Phunny Business: A Black Comedy (2012)
A bittersweet valentine to All Jokes Aside, a little known, but extremely influential, black-owned Comedy Club. Comedy, race and Chicago politics collided at this cultural gem and we hope our humorous telling of this story will provoke discussion, and in some small way, promote a greater understanding between the races.
Watch Trailer
Free Trial Channels
Cast
Reviews
Strictly average movie
It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.
The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Being a filmmaker/screenwriter and having seen countless films, I've often been asked by my peers what criteria I judge by when giving a film a favorable review. Showing little restraint with vocal illustration, I've often preached calculating the essentiality of whether or not the story of the film was one that needed to be told; "PHUNNY BUSINESS" excels in that capacity. Throw in skillful editing, poignant direction, and affix premium comedy provided by a steady flow of cameo flashes from an ensemble of A-list comedians and now you have a masterpiece.I've lived the greater part of my life in Chicago and its outlining suburbs, never knowing the existence of the "ALL JOKES ASIDE" comedy club; and I thought I knew the City well.