Can We Take a Joke?

Don't expect to laugh much at the disheartening documentary Can We Take a Joke?, a look at the sad state of provocative comedy in the era of political correctness. While a few of the more obvious standup comics who make their living through inspired insensitivity—people such as celebrity roast darlings Gilbert Gottfried and Lisa Lampanelli—claim much of the focus here, it is startling to see footage of an array of comedians (Jimmy Kimmel) and personalities (Don Imus) apologizing for attempted humor that did not go down well with somebody. Not that some reviled jokes aren't worthy of scorn, says filmmaker Ted Balaker. But the public overreaction to poor taste often says more about how thin-skinned and militant society has become, especially where values and identity politics are concerned. Many examples are offered, some pretty bizarre, including a performance in which Lampanelli was almost physically assaulted by a man in the audience because she made a joke about the rock band Journey. Gottfried was dropped from a string of funny commercials for insurance company Aflac because he posted ill-advised quips on Twitter about Japan's tragic 2011 tsunami. Much of the film concerns Lenny Bruce, the legendary comic who was arrested and imprisoned for standup monologues deemed immoral by the government. But perhaps most worrisome is the atmosphere on some college campuses, where a hyper-focus on perceived offenses has crossed into attacks on free speech. A timely, thought-provoking documentary, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)