Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)
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43% of critics liked it
(108 reviews) -
27% of users liked it
(14,453 ratings)
Comic and filmmaker Albert Brooks serves his country while struggling to get some laughs in this offbeat satiric comedy. Brooks plays himself, a comedic filmmaker whose most recent success was providing the voice of a fish for an animated feature and who has just been passed by as director for a… More Comic and filmmaker Albert Brooks serves his country while struggling to get some laughs in this offbeat satiric comedy. Brooks plays himself, a comedic filmmaker whose most recent success was providing the voice of a fish for an animated feature and who has just been passed by as director for a remake of Harvey. As Brooks wonders what's going to happen next with his career, his wife (Amy Ryan), and his daughter, he's approached by government representatives who want him for a special assignment. The State Department, eager to better understand the cultural gap between the United States and the Middle East, have been directed by the president to make a study of what makes Muslims laugh. Brooks is asked to fly to India and Pakistan and bring back a 500-page report on Muslim humor; told the Medal of Freedom may be his if he comes through, Brooks accepts. With a pair of State Department officials in tow, Stuart (John Carroll Lynch) and Mark (Jon Tenney), and some help from a local assistant, Maya (Sheetal Sheth), Brooks sets out to find the funny bone of India's and Pakistan's Muslim communities, though it doesn't take long to find out what they don't find funny -- his standup act. Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World was originally set for release in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics, but when they became nervous over the film's title, they dropped the project and it was picked up for distribution by Warner Independent Pictures. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Albert Brooks
- Written By
- Albert Brooks
- Genres
- Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Jan 20, 2006 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
Critic Reviews
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Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
The movie has a perversely unifying effect: Muslims, Christians and Jews may not be able to agree on exactly who the heck Jesus is, but they're fully capable of bonding in boredom.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
I think this thing is just flat and dead.
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Peter Howell, Toronto Star
A comedian should never attempt to be a diplomat.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
I like all of Brooks's features, which are brilliantly conceptualized and deftly executed. This one's no exception, and some of the laughs are genuinely cathartic.
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Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
For all its silliness, Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World is also a work of integrity.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Albert Brooks
as Albert Brooks
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Sheetal Sheth
as Maya
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Jon Tenney
as Mark
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John Carroll Lynch
as Stuart
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Amy Ryan
as Emily
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Fred Dalton Thompson
as Fred Dalton Thompson
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Conrad Bachmann
as Ben Wallerstein
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Steve Kramer
as Sam Loman
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Kavi Raz
as Translator
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B.J. Ward
as Barbara Nader
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Penny Marshall
as Penny Marshall
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Tony Montero
as Don Budge
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Ajay Mehta
as Indian Official
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Victoria Burrows
as Casting Director
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Marshall Manesh (II)
as Shaif Al-Rafi
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Kevin Mukherji (II)
as Spotlight Man
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Subash Kundanmal
as Pakistani Official
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P.D. Mani
as Pakistani Comedian
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Homie Dorodian
as Mageed
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Yasmine Hannaney
as Receptionist
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Marco Kahn
as Pakistani Comedian
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Emma Lockhart
as Laura
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Paul Eric Jerome
as Studio Executive
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Lynda Berg
as Margaret Allenton
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Vipin Kumar
as Customs Agent
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Avinash Kaur
as Job Applicant
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Juliet Touzene
as Job Applicant
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Sunny Raina
as Job Applicant
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Rima Laham
as Job Applicant
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Sanjeev Johrai
as Hotel Guest
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Imran Mashkoor Khan
as Concierge
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Kavita Ashok
as Waitress
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Sandhya Bhatia
as Street Interview
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Mitlesh Prasad
as Street Interview
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Manoj Buxi
as Street Interview
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Surinder Arora
as Man in Temple
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Gabbar Singh
as Guide at Mosque
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Raul Laskarov
as Man in Bar
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Duncan Bravo
as Stage Manager
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Barbara Ali
as School Official
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Ali Supriwala
as Fan
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Sankalp Rastogi
as Audience Member
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Dhiru Shah
as Indian Official
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Radha Zaidi
as Indian Official
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Anand Vadehra
as Pakistani Comedian
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Lalit P. Jobanputra
as Pakistani Comedian
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Gagan Deep Singh
as Pakistani Comedian
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Mike Akrawi
as Pakistani Comedian
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Ben Anand
as Pakistani Official
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Raghu Bhagat
as Pakistani Official
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Ahmed Ahmed
as Escort
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Sameh Sheik
as Mukhtar Al-Mujib
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Shaheen Sheik
as News Anchor
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Linden Soles
as News Anchor
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Reena Dutt
as Bar Patron
- Marshall Manesh
- Homie Doroodian
- Neil Patil
- Shelley Malil
