Skimming the surface in ‘the Muslim World’
What’s worse than an unfunny comedy? An unfunny comedy made by a great talent. The tragedy of Albert Brooks’ latest film, “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World,” is that a great premise succumbs to a static, even annoying plot. Brooks, whose award winning comedies include “Lost in America” and “Mother,” wrote, directed, and stars in “World.” This time around, Brooks seems to skim the surface of the story, never rolling up his sleeves and grabbing tough issues. Yes, it’s great to see Brooks play a well-intentioned imbecile, but it’s tough to keep laughing when nothing happens.
“Muslim World” portrays a modern, post-9/11 world in which the U.S. government is making an effort to better understand the Muslim culture. Part of the plan is to hire an American comedian – Albert Brooks – and send him to India and Pakistan, learn what makes regional Muslims laugh, and then write up a report. The Albert Brooks character accepts the offer, and utterly fails at being funny. He puts on a comedy show, and even travels incognito into Pakistan (to meet with budding comedians), but to no avail. This man only knows one good joke, and is painfully daft otherwise. Also, his presence stirs both Indian and Pakistani leaders into an anxious war frenzy.
This idea sounds relatively good, doesn’t it? Here’s a very funny comic auteur tackling an extremely sensitive topic, wondering aloud if laughter may be the best medicine. Brooks’ strategy is to portray the protagonist as inept, similar to Charlie Chaplin, or Buster Keaton characters. And for the first third of the film, the plan works – until the second act screeches to a halt – then the laughs taper, and watches are watched.
This film would have been much better had the goal been accomplished quite accidentally by the protagonist (see Chaplin and Keaton). For instance, during the comedy club scene, Brooks tells lots of bad jokes, and the audience is silent (the film audience, and the actual audience, for that matter). Things get worse and worse, quieter and quieter, until … the show is over and we move on to the next scene. What if during the show an audience member got onto stage and was extremely funny? And what if Brooks, trying to regain control over the show, made people laugh even more? Something like that may have been funnier and provided insight into what makes people of this culture laugh.
The most frustrating thing about “World” is knowing how good it could have been. Granted, the “Muslim World” is portrayed well, and beautifully. But this was supposed to be a comedy! Perhaps Brooks should have made a drama in which his character provided comic relief amidst an ensemble.
In any case, this film falls short of its high aspirations and talented source. Rather than being a gem in the Albert Brooks canon, “Muslim World” will be remembered as a film that raised a great question … and that’s it.
Chris Blakesley is a movie critic for the Utah Statesman. Questions and
comments can be sent to him at
cblakes@cc.usu.edu.