The Last Laugh (2016)
*** (out of 4)
This documentary discusses comedy and whether or not the Holocaust should be joked about. Various Jewish comics including Sarah Silverman, Rob Reiner, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Judy Gold, Gilbert Gottfried, Larry Charles and Susie Essman are interviewed about the topic as well as other controversial themes.
THE LAST LAUGH is certainly a very entertaining documentary that tries to take a look at a comic job and ask where the line should be drawn and if it should ever be crossed. The documentary takes a look at a lot of examples including some controversial comments made by the likes of Joan Rivers, Silverman and even a look at Hollywood and movies like THE GREAT DICTATOR and THE PRODUCERS.
For the most part I found this documentary to be entertaining as it deals with people who are offended at certain subject matter. This includes various races as well as people who might be offended by tragedies like 9/11 and of course the Holocaust. It's interesting hearing people talk about where their own personal line is and especially Mel Brooks who isn't too fond of the Oscar-winner LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. It should be noted, Jerry Lewis' THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED is also discussed.
I must say that I thought there was some hypocrisy in a few of the comments but at the same time I guess this is to be expected. THE LAST LAUGH does a nice job at examining the controversy and looking at it from different points of view.