Just for Laughs: Launching Pad

Remember when everybody didn't even know Ray Romano? When Jeff Foxworthy didn't tell “You might be a redneck” jokes? Or when Dane Cook was funny? This compilation of performances from the Montreal International Comedy Festival is a time-capsule glimpse at an ethnically and culturally diverse array of class acts and future standup stars, including Dave Chappelle, Drew Carey, a youthful-looking Jon Stewart, George Lopez, and Tim Allen. Most of the performances date from the early ‘90s (the two most recent are Russell Peters from 2000 and New Zealand folk parodists Flight of the Conchords from 2004). Of course, any stage on which a fledgling comedian hones an act can be said to be a launching pad, and these occasionally salty routines are hardly breakthrough performances. But it's fun to see a pre–Home Improvement Allen in full “men are pigs” mode, Stewart lampooning Bush (Bush Sr., that is), and Romano telling marriage and Italian-mother jokes that anticipate his future sitcom. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (D. Liebenson)