Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget (2008)

the audience applauded

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

After watching so many of these in a row, this is probably the point where the sameness of the jokes becomes a bit tiresome. And yet, I still found plenty of opportunities to laugh. I watched FULL HOUSE and AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS growing up, so I'm pretty familiar with Bob Saget's work. His raunchy standup, not so much. A lot of the humor hinged on scatology and profanity, as Comedy Central is wont to do, but I laughed at least once for each dais member. The only one that really stood out in a negative way was Norm Macdonald who, if not bombing unintentionally, still did some rather awkward Kaufman-esque performance art that I didn't appreciate very much. Overall, I felt the writing wasn't on par with previously viewed Comedy Central roasts (especially Bob Saget's closing segment), but there were enough comedic nuggets that I didn't feel like my time was wasted.

I like roasts. I like comedy. I am not offended by blue comedy.I did not care for this.First off, Bob Saget isn't exactly my kind of comedian. Yes, I am aware his comedy is different than his Full House persona. He was about the highlight of the show.John Stamos hosted. I suppose that is forgivable given their careers. There isn't much forgiving the stream of comedians who followed.Most of them were C+ comedians at best. All worked blue. It seemed like the F-bomb was required. One here or there would have been no problem, but it was some people's act.Why was Cloris Leachman on the dais?Love Norm Macdonald, but his set was awkward. Would have liked to have seen Sarah Silverman at the lectern, not taped.What was most horrific, however, is that the comedians worked from very visible scripts, often reading their jokes. Really? This is how you are going to present yourself on national television?Don't waste your time on this rubbish.

With his boy next door looks, Bob Saget comes across as the nice, dutiful son all grown up. In reality, he's got one of the most vile imaginations and that cache of carnal joke pollution will shock anyone who grew up on "Full House" and doesn't know about his stand up roots. He's been quite the subject of comedian's lore for many years and here several big names in the roasting game take aim at him.Former co-star John Stamos is the host and he gets a few good shots in at his TV brother in law. And Stamos is also the relentless subject of ridicule from the others getting on stage. Jim Norton, Susie Essman, Jeff Ross, Greg Giraldo and the great Chloris Leachman are just a few of Saget's friendly attackers. You have to wonder how these roasts are really edited, as some less than stellar performances receive much more laughter than they merit. The best jokes come fast and furious in the midst of a set, with no room for resting on funny laurels. It's too bad roaster perennials Lisa Lampanelli and Andy Dick aren't here, as they could have incinerated poor Bob, not merely touched on some lightweight insults like a few in this lineup that pulled some punches they shouldn't have.Not the best or worst in this Comedy Central series, but worth watching.