Full Description
Five disabled Iraq/Afghanistan veterans bring their painful life-altering experiences onstage, transforming personal tragedy into brutal and fiercely funny stand-up gold, mentored by some of the most talented comedy performers and writers in show business. Burn victim Bobby (“I’ve been extinguished for years”). Henline, amputees Rob Jones, Stephen Rice, Joe Krashnow and a very pregnant former helicopter pilot with a debilitating back injury, Darisse Smith, learn the fine art of joke telling and timing from mirth masters Bob Saget, Zach Galifanakis and Lewis Black. With only a short time to rehearse, the five are flown from all around the U.S. out to Hollywood for a one night stand at the Punch Line, the legendary Los Angeles club where Richard Pryor got his start. The crash course prep, with the pros guiding the raw comedy recruits through a raucous and occasionally raunchy run-through of material (Saget to amputee Krashnow: “You have a leg up on a lot of people right now because you’re Jewish.”) is one of the doc’s hilarious high points. The climatic live show finds the comedy warriors not only comprehending the healing and highly addictive power of humor but quite suddenly discovering that their lives are about to take a very unexpected direction. Followed by live standup comedy by subject Joe Kashnow.
Northern CA Premiere
