When Jews Were Funny

2013

1h 30m

Documentary

List

67%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

35%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

Filmmaker Alan Zweig surveys the history of Jewish comedy.

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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

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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

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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

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Alan Zweig

Director

Marc Maron

Actor

Bob Einstein

Actor

Gilbert Gottfried

Actor

Howie Mandel

Actor

Eugene Mirman

Actor

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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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