Laughology

“I didn't know you could lose your laugh, but when I did, I wanted to learn everything I could about laughter,” explains journalist and filmmaker Albert Nerenberg at the outset of this documentary, adding that “Maybe if I knew what laughter was, I could get it back.” Nerenberg's personal journey frames this film (the death of his father prompted his investigation), which is not about humor but rather the physical act itself—what laughter is, where it comes from, how it affects us, and why we need it. Nerenberg interviews scholars (including Professor Robert Provine, identified as the preeminent authority on the subject), healers, gurus, the residents of Baffin Island (where laughing games are a part of the culture), and even professional laughers for some insight. Along the way, he discovers—as the cliché goes—that laughter is the best medicine: it reduces stress and extends life, cuts through social tensions, and has a way of feeding on itself. And while humor may be cultural, laughter is universal—something that babies do instinctively. While the subject is interesting, the actual physiological and emotional dimensions of laughter are more touched upon than covered in any detail during this survey, which is more interested in serving up colorful stories and anecdotal evidence than exploring the topic with any rigor. DVD extras include five extended interviews. An optional purchase, at best. Aud: C, P. (S. Axmaker)