not emotionally. The Shelly Berman end when he sings alone is worth watching this film. Two kosher Pickles up! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting, but a bit slow. Expected more jokes. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
When Jews Were Funny

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When Jews Were Funny

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Alan Zweig surveys the history of Jewish comedy.
Director
Alan Zweig
Producer
Jeff Glickman, Jesse D. Ikeman
Screenwriter
Alan Zweig
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 27, 2016
Runtime
1h 30m
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