Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland

Greetings again from the darkness. Not a bad idea from producers and best buds Vince Vaughn and Peter Billingsley. A documentary road trip with four comedians doing 30 shows in 30 cities over 30 days sets the stage for a wide range of emotions and activity. The first misstep was going with four mostly unknown comedians. Because of this, the movie really needs to help us get to know them ... which we just barely do.

The second misstep was that the actual stand-up was sparse and frankly, just not that funny. The back-stage stuff proved much better. I was actually kind of let down when the acts were performing.

Because there were so many cities, we really never get a flavor of any one particular town, although Buck Owens in Bakersfield was kind of cool. Sadly we get more shots of Billingsley sleeping than we do much interaction offstage between the comics. The side trip during Hurricane Katrina could have been much better.

Vince Vaughn is a very charismatic and talented guy so that gives the film a slight edge over what it probably deserves. The reality is that most of these guys just aren't very funny onstage and come across here as a bit sad off-stage.

It seems as though a lot of people were expecting a comedy show, as opposed to a documentary on a comedy show. Its a shame they have to pan the film for not dazzling them with humor, when it has so much more to offer. I find the filmmaker's choices and the honesty of those on camera riveting (i.e. insecurity, heckling, bad jokes, good jokes, grateful to ungracious and back again) Maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed the show in person (on an off night), but I truly enjoyed the evolution of the show from Vince's eyes. I want to make love to him. A similar film is THE COMEDIAN, being in show business I find the material incredibly compelling, those of you who like sports or Larry the Cable Guy obviously, it wouldn't be for you. Interestingly there were no women on the crew or in the show . . . hmmmmm

In 2005, Vince Vaughn organizes a traveling road show starting from Hollywood. They would do 30 shows in 30 cities traveling across the country. He is joined by friends Jon Favreau, Justin Long and several standup comics. Along the way, there are special guests like Dwight Yoakam and Peter Billingsley.

The comedians aren't that funny. They've got a few lines but they aren't that funny. It would help for their personal stories if I like their sets more. It's nice to see Yoakam play and Peter Billingsley talk about his early friendship during the filming an anti-steroid abuse PSA. The behind the scenes stuff is more compelling. The self-doubt is interesting. Vince comes off as a nice friendly guy. There isn't enough on the humorous side but it does come with a side of humanity.

This documentary took me by surprise because it not only made me laugh, but it showed me the struggle comedians have to go through to perform their material in different environments, and how their personal lives shape their material. The thing I liked about the movie was that it actually took me on a journey with these guys and I felt like I got to know them instead of just the same format most stand-up documentaries offer of strictly on stage performances. Again, Vince is pushing the envelope by doing things his way...resulting in a heartfelt, honest and hilarious journey on film. Great job, and keep doing things your way...it works!

Vince Vaughn please (with my sincere apologies to Ray Charles): "Hit the road jack, and do please come back for more for more, hit the road jack and do please come back for more". Why? Because "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show" was a comedic trip a la crop from the Hollywood to the Heartland. In this delightful documentary, Vince recruits four extremely talented but inexperienced comedians in his comedic posse for a Comedy Tour: the Arab jokester Ahmed Ahmed, the chunky foul-mouthed John Caparulo, the Italian man's man storyteller Sebastian Maniscalco, and the charismatic charmer Bret Ernst. The Vaughn Gang also includes best friend and producer partner Peter Billingsley, and the always fluid Justin Long. However, the comedic shows in the tour primarily feature the comedic performances of the aforementioned Funny Fearsome Foursome. This gang of laugh providers hit the road on a tour bus for 30 days and implausibly enough did 30 shows within that time span; even overcoming hurricane warnings in a few cities. Being an obsessed fan of the cult classic film "Swingers", the most money part of the "Vaughnumentary" for me is when Vaughn reunites with Swingers pal Jon Favreau and they both have Justin Long take a swing on reciting Vaughn's infamous money lines in the film. Not to say I did not enjoy the laugh-out-loud comedic routines from Ahmed, Caparulo, Maniscalco, and Ernst; the capping edge going to Caparulo's hilarious ruthless sets. These are four genuine (or in second thought maybe not too genuine) comedians; but whatever they case, I do stand up for them and vouch that they will have bright stand-up comedic futures ahead of them. Nevertheless, the charismatic laugh ringmaster of the "Wild West Comedy Show" is Vince Vaughn himself who is the V-Great King that orchestrated this dandy documentary that had all our funny juices flowing! You are still money, Mr. Vaughn! ***** Excellent