Looking for Comedy, Finding Me Laughing

Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World (1995) is funny. I wasn't expecting to laugh outloud as much as I did. From the absurd plot to all the insider jokes at Hollywood, it was genuinely funny. The film's premise is that a government taskforce has been set up to learn what makes Muslims laugh. The committee hires Albert Brooks, playing himself to go to India and Pakistan to find out what makes them laugh. The early scenes establish both that Albert Brooks isn't a very well known comic and that he was sort of a last resort for the committee.

Once in India, Brooks manages nicely to avoid mocking the culture but instead always mocking himself. At one point, he gives a comedy show, which get very few laughs but had me rolling in the isle. There is a weak subplot dealing with rising tensions between Pakistan and India all due to Brooks actions, which was tacky and ludicrous. There was also a surprising performance by Sheetal Sheth playing the assitant hired to help Brooks in writing his report. She does an amazing job playing the eager, young woman trying to understand American humor. It was nice to finally see a comedy that never reduced itself to bathroom or grossout humor for a laugh. The jokes weren't always high bar but the humor was very intelligent.