Footage shot from over their shoulders reveals a sea of faces out of which individuals quickly emerge, as the comedians -- especially emcee Harvey -- enthrall and provoke audience members.
Comment
09/23/08
The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
86
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:86
Fresh:74
Rotten:12
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: If you want lots of laughs and don't mind some profanity, The Original Kings of Comedy can deliver.
Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins
Genre: Comedies
US Box Office: $11,053,832
Synopsis: When four of the world's funniest black stand-up comics came together to celebrate their crownings as the "Kings of Comedy," acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee decided to film two of their most... [More]
Starring: Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey
Director: Spike Lee
Reviews for The Original Kings of Comedy
Some segments are marred by poor sound quality. Others produce monster laughs.
08/07/08
A consistently hilarious assemblage of highlights from the hit concert tour of the same name.
06/06/08
Top CriticEasily the funniest movie of the summer.
07/24/06
The film offers more than just yuks, however. As in Lee's best work, the film intelligently discusses race and race relations, though this time through the guise of humor.
05/26/06
This is comedy with a sense of showmanship, and Lee cuts shrewdly to the rhythm of the jokes.
01/26/06
Top CriticIt is Bernie Mac who is the true King of Comedy here, following in the footsteps of Pryor and Murphy before him as he crosses from church-raised testifying, to furious black cultural theorizing, to barely controlled comedic genius.
12/06/05
I laughed myself into a headache. I laughed so hard I was hoping they'd get bad for awhile so I could relax a minute, wipe the tears out of my eyes.
01/29/05
Apesar de praticamente se limitar a registrar o show dos quatro comediantes, sem jamais se preocupar com o lado humano destes, o filme se destaca graças ao humor cáustico e sem barreiras de seus protagonistas.
07/03/03
Are they funny? Most of the time. But the humor, passing itself off as insightful social commentary, rarely rises above simple stereotypes.
05/22/03
Watching Spike Lee's concert movie is the next best thing to having been in the house when the Kings of Comedy caused a laugh riot in Charlotte, N. C. last February.
05/20/03
It is during these intimate scenes where Lee's style is more clearly evident, using settings such as a basketball court or a poker game, along with inventive camera angles and editing to give a spontanaeous feel.
02/08/03
Frequently hilarious comedy concert film, directed by Spike Lee.
10/30/02
Bernie Mac is the best way to close out the show. He lunges straight into the audience's face, politically incorrect and proud of it.
06/19/02
like most stand-up shows, has plenty of peaks and valleys... could easily have been trimmed by at least half an hour without any major losses.
06/15/02
Seeing the film in a crowded theater is a lot more fun than watching it on TV would be, and the crappy, grainy look does create a sort of you-are-there immediacy.
08/09/01
It is a simple, straight forward record of four hugely talented African-American comedians, Steve Harvey, DL Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, as they bring the house down in Charlotte, North Carolina.
04/17/01
It is, for the most part, funny, sometimes raunchy, and always from the heart.
03/21/01
Some of the humor on display in the movie is very funny, but much of it is offensive and demeaning.
01/01/00
Top CriticYou’re still left thinking that the funniest man in the building was not actually in front of the camera.
01/01/00
Top CriticLatest News for The Original Kings of Comedy
August 12, 2008:
Bernie Mac's 15 Roles to Remember 
Planning a Bernie Mac movie marathon this weekend? Entertainment Weekly has helpfully compiled a list of the comedian and actor's 15 most memorable roles. More...
March 23, 2006:
Critical Consensus: "Inside Man" is Certified Fresh, Second Best-Reviewed Wide Release Of
Tension: it's the key to many a film, and this week's wide releases bring three variants on that theme. We've got a hostage situation ("Inside Man"), class conflict... More...
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