Plot: What’s it about?
This release might seem like little more than two hours of hilarious comedic performances, but The Original Kings of Comedy offers more than simple chuckles. Of course, the laughs come often and on target here, between the stand up routines and backstage antics. So in a sense, yes, this movie is a document that shows four terrific comedians in action, but it also offers a look behind the curtains, which I think is very cool. This was filmed in Charlotte, North Carolina and in the director’s chair here is Spike Lee, who ensures we get the best seat in the house, even when we’re taken backstage. The host of this comedy extravaganza is Steve Harvey, who works the crowd to perfection and readies the stage for the next three performers. Those men are D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac, all of whom turn in a wonderful routine and delight the audiences, both live and at home. I was pleased to see a live comedic performance given a theatrical release and now, I am pleased to see The Original Kings of Comedy arrive on home video, in fine form.
The art of live comic performance has been relegated to cable television as of late, but there was a day when Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, and other comedians were featured on the silver screen. I know those concert performances did decent box office, but for some reason, we haven’t seen many of those on the big screen these days. So, I was very glad when The Original Kings of Comedy was given a full theatrical release and I must not have been alone, as the picture packed in a tidy gross, given the small investment and nature of the material. I managed to catch this at the theaters and loved it, so I was ready for another go ’round when this disc showed up. I laughed just as much the second time around, perhaps even more in fact. I think Bernie Mac steals the film with his riotous set, but all four men give fine performances in this release. And in a nice notion, Paramount has included a smooth anamorphic widescreen transfer, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, and a couple extras to boot. Whether you choose to purchase or rent, this one comes very recommended from this reviewer.
Video: How does it look?
The Original Kings of Comedy is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This was shot with a digital camera and not film, so the image looks a little like a home video, but not as obvious as you might assume. I think the darker scenes handle this the worst, as shadows break down somewhat and grain is more evident. But most of the time, the picture looks terrific and while not as refined as film, this comes across as well as you could ask for. The colors seem bright and consistent, while contrast holds up very well, no real complaints here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a taped edition of a live comedic performance, so even with a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, the audio is not that dynamic. But this sounds as good as you could expect, given the dialogue driven nature of this feature. Some range is present though, via the musical soundtrack and audience, whose laughter and applause come through in active form here. The performers sound crisp and clean throughout here, so all the jokes come across just as they should. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround track, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer, seven deleted sequences, and a music video for Big Tymers “#1 Stunna.”
