# Was Albert Brooks Ever Funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452 "2004-08-25T15:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/41 "2004-08-26T05:38:03Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I also like the fact that his birth name is Albert Einstein. And his brother (yes, his real-life brother) is fake stuntman Super Dave Osbourne (real name Dave Einstein). Often when I watch Brooks’ films (especially the earlier ones, _Lost in America_ is a perfect example), I think, “That’s funny,” but I don’t laugh. Call it subtle comedy if you like, but for me it’s comedy that has missed the mark. But I’ve also rarely enjoyed comedies that rely on the humiliation of the protagonist, which accounts for a fair percentage of Brooks’ stuff. (And 95% of Ben Stiller’s, and many other comedians working today.) That said, _Defending Your Life_ is one of my favorite films, and I liked _The Muse_, _Mother_, and his part in _Broadcast News_. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/42 "2004-08-26T07:18:59Z")
A good example of funny-not-funny is on the **Finding Nemo** DVD; one of the bonus segments is Brooks doing an ultra-long, ultra-_not_-funny version of the “mollusk and sea cucumber” joke that his character tells in the movie. The joke delivery, itself, is (as intended) absolutely unfunny as hell; but hearing Brooks’ masterful prolonged tortured delivery of it is _very_ funny, in a meta-humor way. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/43 "2004-08-26T12:40:50Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > I’m a huge fan of both Albert Brooks and Terry Gilliam, but I recognize that both are polarizing artists. You either love em or hate em. > > The fact that those who hate them have no taste is really immaterial. > > 😛 See, now you’re in trouble. Because I love Terry Gilliam’s stuff. Just saw Brazil for the first time this week as well - loved it. Saw it right before Lost in America, in fact. So you’ve got a paradox on your hands. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/44 "2004-08-26T18:30:07Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > See, now you’re in trouble. Because I love Terry Gilliam’s stuff. Just saw Brazil for the first time this week as well - loved it. Saw it right before Lost in America, in fact. > > So you’ve got a paradox on your hands. 😉 I don’t think it was meant to mean you had to love one if you hated the other. I read it to say that like with Gilliam, people line up either in favor of or strongly against Brooks. And with very few folks clustered in the indifferent to camp. BTW, I’m in the love camp, mainly on the strength of some cuts of his I heard on Dr Demento as a kid (probably from the same album **h.sapiens** mentions, his SNL stuff (more than just the Comedy Institute), and his movies. But I agree that he’s not for everyone, and have learned over the years not to recommend him to folks, because I just end up catching a lot of flack. And **Gamera** , could you please turn off your sig? Between your version, the original G&S version, and the improvised one Paul’s father sings on an episode of _Mad About You_, that tune will not leave my brain! I woke up this morning humming it! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/45 "2004-08-26T18:59:35Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > I don’t think it was meant to mean you had to love one if you hated the other. I read it to say that like with Gilliam, people line up either in favor of or strongly against Brooks. And with very few folks clustered in the indifferent to camp. I’m referring to the inference that people who like either of those things have good taste, and the statement that people who dislike either of those things has bad taste. I can’t simultaneously have good and bad taste in movies. 😉 > [@](#): > > And **Gamera** , could you please turn off your sig? Between your version, the original G&S version, and the improvised one Paul’s father sings on an episode of _Mad About You_, that tune will not leave my brain! I woke up this morning humming it! :eek: Sorry, I always post my sig once in a thread, usually with the first post. 😉 I’ve gotten so many compliments on it, I just feel compelled to keep it out there. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/46 "2004-08-27T03:44:16Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > The film : Lost in America. The writer/star : Albert Brooks. The humor : Almost nil. > > I mean, I’ve enjoyed his guest-shots on the Simpsons - but did he ever, otherwise, show any comedic talent at all? > > I mean, Woody Allen called, and he wants his schtick back. My obscene worship of you is now over. OVER! Albert Brooks makes me laugh like a… laughing thing. Though I really can understand why people might find him less than hilarious, I expected better of you CG. _sob_ ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/47 "2004-08-27T03:56:59Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > I’m referring to the inference that people who like either of those things have good taste, and the statement that people who dislike either of those things has bad taste. I can’t simultaneously have good and bad taste in movies. 😉 hehheh, you actually got me on that one. Were I a smarter man, I would have realized the pitfall in my jibe. When I first read your response, I was thinking “This dope doesn’t have a clue what I meant.”, which was further reinforced by **Sean** ’s reply. Upon reading your explanation, I must shamefacedly shrink from this thread. At least, for the moment. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/48 "2004-08-27T12:36:46Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > My obscene worship of you is now over. OVER! > > Albert Brooks makes me laugh like a… laughing thing. > > Though I really can understand why people might find him less than hilarious, I expected better of you CG. _sob_ There was **obscene** worship? I don’t remember that… was I there? Did I bring a camera? If it helps, I still plan to watch him in other things, to see if it was merely his writing that I found fault with. Broadcast News will by in my hands in a few months, and I still haven’t seen Finding Nemo… ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/49 "2004-08-27T13:01:27Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > There was **obscene** worship? I don’t remember that… was I there? Did I bring a camera? Well, no. But it happened! It did! But then the chickens got loose and the post office wouldn’t deliver my mail anymore, and after the incident with the Chia pet things went underground for a while. But now it’s over! (I think you’ll enjoy “Finding Nemo.”) ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452/50 "2004-08-27T13:21:33Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Well, no. But it happened! It did! But then the chickens got loose and the post office wouldn’t deliver my mail anymore, and after the incident with the Chia pet things went underground for a while. > > But now it’s over! Well, there’s your problem! The chickens are supposed to be fried, not live. Pfft. No wonder I’ve forsaken you by condemning Albert Brooks. Didn’t you get the official CandidGamera worship manual? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-brooks-ever-funny/261452.md?page=2)