Search - Laughing Matters: The Men on DVD

Half dozen diverse gay comics make for an entertaining time.

Bob Lind | Phoenix, AZ United States | 05/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With a huge selection of DVDs featuring lesbian comedians, it was about time that "the men" got a chance. Gay comics Bruce Vilanch, Alec Mapa, Bob Smith, Scott Kennedy, Andre Kelley and Eddy Sarfaty are captured doing their stand up acts during the 2007 Palm Springs Gay Pride festival.

I hadn't seen Bruce Vilanch's standup routine before, and wasn't surprised it is largely just a series of memoirs from his impressive career as a comedy writer for various stars and shows. Alec Mapa was his usually bubbly and hysterical self, and Eddy Sarfaty did his usual dead-pan but creative schtick. I especially enjoyed Andre Kelley's and Scott Kennedy's acts, which largely talked about their non-typically boyhoods, how they dealt with the realization that they were gay, and how their non-stereotypical appearance throws off straight crowds a bit, when they reveal that to them. Bob Smith is an author of several books as well as one of the more recognizable faces on the gay comic circuit, and he thankfully has some new material here, along with an explanation (on the Extras included on the DVD) that he didn't realize until the playback that he was slurring his words quite a bit. Sadly, he wasn't drunk; subsequent tests showed it to be a neurological problem, which he is working on with his physician.)

It's tough to rate a collection of stand-up acts, since it obviously doesn't carry the same weight as a single-themed film, or even a one-man show. Likely you'll love some of them, and think others are just so-so. Overall, I give this collection four stars out of five."