March '01 : The Original Kings of Comedy
A Spike Lee Joint

 

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by Li Sumpter Editor: Raychel


PRODUCTION

MTV Films and Latham Entertainment Presentation a 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks Production Distributed byParamount Pictures Produced by Walter Latham, David Gale, and Spike Lee Executive Producer: Van Toffler Co-producer: Butch Robinson.


INTRODUCTION

Backstage they wait their turn, marinating in the calm before the storm. They meditate in silence. They say their Hail Maryıs. They sing their favorite get-hyped anthem while performing a ceremonial dance. They do whatever it takes to prepare for their impending moment in time. From beyond the velvet curtain the crowd explodes at the sound of their names. Itıs time. The pressureıs on. Itıs time to get out there and make people laugh until they wet their pants. This is a job for Steve Harvey, Cedric The Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac... The Original Kings of Comedy.


SYNOPSIS

Four Kings - four styles of powerful comedy. Forget about it. The creators of this project Spike Lee and Walter Latham seriously got busy with the latest contribution to the hall of fame of stand-up comedy films. Kings is presently making comedic and cultural history and will definitely be remembered among the great classic stand-up flics like Richard Pryorıs Live on the Sunset Strip, Eddieıs Raw, " and Martinıs You So Crazy. Following in the tradition of such landmark comedy projects, Kings brings you to the stage again with the sole mission to make you laugh. Adding candid off-stage moments, good music, and an interactive audience that almost serves as supporting cast, director Spike Lee transforms the traditional stand-up film into a quintessential joint flavored with the off-beat, yet right on time aesthetics associated with his creative point of view


THESPIANS

Steve Harvey, D.L Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac (In order of appearance) With the lovable King Harvey presiding as host of the show, he had the honor and the challenge of carrying the torch through the duration of the other three performances. Previous master of ceremonies for Showtime at the Apolloand star of his own TV sit-com, the job came naturally. The up-beat rhythm of the film was strong and steady from start to finish. As Harvey describes the other kings in his court; D.Lıs comedy is full of complaints, Bernieıs comedy crosses the line, and Cedricıs comedy simply makes you happy. Guaranteed, theyıll all make you laugh. Director: Spikeıs Vision Quest: Break barriers in stand-up film. Capture the energy and excitement of a live performance and recreate the communal atmosphere felt in the presence of a live audience on screen. Tough task, but Spike did it. Creative and Technical Formula: Using digital video for efficiency and visual effect, Lee shot the concert film over three days taking footage of two performances with ten cameras. " They were everywhere, in dressing rooms, the limos, the corridors, in video village, behind the stage, the hotel rooms. We shot everything," says Spike. He and Latham both wanted to distinguish the stage show experience from the film experience. Wide panoramic shots from stage revealed an endless sea of people from all angles literally simulating a virtual audience experience. Spike makes the four kings seem larger than life and definitely makes you feel like youıre a part of the comic kingdom, if only for a couple hours. Note: The signature Spike joint "hover glide" we all know and anticipate was missed here, but Spike did throw in a little Matrix magic. Peep the manıs game.


CRITIQUE

No doubt the operative word in the title is original. The "Four Kings" take humor back to the old school days when the audiencesı laughter was won by making fun of ourselves and making light of the embarrassing, crazy, and often trying experiences weıve all faced in life no matter our color or creed. Donıt expect to be bombarded with politically incorrect references and explicit sexual charades that even though intended to be humorous, often border on offensive. That particular brand of comedic mojo is left up to a different breed of funnymen. Harvey, Cedric, Bernie Mac and Hughley are not asking us to digest the kind of jokes that depend on intellect and sex-drive or even the complexities of politics and current events. These comedians provide a deeper humor, if you will, the kind with no strings attached that simply feels like soul food for the funny-bone. But donıt get it twisted, they are definitely working hard to make you split a seam.

Touching on everything from funerals to fantasy space travel, the four-man squad successfully carried their weight over the top on the laugh-o-meter by my standards, and I can be a hard sell when jokes are cracked. Everyone will walk out of the theater with a favorite schick, preferring one comedianıs style to the other (as they are all very different), but it canıt be denied that from the time the first king blesses the throne to the last, this flic is live and packed with nonstop tear-jerkinı bladder-bustinı funny ass jokes. Not to mention some really great music that might just make you feel like dancing. And you will see that many audience members in the Charlotte Coliseum caught the spirit and were moved to do so. Watch out. Itıs contagious.

Recommendations: 1)Come with your crew, hold down a few rows, and get stupid together. 2) Good first date movie. Rids the stomach of all nervous butterflies and the involuntary laughter loosens those particularly stiff dates up for some quality conversation.

 

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